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Did you know that just outside of Naples you’ll find the largest royal residence in Europe? Find out everything you need to know about visiting the Royal Palace of Caserta here!
Photos cannot do the scale and grandeur of Caserta justice – you’ll just have to visit to discover what makes this place so incredible
The Caserta Royal Palace (Reggia di Caserta in Italian) and its gardens make a fascinating place to visit for those interested in history, nature or architecture, or for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Naples or Rome.
Visiting this beautiful site couldn’t be easier and is the perfect day trip at any time of year. On this page I’ll share with you:
- A brief introduction to the Royal Palace and Gardens of Caserta
- The history of the Royal Palace of Caserta
- Why you should visit the Caserta Royal Palace
- What to see inside the Royal Palace of Caserta
- What there is to see in the Gardens
- Tickets and tour options for the Royal Palace and Gardens
- The best time to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta
- How to get to Caserta
- Where to eat at the Royal Palace and nearby
Escape the crowds of Naples and Rome and enjoy the serenity of Caserta with our guide
A brief introduction to the Royal Palace and Gardens of Caserta
The Royal Palace of Caserta is a vast regal residence near Naples, in the city of Caserta in Campania.
Caserta is located approximately 25km from the city center of Naples, and is easily reached by public transport and road – we cover how to get here in detail on this page.
The Reggia di Caserta is a certified UNESCO World Heritage site and part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Journeys program, a testament to its importance not just to Naples and Italy, but to the history of the world.
The Palace and adjoining gardens (referred to commonly as the Royal Park) were built between 1752 and 1845 by the Bourbon dynasty who ruled this part of Italy at that time, under the name of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Reggia di Caserta is the largest royal residence in Europe with over 1200 rooms, and the vast gardens cover an area of 120 hectares – the equivalent of nearly three Vatican Cities!
The scale of this palace is truly incredible – as you approach from the nearby train station or car park you’ll be blown away by its imposing size
The history of the Royal Palace and Gardens
The history of the area of Caserta dates back to pre-Roman times, where evidence of habitation by local tribes (Samnite and Oscan) has been discovered.
During the ancient Roman period a small town called Casa Irta existed in this area – it was this town that ultimately gave its name to modern Caserta.
Following the collapse of Roman rule in Italy in the 5th century, Caserta and the surrounding area fell under Lombard control. Over the ensuing centuries this part of Italy changed hands between the Normans, local rulers, the Angevins from France and the Aragonese from Spain.
It wasn’t until the 18th century that Caserta came to prominence. In 1734, Charles of Bourbon, son and heir of Philip V King of Spain was crowned the king of the Two Sicilies after capturing Naples from the Austrian Habsburgs.
The Bourbon’s loved the area around the ancient town of Caserta and emulated their favorite hunting grounds within the grounds of the Royal Park
In 1750 King Charles purchased the feud (area) of Caserta from the House of Acquaviva, a noble Neapolitan family who had controlled the area since the early 1500’s.
Shortly after Charles commissioned the construction of the palace, choosing the location for three reasons: being inland it was easier to defend (if necessary) compared to the existing Royal Palace in the center of Naples, Caserta is located further from the ever-constant threat of Mount Vesuvius, and the site was home to a small hunting lodge that he enjoyed spending time at.
King Charles also commissioned the construction of the Capodimonte Palace (now a museum), had the existing Royal Palace in Naples renovated and founded the MANN archeological museum. Without these royal projects the city of Naples and the surrounding area would look very different today!
King Charles engaged one of the most respected architects of the time, Luigi Vanvitelli, to design the palace and surrounding gardens. Construction formally began in 1752 on the king’s birthday on January 20, with the king himself laying the first stone.
Construction progressed well until 1759 but slowed significantly after this point as Charles had departed for Spain to be crowned the King of Spain following his father’s death.
It wasn’t until 1845 that construction was formally completed, with Charles’ son (Ferdinand VI) continuing the project during his reign (alongside the son of Luigi Vanvitelli) before passing responsibility to his son and Charles’ grandson, Ferdinand II.
