The Monumental Complex of the Belvedere of San Leucio is a grand palace and park complex in the town of Caserta. It was commissioned by the King of Naples and Sicily, Carlo di Borbone. Together with the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Vanvitelli Aqueduct, it is listed as World Heritage. The complex is known for its royal apartments and an Italian garden.
Initially, the Real Colonia di San Leucio provided houses for the artisans, which were designed according to urban rules of the time to last, and were provided with running water and sanitary services. The king established the first modern compulsory school for women and men, which included professional disciplines. The Real Colonia di San Leucio had 11 hours of work while most of Europe had 14 hours. The Real Colonia di San Leucio ended with Italian unity, when the site was incorporated into the state domain and lost its particular status.
The utopian project was ahead of its time and a model of justice and social equity rare in the 18th century. It was a social experiment during the Age of Enlightenment that exalted the value of fraternity and aimed for equality between men and women.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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