To travel to Italy, a visa is not required, but passports must be updated. From the United States, a flight to Naples costs between $600 to $850, the most expensive of all the destinations. Once in Naples, however, there are many hotels within walking distance from the palace, starting at $75 a night.
To avoid the holiday-related tourism boom, it is best to visit the palace during February or March, well after the new year. The grounds of the palace are all paved, making the gardens very accessible for those with mobility issues. Due to the sheer amount of stairs in the palace itself, wheelchair users may require assistance.
Click here to see one of many hotels near the palace!
The exterior and interior of the palace
The Palace of Caserta was first conceived in 1752 for Charles VIII of Naples by architect Luigi Vanvitelli. The palace and its grounds housed 11 acres of garden and several auxiliary buildings, including a university. The palace complex was built over the course of multiple decades, necessitating technology such as the Caroline Aqueduct to provide water to the capital city intended to surround the palace. Despite its lengthy construction, King Charles VIII never stayed in his palace, as he abdicated from the throne in 1759. Today, the palace remains an example of Europe's Enlightenment era, much like the palace and gardens at Versailles.
Italy has several environmental zones; Naples consists of a temperate, coniferous forest and is exemplified by hot, humid summers and cool, rainy winters. During February, the average temperature is 49 degrees Fahrenheit, so bring a coat and umbrella when visiting!
Much of the palace grounds were constructed to resemble "untamed" Italian nature, consisting of many holm oaks, ivies, and laurels. A series of non-native plants, such as palms and magnolia trees, were also planted in the gardens.
The palace's grounds!