Italy: Caserta – Royal Palace

The Royal Palace of Caserta is an 18th-century masterpiece and one of the largest royal residences in the world. Built for Charles of Bourbon, King of Naples and Sicily between 1752 and 1845, the palace boasts 1,200 rooms, 1,742 windows, and covers 47,000 sq m exuding absolutely Baroque grandeur. Walking around it, you will be in total awe and your neck will hurt from looking up at the ornate ceilings. The highlights include the Grand Staircase, the opulent Throne Room, and the Court Theatre. The palace is surrounded by a large park, spanning 120 hectares, featuring a 3km-long central avenue with monumental fountains like the Fountain of Diana and Actaeon. You need to get in a bike to explore all of it. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and easily comparable to Versailles in its scale and grandeur.