Belvedere of San Leucio

In 1750 Charles III of Bourbon bought the hill of San Leucio from the Acquaviva family, intending it as a hunting reserve near the Royal Palace. It was his son Ferdinand IV who turned it into a silk production centre: in 1778, to a design by Francesco Collecini, the Royal Colony of San Leucio was born, governed by its own code of laws inspired by enlightened despotism.Its hub is the 16th-century Acquaviva lodge, called the Belvedere for its splendid view over the Campanian plain, which from 1775 became a silk mill and royal residence at the same time. Around it lie the workers' village and the gardens. We recommend coming up here, if only for the view.