Valle di Maddaloni
The Carolino Aqueduct: History and Characteristics
The Carolino Aqueduct is named after King Charles of Bourbon, King of Naples, who commissioned the work. Construction began in March 1753 and was completed in 1770, with a total cost of 622424 Ducats. The aqueduct extends for a length of 38 kilometers and draws water from the slopes of Mount Taburno, from the sources of Fizzo, in the territory of Airola.
The work required the support of the best scholars and mathematicians of the kingdom of Naples, including Luigi Vanvitelli, who designed it. The aqueduct is considered one of the most architecturally and ingeniously interesting works of the 18th century in Europe.
The Works That Use the Water of the Aqueduct
The Carolino Aqueduct feeds the Belvedere of San Leucio and also supplies water to the "royal delights" consisting of the Reggia di Caserta, the English Garden and the San Silvestro Forest.
In addition to the Belvedere of San Leucio, the entire Caserta area has seen the development of multiple business initiatives that exploited the driving force of water, such as the numerous mills implanted along the articulated route of the aqueduct.
The Water System of the Aqueduct
From the artificial cave located at the end of the great park of the Reggia di Caserta, a branch leads to the Belvedere building, the famous spinning mill-palace desired by Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies for the production and weaving of silk. This structure still preserves the Renaissance-style gardens enriched with sculptural groups and fountains, as well as the 19th-century gardens where a large cistern collects the waters of Carolino to operate the "water wheel" of the spinning mill.
After crossing the Bosco Vecchio, a branch of Carolino reaches the royal estate of Carditello, a model farm also desired by Ferdinand IV.
The Carolino Aqueduct Towers
The Carolino Aqueduct conduit, wide and high, is marked by 67 "towers", square-shaped constructions with a pyramidal roof intended for venting and inspection accesses.
The Carolino Aqueduct is an important historical and cultural heritage that testifies to the great engineering capacity of the designers and craftsmen of the time. Its beauty and functionality make it an extraordinary work even today.
