Caserta, Italy

After we enter the gate, we have a choice to go to the famous garden or to visit the inside of the palace.  We decided to go to the garden first since it was a nice day.

As we go through this paved pathway, a 120 hectares garden is on the other side.  The garden was designed according to the natural landscapes as well as the practicality of daily living.  Due to its size, visitors have a choice of horse-driven carriage rides or bikes for a small fee. We even seen some horse back riders. 

The first basin is 470 meters long, 27 meters wide and 3 meters deep.  Its 32,000 cubic meters of water served a duo purpose of providing water and at the same time supply the kitchen with plenty of fish.

The Fountain of Diana and Acteon.  At the center of the fountain is a large cascade of water of 82 meters high.  The water came from a man made cave at the top of the hill.

                                                                                                    The park includes an English Garden.  It is a  botanic garden with a lot of precious and rare plants growing in the garden.  The English Garden started in 1785 at the request of Queen Maria Carolina of Austria, wife of King Ferdinando IV.  The Garden covers 24 hectares contains water ponds of water lilies, meadows, hills and canals are all man made. All trees and plants were brought from all over the world.  Most noted is the sculpture “Bath of Venus”.

The construction of the Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta) was started in 1752 by Charles VII of Naples, also Charles III of Spain.  Charles had to abdicate his position to become the King of Spain.  His successor and son, Ferdinand IV  became the King of Naples and Sicily continued with his plan.  The palace is the largest Baroque-style royal residence in the 18th-century model after the Palace of Versailles.