Description of the attraction
Casertavecchia is an area of the city of Caserta, located at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level, 10 km northeast of the city center at the foot of the Tifatini mountains. From the Italian language its name is translated as Old Caserta, and it is really an old city center that has retained the appearance of a typical Italian medieval village.
The origin of Casertavecchia has not been reliably established, but according to the Benedictine monk Erchempert, the settlement was founded in 861. Earlier on this place was the ancient Roman city of Kazam Irtam. The first rulers of Casertavecchia were the Lombards, then the Saracens plundered it, and even later the fortified village became a provincial diocese. During the Norman domination, construction began on the Cathedral of San Michele, dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Then a native of Swabia, Riccardo di Lauro, ruled here, under whom the city experienced a period of its greatest prosperity.
In 1442, Casertavecchia was conquered by representatives of the Aragonese dynasty, and a long period of gradual decline began, which led to the fact that only the seminary and the bishop's chair remained in the city. Under the Bourbons, the development of the large Caserta began, and as a result, in 1842, all political power and even the diocese moved there. Casertavecchia remained a modest provincial town. In 1960, it was declared a national monument of Italy.
Today Casertavecchia lives primarily on tourism. Here you can see the old Cathedral of San Michele with its 11th century bell tower, the Annunziata Church and the ruins of the ancient castle of Castello Medioevale with a tower, as well as dine at one of the local pizzerias with picturesque views of the surrounding area.
