- The Royal Palace sits right opposite Caserta station
- Allow a full day for the palace and its vast park
- Caserta Vecchia and the Capua amphitheatre are short drives away
- The province is the heartland of mozzarella di bufala
- Airports
- Naples (NAP)
- Best time to go
- April-June and September-October
- Type
- Province
Caserta is best known for one building: the Reggia, the enormous Royal Palace built for the Bourbon kings of Naples in the 18th century. With its gardens, the Vanvitelli aqueduct and the silk-weaving village of San Leucio, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest royal residences in Europe.
The modern city around it is ordinary, but the province of Caserta has more to offer: a medieval hill village, a huge Roman amphitheatre and the farms that produce Campania's famous buffalo mozzarella. It makes an easy day trip from Naples. See our Italy guide for more.
Things to do
- The Royal Palace – walk through grand staircases, royal apartments and a court theatre. Fans may recognise interiors used as film locations, including in the Star Wars prequels.
- The palace park – a long avenue of fountains and pools leads up to a great waterfall, around 3 km from the palace. Hire a bike or take the shuttle bus if you do not fancy the walk back.
- The English Garden – a romantic landscape garden within the park, laid out in the late 18th century in the informal English style, with follies and exotic trees.
- San Leucio – the former royal silk works, part of the UNESCO site, with a small museum and looms.
- Caserta Vecchia – a medieval village on the hill above the city, with a Norman-era cathedral and narrow stone lanes.
- Santa Maria Capua Vetere – one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in Italy, linked to the gladiator school where Spartacus's revolt began.
- Buffalo mozzarella – visit a dairy farm on the plains towards the coast and taste it fresh.
Where to stay
- Caserta city – convenient for the palace and trains.
- Caserta Vecchia – quieter and more atmospheric for an overnight stay.
- Naples – most visitors simply day-trip from there.
Getting there
Fly to Naples (NAP), around 30 minutes' drive from Caserta. From Napoli Centrale, regional trains reach Caserta in roughly 35 to 50 minutes, and some high-speed trains from Rome also stop here, so it is possible as a stop between Rome and Naples. The palace is just across the road from the station. You will need a car or taxi for Caserta Vecchia and the dairy farms.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are best for the gardens, which are lovely in April and May. Summer is very hot in the park, which has little shade along the main avenue, so arrive early. The palace interior is a good wet-weather option in winter.
The palace and park can have different opening days and times, so check before you travel and leave plenty of time for the park.
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Caserta on the map
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need at the Royal Palace of Caserta?
Plan on most of a day: a couple of hours for the apartments and several more for the park, gardens and waterfall.
Can you visit Caserta from Naples by train?
Yes. Frequent trains run from Napoli Centrale, and the palace is a short walk from Caserta station.
Is Caserta worth it if I have seen Versailles?
Yes. It is built on a similar scale but feels very different, with a long water garden and fewer crowds.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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