Caserta, the capital of the province of the same name in Italy’s Campania region, is a vital agricultural, commercial, and industrial hub. Nestled at the edge of the Campanian plain and the foothills of the Subapennine mountains, the city is renowned for its stunning Palace of Caserta.
Modern Caserta was established around a defensive tower built during Lombard times by Pando, Prince of Capua, who destroyed the original settlement in 863. This tower is now part of the Palazzo della Prefettura, which once served as a royal residence. In the 16th century, the original population relocated from Casertavecchia, the former bishopric, to the current site, which evolved from the Roman town of Casam Irtam—its name later contracted to Caserta.
The area was initially owned by the Acquaviva family, who sold the land to the royal family due to financial troubles. The royals then chose Caserta for the construction of a new palace, favoring its inland location for improved defensibility compared to their previous residence on the Bay of Naples.
After World War II, the royal palace became the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander. It was also the site of the first Allied war trial in 1945, where German General Anton Dostler was sentenced to death and executed nearby in Aversa.
