Caserta– A 123-hectare green giant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is preparing for a technological leap. The Royal Palace of Caserta has officially begun the major construction project funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which will revolutionize the management of its Royal Park and English Garden.
The goal is ambitious: to provide the Vanvitelli Complex with a centralized "nervous system" for irrigation, capable of combining respect for history with the most modern demands of environmental sustainability.
A 25 million investment for regeneration
The Ministry of Culture's institute received a total of €25 million in funding, divided into four key projects for the regeneration of its green spaces.
The first step to be taken is the construction of the new irrigation system, a project entrusted to a temporary consortium of companies (Consorzio Stabile Ganosis, Vivai Antonio Marrone and Hera Restauri srl) for a value of approximately 2,7 million euros (against a starting bid of 4 million).
“Smart” water for a historic garden
But what will the new system be like? It won't compare to the current, obsolete pipelines.
“Much of the vegetation today is not reached by the network, which is antiquated and has a significant environmental impact,” explain the management of the Royal Palace.
The new project envisions a dual system: a primary supply network that will act as the "backbone" and a widespread secondary distribution system, designed to reach every corner of the park. The real game-changer, however, is the technology. The system will be equipped with sensors and remote monitoring systems.
Park 4.0: remote management and water savings
Sustainability is the guiding principle of the project. Thanks to soil moisture probes and rain gauges, irrigation will no longer be scheduled at fixed times, but activated only when and where needed, "customizing" the water supply based on the needs of different plant species. In the event of leaks or malfunctions, the remote control system will allow for timely adjustments to flow rates and pressure, ensuring significant savings in energy and water resources, which are precious and increasingly scarce.
Construction sites are open (but the public doesn't stop)
Those who fear finding closed gates and barriers can breathe a sigh of relief. The Palace has chosen a policy of transparency and accessibility: the major construction sites in the Royal Park are operating as an open-air museum. The excavation and installation of new pipes, underway in recent weeks in many areas of the Park and the English Garden, will not prevent the thousands of daily visitors from enjoying the beauty of the landscape.
"This is a deliberate choice," the Institute emphasizes, "to ensure a more sustainable future for our Green Museum, without denying it to present generations."
Not just irrigation: fountain restoration also underway
Alongside the plant construction, work has already begun on another of the four project components of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP): the restoration of the monumental fountains that enliven the famous waterway. The goal is twofold: to restore the splendor of Vanvitelli's water features and to hand down a healthier and more vibrant historical ecosystem to future generations.
The schedule is tight: the completion of the new irrigation system is scheduled for August 31st. This date will mark the beginning of a new life for the Palace's green lung.
The PNRR doesn't just finance cultural heritage: significant funds are also earmarked for the digitalization of local businesses. For Caserta SMEs that want to seize this opportunity, investing in their online presence is the first step towards digital transformation.
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