Caserta served as the base for the Bourbon ruling dynasty of Naples, at a time when the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was one of the richest and most powerful in Europe
Following the unification of Italy in 1870, Caserta became an official residence of the Italian royals under the House of Savoy.
Towards the end of World War II, the palace was used by Allied forces as an operations base, with the first war crime trials taking place here before the court at Nuremberg was established. It was also at Caserta where on April 29 1945 the end of World War II in Europe was formally ratified, following the surrender of Axis forces to the Allies.
Following extensive efforts to restore the palace following damages sustained during the war, the Reggia di Caserta became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. It has been used frequently as the backdrop for major Hollywood productions including Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and Conclave (2024).
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Why you should visit Caserta Royal Palace
I would recommend visiting Royal Caserta for a number of reasons – let’s jump in:
- For anyone interested in the history of this part of Italy, this site showcases the legacy of Naples’ regal past with its incredible rooms at the palace and the opportunity to see the location of key moments in Italy’s past.
- Caserta’s gardens are a nature lover’s dream, where you’ll find a manicured park which is home to a vast range of plants and trees, ornate fountains and fisheries, as well as unique architectural features.
- As you can reach Caserta in under an hour from Naples or just over an hour from Rome, it’s the perfect place to escape the city crowds while enjoying a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the day. Thanks to the vast scale of the palace and gardens, it never feels crowded or busy here!
Caserta is a perfect day trip almost all year round from either Naples or Rome
What to see inside the Royal Palace of Caserta
The entire Royal Palace at Caserta is a vast structure which features over 1000 rooms spread across five floors. While you can’t visit all of these, there is a lot you can see!
Few palaces anywhere in the world match the opulence and decadence of the Reggia di Caserta
With regular entrance tickets you can access the palace spaces at any time. Visitor numbers are limited to manage the flow of people so if seeing the inside of the palace is your priority, head inside first when you arrive.
After passing through the entrance of the palace (with the cloakroom on your right, visitor information on your left) look for the signs directing visitors to the Royal Apartments.
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Stairway of Honor and Upper Vestibule
You’ll ascend the grand staircase known as the Stairway of Honor. Take note of the impressive statuary all around you; the lions that flank the stairs are there to safeguard the king, who stands elevated at the center with figures either side of him that represent Merit (left) and Truth (right).
The Stairway of Honor leads to the Upper Vestibule from where you can access the Royal Apartments and Palatine Chapel. Movie lovers should pay close attention in this grand space; it is here that Queen Amadala of Naboo met with representatives of the Trade Federation and Jedis Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
Caserta Palace was built as a statement, showcasing Naples’ wealth and power to visitors – which is evident when you ascend the Staircase of Honor
Palatine Chapel
Before exploring the expansive Royal Apartments be sure to visit the Palatine Chapel – once you’re in the living quarters it is difficult to return to the Upper Vestibule before exiting.
The Palatine Chapel is modelled directly on the chapel at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, with architect Vanvitelli paying close personal attention to the decoration of this sacred space.
Note the damaged columns on both sides of the elevated galleries; these were left here following restoration works in the 20th century as a reminder of the damage the palace sustained during an Allied bombardment on September 27 1943
Royal Apartments
From the Palatine Chapel, return to the Upper Vestibule and proceed to the royal rooms. As you make your way through the rooms filled with spectacular art and original furniture pieces, be sure to look up at the ceilings; each are incredibly decorated adding to the overall opulence of Caserta.
The focal point of the Royal Apartments is the Throne Room, where the throne of Ferdinand II of the Two of Sicilies is found. This golden space is where the royal court gathered, and is adorned throughout with symbols of Naples’ power during the mid-19th century.
This room (and those either side of it) is worth visiting Caserta for even if you don’t see anything else, the scale and detail of them is just spectacular!
No expense was spared when creating this palace, but the Throne Room is particularly opulent
Beyond the Throne Room you’ll explore a series of smaller but equally beautiful spaces including bedrooms and private entertainment rooms for the royal family.
Towards the end of the itinerary you’ll pass through the Palatine Library, a series of libraries and studies created under the direction of Queen Maria Carolina, wife of Ferdinand IV which houses more than 14,000 books in Neapolitan, Italian and German.
