Designed by the architect "Luigi Vanvitelli" - born Ludwig Van Wittel - the Royal Palace of Caserta was built by Charles of Bourbon on the lands of the Caetani of Sarmoneta family, purchased for that purpose by the King in 1751. It was erected far from the sea, away from the possible eruptions of Vesuvius and away from pirate attacks by hostile navies. In a sense, Caserta would stand in Naples, just as Versailles stood in Paris.
One could reach the palace by taking the road that, in a straight line, led directly from Naples to the world's largest royal residence.
The mansion one encounters, accessing it from the elliptical square in front of the palace, consists of a five-story building. The central gateway, defending the Gallery, also known as the Cannocchiale (the Telescope), anticipates a perspective view of the park, drawing the visitor's gaze over the fountains up to the artificial waterfall of Mount Briano, some 3,000 meters away.
The park, which covers more than ten hectares, is built following the natural course of the hill behind the palace.
In the center are pools decorated with sculptural groups: the Dolphins, Aeolus, and Ceres, culminating in the fountain of Diana and Actaeon placed where the park's paths come together.
In designing the scene, Vanvitelli adhered to the narration of the myth that one can read in Ovid in the third book of the Metamorphoses: Diana, caught naked bathing by Actaeon, quickly transformed into a stag and mauled by his own dogs.
English garden areas, small dwellings, and Italian gardens are on either side. The water that feeds the monumental fountains comes from the Carolino Aqueduct, which transfers it from Maddaloni from the slopes of Mount Taburno.
The five-story building has opposing facades (one facing the square, the other the park) and encloses four inner courtyards for a development of about 47,000 square meters of floor space for 1,200 rooms.
A grand staircase leading to the apartments appears in the center within an octagonal vestibule where the four courtyards intersect.
The path winds between the Throne Room, the Palatine Chapel, several royal rooms, and the beautiful Seasons Rooms. Next is the Palatine Library, consisting of three neoclassical rooms. The Elliptical Hall follows, which currently houses the Bourbon Crib.
Therefore we move from the Elliptical Hall onto the magnificent Casertana Picture Gallery, with portraits of the Sovereigns, including a section devoted to the splendid landscapes Ferdinand IV commissioned from Jakob Philipp Hackert.
Along with the Carolino Aqueduct, the Royal Palace of Caserta joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1997.
Негізгі бет The Royal Palace of Caserta near Naples
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