In brief
- 38 km long, begun in 1753 to a design by Luigi Vanvitelli.
- The Ponti della Valle, at Valle di Maddaloni, have three tiers of arches: 60 metres high and about 500 long.
- You can see them for free, without a ticket.
- Part of the Royal Palace of Caserta UNESCO site.
An aqueduct for the king’s fountains
The fountains of the Royal Park needed a great deal of water, and the plain of Caserta had none. So Luigi Vanvitelli designed an aqueduct 38 kilometres long that collects water at the foot of Monte Taburno and carries it all the way to the Grand Cascade. Work began in 1753. Today the Carolino Aqueduct, named after Charles of Bourbon (Carlo in Italian), is part of the UNESCO site together with the Royal Palace and San Leucio.
The Ponti della Valle
To cross the valley between Monte Longano and Monte Garzano, at Valle di Maddaloni, Vanvitelli built a bridge with three tiers of arches, one above the other: 60 metres high and about 500 long. It is one of the great aqueduct bridges of Europe, and you can see it close up without a ticket.
How to see them
The Ponti della Valle are reached by car from Caserta. The best time is late afternoon, when the low light warms the arches. Combine the visit with San Leucio, on the opposite side of town, or with Casertavecchia.
From Royal Palace B&B
Once you have seen the Grand Cascade in the park, the Ponti della Valle show you where its water comes from. You set off from our private car park without driving through any restricted traffic zones (ZTL).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a ticket to see the Ponti della Valle?
No. You can see the Ponti della Valle freely from the road and the surrounding area.
What does the aqueduct have to do with the Royal Palace?
It was built to bring water to the Royal Park: it feeds the Via d’Acqua (water way) and the Grand Cascade, as well as San Leucio.
