Anyone who comes to Casertavecchia is fascinated and even a little surprised by the magic of his village, where time seems to have stopped.

Its alleys, its churches, the Duomo and the houses still speak the ancient language of the Middle Ages. A real treat for those who come to Caserta and want to immerse themselves in the history and culture of this territory. 

Casertavecchia is a small village that belongs administratively to the municipality of Caserta, but which is about ten kilometers from the center. The atmosphere is rich in history and the alleys are a real open-air museum, with buildings and monuments to visit, not surprisingly in 1960 it was declared a National Monument.

The origins of Casertavecchia are still uncertain, but according to what was written by the Benedictine monk Erchemperto, in his Historia Langobardorum Beneventanorum already in the year 861 AD there was an urban nucleus called Casam Irtam (from the Latin “village placed at the top”). Over the centuries, the village has undergone various dominations, as, in the eighth century it was a stronghold of the Lombards and in 879 it was given as a county to Pandolfo di Capua. In the tenth century the inhabitants and the clergy of the plain, under the Saracen raids, sought protection in the village and after the devastation of the cities of Suessola (S. Felice a Cancello) and Calatia (today Maddaloni), even the bishopric moved to Casa Hirta finding in it a safe haven. In 1062, however, it became Norman, since it was occupied by Richard I, Count of Aversa, later it passed under the Angevin and then Aragonese domination (1442), which marked the beginning of the decadence of the city. In the sixteenth century Count Giulio Antonio Acquaviva moved the residence in the plain, in the village Torre (the current Caserta), and in the early seventeenth century also the episcopal one was transferred there. With the Bourbons and the construction of the Palace, begun in 1752 by the will of Charles III of Bourbon, Caserta became the new center to the detriment of Casertavecchia, to which in 1842 the bishopric was also removed, transferred to the new city. During the historic battle of volturno, which took place on 1 and 2 October 1860, the village was occupied by the Bourbons who were then rejected by Garibaldi.

The ancient village is a tourist destination for its alleys and historic buildings but also for the enchanting panorama visible in many places, particularly suggestive at night, for the cool climate in summer and for the good food it offers.

Things to do in Casertavecchia

• Surely one of the activities to do absolutely is a walk through its alleys to discover wonderful views and its history.
• Take pictures on the terrace of the belvedere with the view behind: from here on clear days you can see Vesuvius and the islands of the gulf
• Do not miss the guided tour of the medieval castle built in the twelfth century. Of that structure today remain part of the walls, of the quadrangular towers to defend the castle, the elliptical courtyard and part of the façade with a very special mullioned window of the room of the first level. The large circular keep (or “male”), which is among the largest in Europe, is attributable to the Swabian period (XII-XIII century), it had no doors and was accessed from the castle via an aerial drawbridge.
• Visit the Monumental Complex of the Annunziata located at the beginning of the homonymous road. It consists of the Hospital and the Oratory, currently the Church of the Annunciation. The hospital was born to give help to the poor, the sick and abandoned children and attached there was the Mount of The Maritaggi that provided the dowry to the poor and orphaned girls of the city.
• Buy a spirit: you can buy it in one of the shops of the village. Legend has it that if you insert a piece of paper with the wish inside, it will be fulfilled. 
• Enjoy an aperitif in Piazza del Duomo 
• Eat an excellent paposcia in the restaurants of the village: it is a Neapolitan saltimbocca seasoned with various ingredients.
• We remind you that it is not possible to park and transit in the village with cars, at the entrance there are paid and guarded parking lots.

So come with us to Casertavecchia?