Monumental Complex of the Belvedere of San Leucio

About this activity

Those who stop in Caserta on their way to the beauty of Campania cannot fail to enjoy the charm of the Monumental Complex of the Belvedere of San Leucio to Caserta. Already famous in the late 1600s, once a former colony and silk industry, today it is a monumental complex that boasts a first-rate place in local historical memory. Lovers of tradition and art will find in San Leucio fine textiles and monuments that tell the story of a passion, which for years has been jealously carried on almost as if to guard an identity that one does not want and must not lose. The past of this enchanting village explains how, with the birth of the silk factory in San Leucio, an avant-garde breakthrough was opened in the Caserta area.

Why Visit the Monumental Complex Of San Leucio

Under the King of Naples Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, the San Leucio silkworks had its heyday. The Neapolitan ruler aspired to create a community that today we would call "utopian": the San Leucio seteria was a veritable city within a city, and all the inhabitants could self-supply without needing to go outside the walls of the fiefdom.

Ferdinandopolis, the dream of the Bourbon king.

King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon was very fond of his colony and planned to expand its territory for the new industrial needs due to the introduction of silk processing and the manufacture of veils. He wanted to build a new city and call it Ferdinandopolis. King Ferdinand's utopian project unfortunately ended with the unification of Italy when everything was incorporated into state property, but tradition and quality in the production of silk textiles remained to this day.

The visiting routes of the San Leucio Monumental Complex.

The tour itinerary includes the Industrial Archaeology Section where you will see all the machinery intended for silk production, the Historic Apartments, in which the rulers and a trusted few lived, the Royal Gardens that could be reached from the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Weaver's House, a typical home of silk factory workers, open every first Sunday of the month, thanks to local associations that are dedicated to explaining to visitors the customs and traditions of ancient Leucians related to the utopian dream of the Bourbon king.

Where to buy fine Leucian silks

For all lovers of fine fabrics who want to know where to buy Leucian silks, we recommend visiting:

• The Antico Opificio Serico show room located at 20 Silk Square, which first of all carries on the sale of traditional Leucian silks.
• The innovative store "Antiche Leuciane" located at 2 Trattoria Square, which over the years has sought to enhance the prestigious fabric by creating a wider range of products, also making fashion accessories, wedding favors and gift ideas.
• The textile company "Alois is San Leucio" where you can find a wide range of textiles, trimmings and furnishing accessories with San Leucio silks.

Curiosities about the San Leucio silk factory.

The Royal Colony of San Leucio was established in 1778, and the community lived by its own laws and rules. Workers in the silk factories were offered a home within the colony, and family members were offered free training in vocational disciplines. The dwellings, from the beginning, were equipped with running water and toilets. Women in the community enjoyed the right to a dowry from the king, earmarked at the time of marriage to a young man belonging to the colony. Available to all was a communal charity chest, where each worker contributed a portion of his or her earnings. By abolishing the concept of private property and guaranteeing care for the elderly and infirm, King Ferdinand aimed to exalt the value of brotherhood and community support.

In 1997 along with the Royal Palace of Caserta, San Leucio was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.