OFFICINA VANVITELLI
Monumental complex of the Real Belvedere of San Leucio, Caserta
City Information
San Leucio is a fraction of the municipality of Caserta known for its historical and artistical history located 3.5 km northwest of the city. The royal site has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and in it covers an area of 16.871 m².In 1773 Ferdinand IV wanted to build a solitary retreat where to spend his free time and he chose exactly the hills that flanked the Caserta Park where there was a chapel dedicated to San Leucio, the martyr bishop of Brindisi, from whom the site took its name. On the death of the king’s eldest son, Carlo Tito, he decided to erect a hospice for the poor where he assigned a factory so as not to keep them idle. The colony grew rapidly so it was decided to build more buildings to improve its functionality. The silk factory workers were assigned a house inside, and free education was also provided for their children, being able to benefit from the first compulsory school in Italy. King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon planned to enlarge the colony also for the new industrial needs due to the introduction of the “reeling” of silk and the manufacture of veils, therefore to build a new city, to be called Ferdinandopoli, conceived on a completely circular plan. He did not succeed, but in the neighborhoods annexed to the Belvedere the silk orders even today, they still come from all over Europe: nowadys, the productions of San Leucio can be found in the Vatican, at the Quirinale, in the Oval Office of the White House: even the flags of Buckingham Palace are made with this material.
Site Information
Officina Vanvitelli, born within the activities of the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, is a light district for fashion and design in Campania. It is both a space for experimentation and innovation, a meeting place for minds, cultures and different skills. It is the space where ideas fall into solid matter, becoming visible and active. It is also the place where the new floating factory takes shape, capable of incorporating knowledge into material products and services and launching them into the world.It is the place of confrontation with companies, productive realities, institutions and bodies that represent the complex reality of the territory and its geographies, not only physical, but cultural and social, with the aim of continuously identifying new scenarios, knowledge and relationships for one development based on an “industry of cultures”.
Officina Vanvitelli encourages the scouting and realization of the projects of creative talents, experimenting with new paths to offer tangible and intangible opportunities, as well as public / private investments.
Officina aims to bridge the gap that still exists between academic training and the world of fashion and design companies in its various connotations: consolidated, emerging companies, start-ups, spin-offs, and will collaborate closely with the production reality for the development of new professions and the business of the future.
The headquarters was inaugurated on 23 January 2019, on that occasion the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design conferred an honorary degree on Rosita Missoni, founder of the famous brand.
Transportation to San Leucio
How to get to/from San Leucio
By Bus
From Napoli to Caserta
Napoli – Caserta (ATC https://www.atcbus.it/ )
From Caserta to San Leucio
From Caserta railway station: CLP Linea 106 or Linea 108 | (U 06 or U 08 airmobilitasrl)
By Train
From Napoli to Caserta
Naples Piazza Garibaldi is served by the regional route to the Caserta railway station, from where it is possible to catch a bus.
From Afragola AV to Caserta
The Afragola AV station is served by bus line AV2 to the Caserta railway station.
From here it is possible to catch a bus
By Flight
Naples International Airport – NAP is served by ATC buses (https://www.atcbus.it/) to Caserta railway station.
How to get around San Leucio
Public Transportation
Bus
Suburban Train
Taxi
Shuttle Services
Timetable
| Day | H | From | To |
| 11.05 | 08:00 | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO |
| 11.05 | 08:30 | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO |
| 11.05 | 19:00 | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA |
| 11.05 | 19:00 | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA |
| 12.05 | 08:00 | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO |
| 12.05 | 08:30 | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO |
| 12.05 | 19:00 | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA |
| 12.05 | 19:00 | BELVEDERE DI SAN LEUCIO | CAPOLINEA STAZIONE DI CASERTA |
Hotel
Hotel Europa Art
Via Roma 19- 8100 Caserta
Hotel Royal
Via Vittorio Veneto 13 – 81100 Caserta
