Caserta

Infobox CityIT
img_coa =Caserta-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Caserta
name = Caserta|mapx =41|mapy=14.33
region = Campania
province = Caserta (CE)
elevation_m =
area_total_km2 = 53
population_as_of = December 31, 2004
population_total = 79488
population_density_km2 = 1415
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|41|04|N|14|20|E|type:city(80000)_region:IT|display=inline,title
frazioni = Aldifreda, Briano, Casertavecchia, Casola, Casolla, Centurano, Ercole, Falciano, Garzano, Mezzano, Piedimonte di Casolla, Pozzovetere, Puccianiello, Sala di Caserta, San Benedetto, San Clemente, San Leucio resort, Santa Barbara, Staturano, Tredici, Tuoro, Vaccheria.
telephone = 0823
postalcode = 81020 (Caserta Vecchia, Casola di Caserta), 81100 (Caserta)
gentilic =Casertani
saint = St. Sebastian and St. Anne
day =
mayor = Nicodemo Petteruti (since June 2006)
website = [http://www.comune.caserta.it www.comune.caserta.it]

Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial "comune" and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range. The city is best known for the Palace of Caserta.

History

Modern Caserta was established around the defensive tower built in Lombard times by Pando, Prince of Capua. Pando destroyed the original city around 863. The tower is now part of the Palazzo della Prefettura which was once the seat of the counts of Caserta, as well as a Royal residence. The original population moved from Casertavecchia (former bishopric seat) to the current site in the 16th century.

The city and vicinity were the property of the Acquaviva family, who, being pressed by huge debts, sold all the land to the royal family. The royal family then selected Caserta for the construction of their new palace, which, being in land was seen as more defensible than the previous palace fronting the Bay of Naples.

Caserta was the birthplace of the Italian writer Maria Valtorta.

Main sights

* Caserta's main attraction is its Royal Palace (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The palace was created in the 18th century by the Italian architect Luigi Vanvitelli as a Versailles-like residence ("Reggia") for the Bourbon kings of Naples and Sicily. It is one of the most visited monuments in the country. In it you can find more than 1200 rooms, decorated in various styles. It has been the set for several famous movies such as Star Wars and Mission impossible III. The park is convert|2|mi|km long and contains many waterfalls, lakes and gardens, as well as a very famous English garden.

*"Palazzo Vecchio" ("Old Palace"), a construction of the 14th century renovated by Luigi Vanvitelli as provisional residence for the royal court.
*The Cathedral (18th century).

elected "Frazioni"

*Casertavecchia is the ancient centre of the "comune" and former bishopric seat.
*San Leucio resort, seat of famous Royal silk workshops, also included in the World Heritage List.
*Vaccheria, which housed the stable of the Royal cattle.
*Falciano is a former bishop seat; it includes a 16th century palace.
*Piedimonte di Casolla has an ancient Benedictine abbey, built over a Roman temple dedicated to Diana.

Trivia

Caserta is the ancestral home of the Sopranos character Jennifer Melfi.

Several Italian pen manufacturers like Delta and Stipula obtain their silver accents (cap bands, clips, pen bodies etc.) from the Caserta province. This is indicated by the hallmark (* 1 CE) or (* 2 CE).

External links

* [http://www.photographers.it/leonardobellotti/gallery/gallery.asp?categoryid=221 Photographs of the Reggia of Caserta]
* [http://www.photographers.it/leonardobellotti/gallery/gallery.asp?categoryid=161 Photographs of Casertavecchia]
* [http://www.reggiadicaserta.altervista.org Royal Palace of Caserta - Unofficial web-site]
* [http://www.vivocaserta.org (italian) Official Blog & Citizen Journalism of Province of Caserta]

Several prominent Italian pen manufacturers (Delta, Stipula), have the sterling silver accents (cap bands, clips etc.) made in Caserta. This is indicated by the hallmarks (* 1 CE), for example.