During my last week in Naples, Italy, I still hadn’t gotten around to all of those touristy things in Naples and had to make it happen. I know, I know, I’ve lived in Naples, Italy for 2 whole years and still hadn’t gotten things like Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii out of the way. Worst. Tourist. Ever.

Check back for updates throughout the weeks as I do some of the most Neopolitan things you ever did see!

First, we’re going to kick things off with Caserta, Palace, one of the largest European palaces built in the 18th century. If I’m being honest, I had been to the palace gardens once before to see Andrea Bocelli perform live with my dad, which was just magnificent by the way (click the link for clips).

Before I take you inside, the day is nice enough, let’s have a bike ride around the palace gardens out back. For just a couple euro you can rent bikes for a couple of hours, totally worth it! Even pack a lunch if you have the time.

The fountain Aeolus, dedicated to the God of winds.

The gardens stretch back pretty far. The waterfall in the back is 3.3 km from the castle. Good thing we had bikes! There are also horse and buggy rides available and vans that drive down the roadways.
Impromptu photo shoot at the fountain of Venus and Adonis. The scene here is when Venus is begging Adonis not to go hunting so as to be killed by a wild boar as predicted. Sounds familiar… except there was no begging from Queen Cersei for King Baratheon.

This is the fountain of Diana and Actean, at the bottom of the waterfall. Diana is Godess of the hunt and very famous in the Caserta region.

The man turning into a dear on the left is Acten, who dared look at Diana’s naked body and she turned into a stag to be eaten by his own dogs. Man, what a life.

One more impromptu photo from the shoot, and then it was all the way back to try to capture the palace with the gardens in it.

Damn, what a photo! Lovely place. The gardens with the palace in the background.

Time to head back to the palace for the grand tour.

#framedit

Did you know that this is one of the filming locations for Star Wars?!

The main staircase you walk up to start the tour. Audio guides are available.

I don’t know this guy, but he did it right!

The staircase on the right is where Queen Amadala walks down the steps with the royal guards, meaning Natalie Portman has walked these halls. woo!

This place must get so cold in the winter, with everything being made of marble.

The lighting from the window on the second floor was perfect for a few photos here.

At the top of the staircase. The sweeping arches make for the most picturesque photos.

The chandelier’s were giant.
Look how low they hang in the room.

If I stood on my tippy toes, I’d be able to touch the bottom, but there were people watching like hawks.
With 1,200 rooms in the palace, there was not enough time to see them all, so we decided to walk through just a couple. Let’s head to the apartments.

To the throne room..!

The central painting of “the vault” symbolizes the laying of the foundation stone for the palace on 20 January 1752.

So many beautiful things are located within the palace. Although these pictures make the palace look magnificent, it was obvious that the upkeep is only semi-conducted. There was dirt all over the floors, and the mirrors and windows have not been cleaned in days. You were not even required to wear booties, the sorts of things that other cities outside of Naples use for the preservation of castles.

So much gold!

On to the king’s private apartments.

A picture of the palace from a time long gone, with the royal family and the guard standing outside.

Inside the king’s royal apartments and living quarters. Sometimes these type of rooms just seem too big.

Out of one of the side windows you have the perfect views of Mt. Vesuvius.

Walking back down to the main area, we were done touring for the day and decided to walk outside and find some food at an Italian cafeteria down one of the side streets.

The entry gate from the front of the palace. The ticket office and gift shop is just inside.

She’s magnifico. Seriously.

And how would you like to be the dogs that are playing on the Caserta Palace front lawn right now? Come on, I know you’re a little jealous.

This article appeared first on The Cassey Excursion.