CASERTA, a town of Naples, capital of the province of
Terra di Lavoro, stands in a fine plain 17 miles N.E. of
Naples, and 6 miles E.S.E. of Capua. It has about 5000
inhabitants, and is principally noted for its palace and aque-
duct, both constructed by Vanvitelli for Charles III. The
palace, which is reputed one of the most magnificent royal
residences in Europe, is a rectangular building, in the richest
style of Italian architecture. The length of the front on the
south side is about 780 feet, and the height 125 feet, with
five stories, each with a row of 37 windows; the gardens are
adorned with numerous cascades supplied with water by an
aqueduct upwards of 21 miles long from the skirts of Monte
Taburno.