ItalyUpdate

The former Royal Palace of the Bourbon family at Caserta, near Naples (Campania region) has been awarded the 2009 prize for the Most Beautiful Park in Italy.The recent restoration of the celebrated English Garden in the Park was one of the factors that influenced the jurys decision. The Garden, commissioned by Queen Maria Carolina, wife of the King of Naples, Ferdinando IV, was intended (so the story goes) to rival the Trianon garden at Versailles created by her sister, Maria Antonietta of France. It was laid out by the English botanist Andrew Graefer and is a true botanical garden full of exotic plants and trees.

The Reggia (Royal Palace), an architectural jewel designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It will go on to participate in the 2010 contest for The Most Beautiful Park in Europe.

Last years winner of the 2008 contest for Italys Most Beautiful Garden was won by the Villa Nazionale Pisani at Stra in Veneto.

For information: www.reggiadicaserta.beniculturali.it