WELCOME TO CAMPANIA FELIX

Allow Campania to welcome you to its pleasures and treasures on this full-day excursion to the countryside and the Reggia di Caserta.

Meet your chauffeur at your accommodation and relax on the ride to an estate, famous for its unique history, eco-friendly philosophy and range of much acclaimed wines. The estate dates back to the 1960s when its founder, a lawyer with a passion for ancient wines, decided to bring back to life the Vinum Falernum described by notable ancient Romans such as Pliny, Virgil and Horace in their writing. After in-depth studies he managed to identify the grape varieties that had produced Falernum wine in ancient Roman times and that’s when this fascinating wine-making adventure began. Today the estate is managed by his children who keep their father’s dream alive, by constantly researching new wines that can reflect the identity of the ancient Campania Felix – meaning “fertile land” – and maintain high quality standards so as to satisfy an elite and discerning clientele. The bond with local culture and its wine-making traditions are thus at the core of the estate’s values and activities which are also founded on respect for the environment and eco-sustainability. The estate aims at progressively reducing greenhouse gases, lowering levels of consumption and producing wine in an eco-compatible way, through water recovery, power saving and the use of alternative energy sources. Here, after a tour of the premises led by a qualified member of staff, you will sit down to a delicious lunch accompanied with the estate’s wines.

Later rejoin your driver and set off for the Reggia di Caserta. Your guide will be waiting outside the palace ready to lead you back to a time when the powerful Bourbon kings ruled over this region. Built in the 18th century for Charles III, the Reggia is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The palace amply fulfilled its function as a royal mansion whose sheer magnificence and grandeur would affirm the unshakeable wealth and power of the Bourbon monarchy. Architect Luigi Vanvitelli designed the structure, inspired by, and with the intention of eclipsing, the Palace of Versailles in France. With its 5 floors, 34 stairways, 4 courtyards and 1,200 rooms, the majestic Reggia occupies 45,000 square metres and is the largest royal palace ever built. The splendidly decorated interiors, featuring gold-splashed halls and a dazzling succession of stuccoes, frescoes, reliefs, inlays and precious furnishings, continue to impress and astound visitors to the Reggia. Among guests’ favourites are the palatine chapel, the court theatre, the throne room and the private apartments, which allow a fascinating glimpse into royal tastes and way of life.

The 120-hectare garden stretching out behind the palace is no less majestic than the chambers within. Along the central alley, dotted with fountains and sculptures, are pools which lead to a dramatic waterfall backdrop and beautifully tended flower beds ablaze with colour. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through this enchanting Eden before returning to your accommodation in Naples.