Discover Caserta: the Bridges of the Maddaloni Valley

The Aqueduct “Carolino”

L’Aqueduct “Carolino” was wanted by king Charles III of Bourbon so that the water was brought from the river Fizzo (in the territory of Bucciano at the foot of Mount Taburno) until the Palace of the Royal Palace, but also to the whole area including San Leucio e Carditello.

It is one of the most important achievements made during the reign of Charles of Bourbon: it was also celebrated by two epigraphs (1759) which are located at street level.

The works began in 1753 until the 1770 guided by the Architect Luigi Vanvitelli: there was an overall expense of 622.424 ducati.

The Aqueduct is long 500 meters (circa 38 km): alto 1,3 mt. and wide 1,2 mt. It has 67 roof towers with a square plan structure and a pyramidal roof: they have an inspection and drain function in case of overflow.

Thanks to the presence of “Bridges of the Valley” it crosses the whole territory starting from Benevento up to Caserta.

The "Bridges of the Valley" have three overlapping arches of which at the end facing Benevento, and note, a hydrometric station used to measure the flow rate of the duct.

The Royal Palace of Caserta: the Italian Versailles

The mill deserves particular interest, built at the same time as the pipe and initially used as an ironworks, secondly as a flour mill and then, in 1903, as a small hydroelectric power station to power the city of Caserta.

Moreover, l’Aqueduct “Carolino” and the arches of the “Bridges of the Valley” is site of UNESCO heritage.

of the Royal Palace Park

Visit the Aqueduct “Carolino” ed i “Bridges of the Valley”

To visit the’Aqueduct “Carolino” ed i “Bridges of the Valley” it starts from the arches that flank the monte Longano up to the tower n. 50, to the church of San Carlo, to the old mill (built by Ferdinand IV in 1795) and at the ironworks.

The ironworks was fueled until 1822 from the water of the same mill, then he also transports it to the mill.

The mills were built on two levels: on the lower floor there were the millstones and the stables while on the upper floor there were the homes of the millers.

Today, of the mill structure on the upper floor only the ruins remain while in the lower one there was a hydrogeological station and a pig farm. But today all this no longer exists.

Conclusions

A visit to the’Aqueduct “Carolino” what's up “Bridges of the Valley” it is an important step…it means knowing an important part of history with all its implications: the importance of that construction and its why.

in conclusion…it is a must if you are in that area.