Royal Palace of Caserta

About this place

The Royal Palace of Caserta is a former royal palace in Caserta, Campania, 35 kilometres north of Naples in southern Italy, constructed by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies as their main residence as Kings of Naples. With a volume of around 2 million m3, covering an area of 47,000 m2 and a floor area of 130,000 square metres distributed across five floors, the Royal Palace of Caserta is one of the largest palaces erected in Europe during the 18th century and one of the largest former royal residences in the world. In 1997, the palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Notice how the building presents itself to the surrounding streets or landscape, then compare its public and more intimate spaces. This helps explain how architecture expressed the position, resources and ambitions of the people who commissioned it.