Page 502 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

500  SOUTHERN IT AL Y

3 Santa Maria
Capua Vetere
Caserta. * 34,000. V @ n Palazzo
Reale, Caserta (0823 32 22 33).
( Thu & Sun.
This town boasts a 1st-century-
AD Roman amphitheatre, once
Italy’s largest after the Colosseum,
with well-preserved tunnels
beneath it. The town occupies
the site of ancient Capua, an
Etruscan city and then a flourish-
ing centre during the Roman
Empire. It was the scene of the
revolt of the gladiators, led by
Spartacus in 73 BC. The on-site
Gladiator Museum recreates the A fountain in the gardens of the Palazzo Reale at Caserta
history of the gladiators. Nearby
is a Mithraeum (2nd–3rd staircases and richly adorned The Roman city, Beneventum,
century) with well-preserved apartments. It was designed by was an important centre. It stood
frescoes. Finds from the sites are Luigi Vanvitelli and construction at the end of the first extension
shown in the Museo Archeo lo­ started in 1752. The surrounding of the Via Appia from Capua, and
gico dell’Antica Capua in Capua. park boasts fountains, ornamental the Arch was erected across the
waterworks, statuary and an old road in honour of Trajan. Built
T Amphitheatre English Garden. Sound and light of marble in AD 114–166, it is
P.za 1 Ottobre. Tel 0823 79 88 64. Open shows, in English and Italian, extremely well preserved. The
9am–1 hr before sunset Tue–Sun. & take place in summer. relief sculpture adorning it –
valid for Mithraeum:. Open Tue–Sun scenes from the life of Trajan
on request. Environs and mythological subjects – is
E Museo Archeologico The medieval town of Caserta in excellent condition.
dell’Antica Capua Vecchia lies 10 km (6 miles) to Elsewhere, evidence of the
Via Roberto d’Angio 48, Capua. the northeast. Its 12th-century Romans is to be found in the
Tel 0823 84 42 06. Open cathedral is a fine example of ruined Roman theatre, built
9am–7:30pm Tue–Sun. & southern Norman architecture. during Hadrian’s reign, and in
San Leucio, 3 km (2 miles) the Museo del Sannio, which
northwest of Caserta, is a model contains artifacts from the
town built by Ferdinand IV, who region, from ancient Greek
also founded its silk industry. finds to modern art.
During World War II, the city
P Palazzo Reale stood directly in the way of the
Piazza Carlo III. Tel 0823 44 80 84. Allied advance from the south. It
Open 8:30am–7:30pm Wed–Mon. was heavily bombed, hence its
Closed pub hols. & 7 Park: Open largely modern appearance. The
8:30am–1 hr before sunset daily. Duomo, a 13th-century building
reconstructed after the war, has
5 Benevento a sculpted façade that, though
badly damaged, has since been
* 62,000. V @ n Via Sala 31 restored. The remains of its
Tunnels under the amphitheatre in Santa (0824 31 99 11). ( Mon & Wed– Sat. Byzantine bronze doors are
Maria Capua Vetere ∑ comune.
benevento.it
4 Caserta Benevento, set
in a lonely,
* 79,000. V @ n Palazzo Reale
(0823 44 80 84 or 0823 27 73 80). ( mountainous
Wed & Sat. ∑ reggiadicaserta. province, is home
beniculturali.it to one of southern
Italy’s most
Magnificently opulent, the vast interesting
Palazzo Reale dominates Caserta. ancient Roman
Built for the Bourbon King Charles monuments:
III, Italy’s largest royal palace the Arch of Trajan The ornate 2nd-century Roman arch in Benevento,
boasts over 1,000 rooms, grand on Via Traiano. built to honour Trajan
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp576–7 and pp600–605

500-501_EW_Italy.indd 500 4/5/17 9:31 AM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm