At the behest of the Spanish King Charles III. – king of Spain (1759–88) and of Naples and Sicily (1735–59), Luigi Vanvitelli began to work on the construction work in 1752. In 1759, the Charles III. became unable to manage personnel in both kingdoms upon succeeding to the Spanish throne on 10 August, therefore the castle under construction left a son, Ferdinand VI (who became Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, or Ferdinand IV of Naples and Ferdinand III of Sicily).

The whole building including the park were inspired by the chateau of Versailles. The palace has a ground plan dimensions of 247 x 184 m. The adjacent park has an area of 120 hectares.

View The Royal Palace of Caserta with the Park on the Larger Map

Caserta Royal Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The Park

The Royal Palace of Caserta has the most scenic parks in the world, scattered with fountains and waterfalls. The gardens, partly English and partly inspired by French models, are adorned with statues, made from the best Neapolitan sculptors under the guidance of Carlo Vanvitelli. Although the original draft was much more sophisticated and extensive, there were some economical reductions.

The central avenue of the park, from the gate to the big waterfall, is 3 km long. The park covers 120 hectares in total.

There are several fountains with the vasca (basin) in the garden:

The Fountain of Diana and Actaeon / La fontana di Diana e Atteone
The Fountain of Venus and Adonis / Cascatelle e Fontana di Venere e Adone
The Fountain of the Dolphins / la Vasca e Fontana dei Delfini
The Fountain of Aeolus / la Vasca e Fontana di Eolo
The Fountain of Ceres / la Vasca e Fontana di Cerere

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Castell’Arquato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy by mat’s eye

The main street in Castell’Arquato is known as Via Dante and anyone visiting the town will have to make their way up the street if they plan on reaching the castle. On your way up, you will pass a number of nice restaurants and shops. After you have climbed halfway up the hill, you will come to the Palazzo del Duca whose fountain was built back in 1292. Near the Palazzo you will find a tower from the 16th century that dominates the skyline.

Once you get to the top and before you can ever make it to the castle, you will come to the Palazzo Pretorio and Piazza Municipio which dates back to the late 1200s. During the months of July and August, the Enoteca Communale offers music and free wine tasting on Thursday nights.

Castell’Arquato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy by Benjamin Claverie

The Rocca Viscontea di Castell’Arquato is the castle in the center of the town. It is a masterpiece to say the least. You can wander through the courtyards and even visit the fortress museum. However, if you want to see the surrounding countryside around Castell’Arquato, you will need to pay a small fee to climb the stairs to the top of the castle’s tower. But before you leave the town, make sure to stop and rest in the park just outside of the castle before making your way back down to the lower parts of Castell’Arquato.

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It was built in 1395, probably on an existing structure, by Giovanni Anguissola to reside with his wife Beatrice Visconti, sister of Gian Galeazzo Visconti.

You will also find the large park (150,000 m2) surrounding the castle. that hosts the church, the Duke study, the viewpoint that looms over Rio Grazzano, the labyrinth, the Italian garden and several specimens of trees.

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Castello di San Marco Calatabiano, Sicily, Italy by Eleonora

However, the Castello di San Marco is not merely just any old tourist attraction in Italy; it is now a four start resort which has 30 rooms as well as a suite. Each room comes with its own terraces which lead out to the castle gardens.

On the Castello di San Marco grounds, you will find the Church of St Antonio da Padova which was built back in 1697. In order to man the castle, there was a need for many workers and as such, in the 1800s dwellings were added at the southern end of the property. It was also during this time period that the now existing perimeters walls as well as the castle’s gate were constructed.

The resort houses an amazing restaurant which offers some of the finest cuisines from all over the country. There is a private beach and a swimming pool that is available to guests at the Castello di San Marco. The resort’s amenities also include tennis courts, boutiques, bars and even a playground for the kids.

While the castle gets many visitors throughout the year, only the guests at the Castello di San Marco feel the true experience of stating in this enchanted Italian castle. There’s nothing more luxurious than spending a day or two behind the walls of a beautiful castle in an area that is known for having some of the best weather almost all year long.

Do not wait any longer and book your room in Castello di San Marco Charming Hotel & Spa.

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