A visitor to Naples and Campania with an interest in lavish excess will want to visit the Reggia di Caserta, the Bourbon Palace located in the heart of the town of Caserta, 25 miles north of Naples and a five minute walk from the Caserta train station.
Construction of the palace for Charles VII of Naples started in 1752 under the supervision of architect Luigi Vanvitelli. Vanvitelli died in 1773: construction was completed by son Carlo in 1780. In 1764 there was a forced stoppage caused by famine and the epidemic that followed, an interesting fact to consider when you see the opulence on display. Money problems during the construction are evidenced by clever faux finishes that disguised common tile as marble or other stonework.
ICaserta is the largest royal palace in the world at over two million cubic meters of area for the palace and the property covering an area of about 235,000 square meters.
Caserta Map
Palace of Caserta Travel Toolbox
Caserta is located just north of the city of Naples in the region of Camapania. Frequent trains go from Naples Centrale to Caserta. The total trip takes 45 minutes. The train station is a five minute walk from the Royal Palace. Find trips from Naples to Caserta .
You won't get to visit all 1200 rooms in the palace modeled after Versailles, nor would you particularly want to. An hour or two for the palace, and another visiting the extensive grounds, gardens and waterworks will be plenty.
The site is closed on Tuesday. Opening hours: 8:30 – 19:30. You can get tickets in advance via Viator if you wish. You can also get tours from major destinations in Campania and the Amalfi Coast.
When to Go
Spring and Fall are the best times to visit. November and December are the months with the most precipitation. To see historic climate information and current conditions for the area, see Naples Travel Weather.
Where to Stay
The highly rated Hotel Royal Casserta is in a great location for visiting the palace and has a recommended restaurant.
Tropicana Room Bed & Breakfast is in a great location with views of the palace.
For vacation apartments and homes near the palace, click the button below:
For other Lodging options, check out the booking box below.
