When we travel with children, our rule is always the same: just a few stops, plenty of space to run around and at least one thing "to tell the class" on Monday morning. Caserta ticks all three boxes beautifully. It has a huge park, a Bourbon woodland that has become a nature reserve, a planetarium and, a few kilometres away, an arena where gladiators once fought. Here are the ideas we have put together for a family weekend, with a plan B for rainy days.
The Royal Park, to enjoy in the open air
For younger children, the Royal Palace is above all its park: almost 3 kilometres of lawns, pools and fountains rising up to the Great Waterfall. Tell them that every fountain hides a myth, from Diana and Actaeon to Venus and Adonis, and turn the walk into a statue hunt. If your children can ride a bike, the most fun option is cycling: there is a hire service at the park entrance on the palace side, while you can bring your own bikes in through the Corso Giannone entrance.
At the top, the English Garden is perfect for a break: paths, rare plants, a small lake and romantic fake ruins that look as if they came straight out of a fairy-tale book. We describe both in our guide to the Royal Gardens of Caserta and in The English Garden of the Royal Palace of Caserta.
A practical tip: the park is big, and children get tired sooner than you think. Choose a finishing point, bring snacks and water, and don't feel guilty if you don't make it all the way to the waterfall.
San Silvestro woodland, a WWF oasis
Behind the Royal Palace lies a place many visitors don't know about: the Bosco di San Silvestro, a holm oak wood of about 76 hectares that was part of the Bourbon Royal Delights, between the Royal Park and San Leucio. Today it is a WWF Oasis with waymarked trails, guided tours and an education room, and it is recognised as a Site of Community Importance as well as being part of the UNESCO site. For children it is a chance to walk in the woods, observe plants and animals and understand that even kings needed nature. The oasis isn't open every day: check opening days on the official website.
The Planetarium, the plan B for rainy days
If the sky clouds over, the answer is to look at the stars indoors. The Caserta Planetarium, in Piazza Ungaretti, puts on shows about science and the history of science, presented live by a narrator who guides the audience, in the dark, among planets and constellations. The show lasts about an hour: it suits curious, slightly older children, while for the very little ones it may feel long. Check programmes and bookings on the planetarium's website.
San Leucio: silk and looms
A few minutes from the Royal Palace, the village of San Leucio tells a story children grasp straight away: a king who builds a village around a silk factory. In the Belvedere you can see the looms and machinery that were once powered by water, and explain to the kids how fabric is made, from cocoon to thread. Everything is in our guide to the Silk Museum of San Leucio.
Casertavecchia, the medieval village
For a different half-day, head up to Casertavecchia, the medieval village on the Tifatini Mountains. The stone lanes, the Romanesque cathedral and the remains of the castle are the perfect setting for tales of knights and towers. It is small and easy to explore on foot; on clear days you can see across the plain to the sea. Read Casertavecchia.
The gladiators of ancient Capua
With older children, it is worth going as far as Santa Maria Capua Vetere, home to the Campanian Amphitheatre, the second largest after the Colosseum. Next to the arena, the small Gladiator Museum explains the weapons, the fights and life in the gladiator schools: once you have seen it, the amphitheatre's underground passages become far more exciting. Find out more in The Campanian Amphitheatre and the Mithraeum of Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
The Ponti della Valle
If you have a car, end the weekend in front of the Ponti della Valle, the arches of the aqueduct Vanvitelli built to bring water to the Royal Palace. For children it is a chance to understand how water was carried from one mountain to another without pumps or engines. We explain it all in The Carolino Aqueduct and the Ponti della Valle.
A possible itinerary
- Saturday morning: the Royal Palace park by bike or on foot, with a picnic.
- Saturday afternoon: San Leucio and its silk looms.
- Sunday morning: the San Silvestro Oasis or, if it rains, the Planetarium.
- Sunday afternoon: Casertavecchia or the Campanian Amphitheatre, depending on the children's ages.
Getting there and when to go
Caserta is on the Rome–Naples railway line and the station is right in front of the Royal Palace: for families arriving by train it is hugely convenient. For Casertavecchia, San Silvestro and ancient Capua, a car makes everything easier. The ideal seasons are spring and autumn; in summer, visit the park early in the morning. Many state museums offer free entry for under-18s: check opening times, tickets and conditions on the official websites before you set off.
Nearby
If you are planning a longer trip, read our itinerary on Campania with children. For more things to do in the city, see our ideas on what to do in Caserta, and for the whole province there is Caserta and its surroundings.