THE ROYAL PALACE OF CARDITELLO

Starting in December 2014, the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities took control of the Reggia di Carditello through the Polo museale della Campania (Campania Museum Hub), which in turn became, in December 2019, the Direzione regionale Musei (Regional Museums Directorate).

The Tenuta Storica di Carditello developed as a vast stretch of land, partly marshland, on the plain bordered to the north by the Volturno river, to the east by Mount Tifata and its foothills, to the south by the ancient river Clanio, today known as the Regi Lagni, and to the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Within it stood an efficient farming estate, with solid buildings and a well-organised structure dedicated to breeding fine horses and producing and selling agricultural and dairy products. The Palazzo di Carditello, located about 4 km west of the village of San Tammaro, close to Capua and not far from Naples, on Via Foresta a Carditello, is a simple yet elegant architectural complex in the neoclassical style.

Originally conceived by Carlo di Borbone (1716-1788) as a place for hunting and horse breeding. It was later transformed, by order of Ferdinando IV di Borbone (1751-1825), into a modern model farm for growing wheat and breeding fine horses and cattle.

It was surrounded by an extensive area of woodland, pasture and cultivated fields, covering 6,305 Capuan moggia, equal to roughly 2,100 hectares. It was home to a considerable number of people devoted to running the estate.

Carditello was one of the royal sites that held the title of "Reale Delizia" ("Royal Delight"), because, despite its productive function, it offered a pleasant residence for the king and his court during the special hunting parties made possible by the many game-rich woods.

It was designed by the architect Francesco Collecini, pupil and collaborator of Luigi Vanvitelli. The area in front, with a dirt track recalling the shape of the Roman circuses, was adorned with fountains, obelisks and a circular temple in classical style, intended for horse races. Today, the main building covers about 50,000 square metres and consists of royal apartments and a royal chapel, flanked by 8 towers and 12 outbuildings, with a total surface area of around 13,000 square metres.