Water theft at the Royal Palace of Caserta: Director Maffei: "These have been difficult months, but now is a turning point."

The Royal Palace of Caserta has endured months of silent suffering. While the Royal Park yellowed under the sun and the fountains remained almost silent, water from the ancient Carolino Aqueduct—a masterpiece of Bourbon engineering and the lifeblood of the Royal Palace's green heritage—was being illegally siphoned off. Today, that silence is broken by an arrest: the Carabinieri have arrested a 58-year-old farmer, accused of illegally siphoning water intended for the monument, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"I thank the Caserta Carabinieri and the Forestry Corps for responding to our alarm.", said the director of the ReggiaTiziana Maffei. A cry that had been kept secret for months, in agreement with law enforcement, so as not to hinder the investigation. “We've been through some difficult weeks, dealing with institutions and environmental authorities to understand the extent of the damage.”

The consequences were clear to every visitor: no irrigation in the high meadows, water resources concentrated only on the most fragile trees and flowers, while the famous meadows turned yellow awaiting rain. Only the Grand Parterre, with its autonomous system, withstood the scorching heat.

But now we're looking ahead. With funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), two unprecedented projects are underway: one to restore the Fizzo springs and the Carolino Aqueduct, and the other to create a modern and sustainable system that will prevent further waste and ensure irrigation of the complex.