The story of this place
Commissioned in 1752 by Charles VII of Naples to rival Versailles, the Royal Palace of Caserta is the largest palace by volume in the world—1,200 rooms, 34 staircases, and 1,742 windows, designed by Luigi Vanvitelli. Its 120-hectare park stretches three kilometres to a spectacular cascade fed by a purpose-built 38-km aqueduct, ending in fountains of mythological sculpture. The Bourbon kings ruled the Two Sicilies from here until Italian unification. In 1943, after Naples fell, the palace became Allied headquarters for the Mediterranean, and on 29 April 1945 the German surrender of all forces in Italy was signed within its walls. Its grandeur later stood in for royal and galactic palaces in films from 'Star Wars' to 'Mission: Impossible.'