| Caserta | |
|---|---|
| — Comune — | |
| Comune di Caserta | |
| Panoramic view of Caserta | |
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Caserta
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Campania |
| Province | Caserta (CE) |
| Frazioni | Aldifreda, Briano, Casertavecchia, Casola, Casolla, Centurano, Ercole, Falciano, Garzano, Mezzano, Piedimonte di Casolla, Pozzovetere, Puccianiello, Sala di Caserta, San Benedetto, San Clemente, San Leucio, Santa Barbara, Staturano, Tredici, Tuoro, Vaccheria |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nicodemo Petteruti (Democratic Party) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 53 km2 (20.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 68 m (223 ft) |
| Population (December 31, 2004) | |
| • Total | 79,488 |
| • Density | 1,499.8/km2 (3,884.4/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Casertani |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 81020 (Caserta Vecchia, Casola di Caserta), 81100 (Caserta) |
| Dialing code | 0823 |
| Patron saint | St. Sebastian and St. Anne |
| Website | Official website |
Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range. The city is best known for the Palace of Caserta.
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Modern Caserta was established around the defensive tower built in Lombard times by Pando, Prince of Capua. Pando destroyed the original city around 863. The tower is now part of the Palazzo della Prefettura which was once the seat of the counts of Caserta, as well as a Royal residence. The original population moved from Casertavecchia (former bishopric seat) to the current site in the 16th century.
The city and vicinity were the property of the Acquaviva family, who, being pressed by huge debts, sold all the land to the royal family. The royal family then selected Caserta for the construction of their new palace, which, being in land was seen as more defensible than the previous palace fronting the Bay of Naples.
Caserta is nowadays also well known for the strong influence of the Camorra, a Mafia-type organization, on the city's economic and social life.
Caserta is located 40 km (24.85 mi) in north of Naples and is part of its metropolitan area. Its municipality borders with Capua, Casagiove, Casapulla, Castel Morrone, Curti, Limatola (BN), Maddaloni, Marcianise, Recale, San Felice a Cancello, San Marco Evangelista, San Nicola la Strada, San Prisco, Sant'Agata de' Goti (BN), Santa Maria Capua Vetere and Valle di Maddaloni.
Caserta railway station is a hub for regional and national traffic, and represents an important interchange linking Rome and Naples to Bari. Nearest airport is Naples-Capodichino, located circa 30 km (18.64 mi) south.
Caserta is the starting point of the A30 motorway to Salerno and, on A1, is served by two exits: Caserta Nord (C. North, near Casagiove and Casapulla) and Caserta Sud (C. South, near Marcianise and San Marco Evangelista.
Caserta was the birthplace of the Italian writer Maria Valtorta, as well as the air power theorist Giulio Douhet. Fictional character Jennifer Melfi of The Sopranos said her family was from Caserta.