Caserta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Comune di Caserta | |
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 Municipal coat of arms |
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| Country | Italy |
| Region | Campania |
| Province | Caserta (CE) |
| Mayor | Nicodemo Petteruti (since June 2006) |
| Elevation | 68 m (223 ft) |
| Area | 53 km² (20.5 sq mi) |
| Population (as of December 31, 2004) | |
| - Total | 79,488 |
| - Density | 1,500/km² (3,885/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | 41°04′N 14°20′E / 41.067°N 14.333°ECoordinates: 41°04′N 14°20′E / 41.067°N 14.333°E |
| Gentilic | Casertani |
| Dialing code | 0823 |
| Postal code | 81020 (Caserta Vecchia, Casola di Caserta), 81100 (Caserta) |
| 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, Santa Barbara, Staturano, Tredici, Tuoro, Vaccheria |
| Patron | St. Sebastian and St. Anne |
| Website: 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Main sights
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- 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. Inside are 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 2 miles (3.2 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).
- The Aqueduct of Vanvitelli (18th century).
[edit] 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.
[edit] Famous people
Caserta was the birthplace of the Italian writer Maria Valtorta.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Media related to Caserta at Wikimedia Commons- Photographs of Casertavecchia
- Royal Palace of Caserta - Unofficial web-site
- (italian) Official Blog & Citizen Journalism of Province of Caserta