The luxurious royal bedrooms beyond the Throne Room demonstrate the Bourbon’s wealth and style
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What there is to see in the Gardens
The Royal Park, also designed by Luigi Vanvitelli and completed by his son Carlo, covers approximately 120 hectares – roughly the size of 220 soccer fields.
Throughout this majestic garden you’ll find a range of features including fountains, ornamental lawns and manicured flowerbeds.
The central element of the garden is a huge artificial waterfall which brings water from the Caroline aqueduct, dispersing it downhill along the Via d’Acqua (Path of Water).
The Path of Water features numerous fountains, all of which through their beautifully-detailed construction recount stories from classical mythology.
One of the most impressive fountains along the Path of Water is the Fountain of Aeolus which is four times bigger than the Trevi Fountain in Rome
These fountains, along with the fisheries that track down the hill, create a sense of a contiguous flow of water from the hills above Caserta directly to the Royal Palace. The best way to experience this effect is to take the shuttle service to the top of the garden, walking your way down towards the palace – seeing is believing!
As you descend from the top of the garden back towards the palace the full effect of the fountains and fisheries becomes clear
On the left side of the main boulevard (with the palace behind you) you’ll find the Bosco Vecchia (Old Forest) which is one of the oldest parts of the gardens. Here you’ll discover a large artificial lake which the royals living here once used for fishing, along with the Castelluccia, originally a mock castle used for military drills, which was later repurposed as a hunting lodge.
The English Garden
To the right side of the main boulevard (again with the palace at your rear) you’ll find the English Garden. This garden was commissioned by Queen Maria Carolina in the early 1780’s who was inspired by her sister Marie Antoniette, who had recently overseen the creation of the Petit Trianon at Versailles in France.
The English Garden is by far our favorite part of the Royal Park because it features an array of unique features. As you explore you’ll find sweeping lawns, boating lakes and mock ancient ruins which were all placed and landscaped with great skill to create a sense that the area was a natural landscape, not an artificial creation.
These evocative replica ruins are one of my favorite elements of the Royal Park
The most picturesque part of the English Garden is the Bath of Venus where you’ll find a stunning statue of the goddess Venus in a (seemingly) natural setting. Like the rest of the English Garden, this ‘spring’ is artificial, but this doesn’t detract from the beauty and tranquility of this section of the Royal Park.
Bring a book and enjoy the peace of the Bath of Venus – you’ll soon lose track of time
Ticket and tour options for the Royal Palace of Caserta
As with many sights in Campania and Naples we would recommend booking your tickets in advance to save time and potential disappointment on the day you come to Caserta.
This is particularly advisable if you will be visiting during May–June or September–October when the palace and gardens are at their busiest.
Tickets can be booked online directly via the official website (where you’ll also find the most up to date information about opening hours) or via approved third parties.
Throughout the palace and grounds you’ll find accessibility enhancements, making exploring the palace and garden simpler for anyone with mobility challenges
Caserta is a vast site which can overwhelm visitors who arrive without a plan. As such we would recommend potentially joining a tour to ensure you get the most out of your visit; a local guide will share with you the most interesting information and ensure you get to see the most important elements.
Some also include transport from Naples or Rome – here are a few of our top choices:
- Get picked up from a variety of locations in Naples before enjoying a guided tour of the Royal Palace and gardens.
- With train tickets included in the tour cost, meet your guide at the palace entrance for an in-depth tour and then return to Naples via train.
- For a full day trip from Rome, join this special experience where you will experience the ancient site of Pompeii before heading to Caserta for the afternoon.
If you would like transport to be included but prefer to explore by yourself, choose from these options:
- Skip-the-line entrance tickets for the Royal Apartments and gardens, with audioguide and return train tickets from Napoli Centrale.
- Priority entrance tickets for both the palace and gardens with air-conditioned minivan transport to and from Caserta.
- Priority entrance to the Royal Palace and gardens with a round-trip minibus from Naples.
The best time to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta
The Royal Palace of Caserta is open all year around and visiting the palace and gardens at any time of year is a joy.
