Royal Palace of Caserta, a record-breaking 2025: over a million visitors and strategic construction sites underway.

Caserta – Over a million visitors in twelve months, new spaces reopened to the public, major structural projects funded by the PNRR, and an increasingly strong international presence.

2025 marks a turning point for the Royal Palace of Caserta, which consolidates its position among the leading Italian and European cultural centers, despite a persistent and serious shortage of technical, administrative, and supervisory staff.

The admission figures represent a significant milestone, further confirmed during the free admission days, during which the Vanvitelli complex consistently ranked between third and fifth nationally. This achievement was made possible by intense organizational work that ensured special openings, themed tours, community initiatives, and new ways to enjoy the heritage.

On the preservation front, 2025 has been marked by a busy schedule of restorations and structural interventions. Among the most significant is the demolition of the attic of the second antechamber of the Queen's Apartment, which has restored the room to its original historical volume and fully legible vault.

At the same time, a thorough survey and inventory of historical and artistic artifacts has enabled, for the first time, the systematic organization of the museum's storage facilities, scheduled to open to the public in 2026. This work also led to the selection of approximately 400 nativity scene elements chosen by the Quirinale for display in the Sala del Mappamondo.

Particular attention was paid to public services, with the renovation of restrooms in the Royal Park and the Third Courtyard, making them more accessible and energy-efficient. The Park, the city's green lung, underwent daily and scheduled maintenance of its vegetation.

Thanks to the commitment of the Ministry of Culture staff, the Royal Palace has received 25 million euros in PNRR funding, earmarked for four major projects involving the Bosco di San Silvestro, the Carolino Aqueduct and the Fizzo springs, the monumental fountains of the Via d'Acqua, and the new prairie irrigation system.

Over the course of the year, the paving of the upper avenues, the restoration of the ruined Temple and the Shepherd's Fountain were completed, while the Fish Pond is close to reopening. Work on the Passionist Complex and the Liparoti is also well underway.

The theme of hospitality was a key focus of the year. The area housing Michelangelo Pistoletto's permanent installation was inaugurated in the Bosco Vecchio, while the new entrance from Corso Giannone—opened for the Olympic Torch Relay—strengthened the bond between the Royal Palace and the city.

2025 closed with the flagship exhibition "Queens. Weaves of Culture and Diplomacy between Naples and Europe," held in the Grand Gallery, which attracted a high attendance and strengthened the Royal Palace's international recognition as a leading cultural institution.

Widespread participation was also seen in the initiatives of the Call for Enhancement, adopted as a best practice by other museums, and in the new Call for Participatory Enhancement of the UNESCO Site, extended to the core and buffer zones. In terms of public-private partnerships, the "SEMI – Sviluppo e meraviglia d'impresa" project led to the opening of Le Serre di Graefer, the new store in the former guardhouse of Ercole, and the completion of the process for the Camellia Garden.

"A year has come to a close that has demanded much of the Royal Palace of Caserta and, at the same time, has restored its full awareness of its own strength," says Director Tiziana Maffei. "The visible results are just the beginning of a profound effort, built over seven years of study, planning, complex procedures, and daily care. 2026 will be a time of consolidation: solid foundations for the Royal Palace to continue to grow and speak to the future with dignity, beauty, and vision."