Tours in Caserta
A BRIGHT SPOT IN THE REIGN OF NAPLES, THE GARDENS AND THE CASERTA ROYAL PALACE
The construction of the Caserta Bourbon´s Royal Palace helps us to understand the dynamics of European history from the 18th to 20th century. Some examples are the enlightened and renowned political career of Carlo di Borbone, called the "good king"; the futuristic intelligence of a grand artist, their architect Luigi Vanvitelli; the myriad of manufacturing companies in the reign, an important source of economic development; the social Utopia experiment of the city of Ferdinandopoli; and finally the artistic and technological success of the San Leucio silk company. It is also the site of several important historical events: it was part of Napoleon's domain and the site of the restoration of the Ancient Regime; it saw the Italian revolution of 1848 and the last signing of the Constitution before Italian unification. Additionally, the vegetation which surrounds the Royal palace is in accordance with very rigid architectonical rules: there is the Italian style garden with the geometric tree beds, the grand waterfall fed by the majestatic Carolingian Acqueduct, and the English garden where exotic atmospher meets classicism.
Suggested lenght: full day Entrance fees: € 9 Walking difficulty: low Public tranport: yes Architectural barriers: no Target: individual, groups, schools
MATER MATUTA: MATHER AND WARRIOR GODDESS
Santa Maria Capua Vetere is the modern name of the ancient roman town of Capua. It is the place where Indo-european populations settled, and where the masculine power of the sky, represented by the warrior Zeus, substituted the feminine power associated with the earth. Cicerone named it "The Proud Rome," and it was probably the biggest city in the IVth century b.c.. Its Amphiteater, which is still well preserved today, is the second largest in Italy after the Colosseum. The town is also home to following attractions : the Gladiator' s museum, place where the valorous revolt led by the Roman gladiator Spartacus started; the Mythraeum, a rare example of a cult site dedicated to the warrior god Zeus, whose icon would later be assimilated by Christianity. In the afternoon, we'll check out Campania's museum, which preserves many prehistoric records and artifacts. We will also walk through the lovely city centre to the Cathedral.
Suggested lenght: full day Entrance fees: €5 Walking difficulty: low Public tranport: complicate Architectural barriers: more than some Target: individuals, groups, schools
Sant' Angelo in Formis is a village close to the modern city of Capua, where high on a hill lies one of the most refined examples of roman architecture in the Campania region:the Abbey of Sant' Angelo in Formis. Frescoes of the Byzantine-Campanian school are kept in the old Benedectine Basilica of Longobards. There are the most important items related to the longobard period in in the South of Italy. The Abbey was built on the ruins of an old pagan temple, and dedicated to the roman goddess Diana Tifanina. Marble columns and other architectural parts of the previous temple were reused for the construction of the Abbey, such as the green crown, which now resides in the upper reaches of the building. The word "in Formis" is controversial: maybe it is in reference to spring water, as for example that of the famous spring of Trifisco. According to the Romans, it had curatives properties. The San Vito and Leuso Woods are also located in the area,along with the cemetery of the garibaldin period and the so-called Annibal's bridge.
Suggested lenght: half day Entrance fees: free Walking difficulty: low Public tranport: not easy Architectural barriers: no Target: individuals, groups, schools
FERDINANDOPOLI: THE SOCIALIST UTOPIA
The Bourbon king was a child when he ascended the throne after his father's abdication. He' s often remembered as the king with the big nose and the butterfly king because of his appearance and his indomitable desire for fun, but not because of his social vanguard experiment, which was realised at the royal colony of S.Leucio. Silk factory workers and their families lived in the colony. The rules in this community were in accordance with a special Statute issued in 1989. It established laws and rules valid only in this community, such as housing assignments within the community, free professional education for women and men, eleven hours of work par day instead of fourteen (like in the rest of Europe), houses with sanitary service and running water, a common cash collection system for charity, equality between all people and parity between women and men, and guaranteed assistance for the elderly and the sick. In the silk museum, we will learn about the materials used for making the silk of San Leucio, which can still be found in the Vatican, in the Quirinal palace and in the Oval Office of the White House. The flags in the Buckingham Palace and in the White House are also made by this material.
Suggested lenght: half day Entrance fees: Walking difficulty: low Public tranport: not easy Architectural barriers: some Target: individuals, groups, schools
