Palazzo Acquaviva
On Piazza Vanvitelli, between the municipal offices and the Banca d'Italia, stands a three-story Renaissance palazzo that the city has quietly absorbed into its working life. The Prefettura and Questura of Caserta now occupy it — civil servants where counts and princes once slept — but the bones of the building give away its older ambitions.
The rooms that survive public access, however rarely, are furnished with paintings and pieces drawn from the Reggia di Caserta's collections. Goethe and the painter Jakob Philipp Hackert both passed time here, long before the Royal Palace down the road became the city's dominant address.
💛 What travellers fall for
Anyone who has managed to get inside during FAI Spring Days will tell you to arrive at opening — the guided groups fill quickly and the first-floor reception rooms, with their vaulted staircase and the small picture gallery, reward close attention. The Apartment of the President of the Republic is the one room most visitors don't expect to find in a working government building.
The story behind Palazzo Acquaviva
A medieval tower stood here first, sometime in the 13th century. By the 16th century the structure had become the seat of the Acquaviva d'Aragona feudatories, and in 1569 Count Giulio Antonio Acquaviva began reshaping it into a Renaissance residence — the occasion was his marriage, and garden work followed the year after. His son, Prince Andrea Matteo Acquaviva, pushed the project further from 1595, adding the third story and giving the façade its current presence on what was then called Piazza della Baronia.
In 1634 the palace passed through marriage to the Caetani family. Then, on 29 August 1750, Charles of Bourbon acquired it and used it as a royal residence while his own vast commission — the Reggia — was still under construction. The building has been in government hands ever since.
Good to know
Public access is essentially limited to FAI Spring Days (next confirmed date: 21 March 2026, 9:30–13:30). The palazzo sits on Piazza Vanvitelli — walkable from Caserta's main rail station, roughly two kilometres. No entry fee during FAI events. Check the FAI website in advance; places on guided tours go fast.
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What travellers say about Palazzo Acquaviva
We want to thank Francesco and Valentina for a great week and for always being there to help, if needed. It's a wonderful apartment that offers a lot! Located in the most beautiful part of the city, Centro Storico, you can reach everything by foot. Thank You,we'll come back!
Beautiful house, clean, comfortable even for a large group like ours, located in the historic center of Naples, close to everything and an excellent starting point for visiting this wonderful city. Valentina was very kind and available throughout our stay. She's a top-notch woman! I will return to Naples and choose this beautiful house again. Germana
The two-story house is truly in the heart of Naples, just steps from Sorbillo, the Veiled Christ, and Piazza Bellini. Welcoming and functional. The owners, Francesco and Valentina, a young and newlywed couple, are the icing on the cake: smiling, helpful, and warm, they make you feel at home, even offering excellent coffee! Highly recommended!!! Well done
Located right in the historic center of Naples, it's convenient for amenities (the Piazza Dante metro station is very close), restaurants, and shopping, with the bustling Via Toledo just 400 meters away. The apartment has been recently renovated with great taste and has everything you could need and more. Francesco welcomed us with great warmth and kindness, and was always available, offering us helpful tips for making the most of the city. We found the city to be liveable, colorful, lively, and welcoming, as only Naples can be. From the apartment, in two days we visited Castel dell'Ovo, Piazza Plebiscito, the Royal Palace, the Naples Underground, San Gregorio Armeno, Castel Sant'Elmo, the Cloister of Santa Chiara, and the Chapel of San Severo. Even the funicular is a snap to reach... All in all, a truly wonderful weekend. P.S. My only advice from and to the airport: use super honest taxis with amazing drivers... and the Napoli Notte restaurant, fantastic food and superb staff... Thank you, Naples, you will always remain in our hearts, and thank you Francesco for everything. Stefy and company
The place was poorly maintained, the linens were still dirty, I expected better!
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