However, there are certain points during the year that we would highly recommend visiting Caserta:
- Mid-late spring, May to June – during this period the daytime temperatures are comfortable which means you won’t get too hot while exploring the garden, or too cold inside the vast rooms of the palace. More importantly, the gardens come to life at this time of year and are in full bloom – a must-see for nature lovers! This is one of the most popular times to visit the Caserta Royal Palace but the increased number of visitors is barely noticeable in such a huge site.
We love visiting Caserta in late fall when the weather is still great, and the foliage is bright with autumnal colours
- Late autumn, November – in the same way the plants of the gardens start to fade before winter sets in, this time of the year visitors numbers dwindle as well. We love visiting Caserta during this period as the autumnal colors are striking against bright crisp skies during the day, and the early sunsets make for dramatic views of the palace.
When not to visit Caserta
We feel it’s important to share that we do not recommend visiting during the height of summer, particularly if you are sensitive to the sun or high humidity.
Caserta is inland and during the summer it can get extremely humid. Coupled with the always-hot Campanian summer (this area is one of the hottest parts of Italy statistically ), it makes walking around the huge gardens a challenge.
If the height of summer is the only time you can visit Caserta, seek out the shady areas such as Venus’ Bath in the English Garden when possible
You can of course use the shuttle service to get around, and there are some shady benches to rest on, but everyone else has the same idea meaning you might be waiting some time to take a break from the sun!
If this is the only time you can visit Caserta, get there first thing in the morning and visit the gardens first, before the heat really starts to build. Finish your trip inside the palace rooms out of the sun and then enjoy a relaxing lunch.
How to get to Caserta
Getting to the city and Royal Palace of Caserta couldn’t be easier! Here are the best options depending on where you’re coming from:
Coming from Naples
If you are in Naples and wish to visit the Royal Palace, the best approach is to take one of the many daily trains from Napoli Centrale train station to Caserta, with an average journey time of 45 minutes.
When you arrive in Caserta, exit the train station, cross the road and bear slightly left – look directly in front of you – there’s the palace!
The train station at Caserta couldn’t be any closer to the palace entrance – this photo was taken from the platforms, with the entrance directly in front
Coming from Rome
From Rome getting to Caserta is equally as easy; take a direct train from Roma Termini train station with an average journey time of 75 minutes.
You’ll arrive at the same train station as if you were coming from Naples, where the Palace is directly in front of you as you exit.
Take a regional train from Rome that runs from Roma Termini to Caserta (and then on to places like Lecce in Puglia)
Coming from somewhere else in Italy
If you’re looking to visit Caserta from somewhere else in Italy, you can travel to Napoli Centrale or Roma Termini train stations as outlined above.
Alternatively, you can also consider driving to Caserta as the city and palace are close to the A1 autostrada (motorway/freeway) which runs from Naples to Milan, and there is a large secure parking lot under Piazza Piazza Carlo di Borbone which connects directly to the palace.
For exact directions use Google Maps on your day of travel and always leave plenty of time for rest stops!
Where to eat at the Royal Palace and nearby
Within the Caserta royal complex you have a couple of options for where to eat:
- Inside the palace itself you’ll find a cafe (on the ground floor near the entrance/exit to the gardens) offering a range of hot and cold options including salads, pizza slices and sandwiches.
- At the end of the Royal Park (right where the shuttle buses drop off and pick up) you’ll find a small kiosk offering drinks and light snacks and at peak times, a more formal restaurant.
You may also bring your own food and drink to consume in the Royal Park – you’ll find benches dotted around which make great picnic spots!
If you’re looking for a relaxed place to recharge, check out the small kiosk located at the top of the garden near the shuttle bus drop-off/pick-up area
If time allows during your trip to Caserta, consider paying a visit to Muu Muuzzarella, a short walk from the main palace entrance. We love this place for a casual lunch as they offer authentic produce (as the name suggests!) from the Campania region in a relaxed and fun environment.
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To sum up…
The Royal Palace of Caserta should definitely be on your trip itinerary, the combination of history, beautiful gardens and impressive architecture makes it a winner whatever your interests are. Just make sure to time your trip for a point in the year when you can make the most of what’s on offer!
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