Casina Vanvitelliana

On an islet in Lake Fusaro stands the Casina Vanvitelliana, a royal pleasure pavilion built in 1782 for Ferdinand IV. Designed by Carlo Vanvitelli, it rises above waters long associated with oyster and mussel farming and remains a defining landmark of Bacoli.

Why it matters

The Bourbon court treated the Phlegraean coast as a chain of pleasure grounds. Charles of Bourbon acquired Lake Fusaro and surrounding lands in 1752, and his son Ferdinand IV developed fishing and mussel cultivation there. In 1782 Ferdinand commissioned Carlo Vanvitelli, son of the architect Luigi Vanvitelli, to build a hunting and fishing pavilion on the lake's small island.

What to notice

The polygonal pavilion stands on the water, its central body flanked by lower wings that form terraces. A timber bridge now connects the island with the shore, replacing the boats that once provided the approach. Around the lake, the Ostrichina recalls the productive history of oyster farming; it later housed a restaurant known as the Grand Restaurant.

Context and history

Lake Fusaro's history reaches back beyond the Bourbon period. In the Middle Ages, its revenues were associated with the hospital of Tripergole, a thermal settlement later destroyed by the eruption of Monte Nuovo in 1538. The Bourbons consolidated the area as a royal domain for hunting and fishing. In the twentieth century the pavilion became a film location, including for Lina Wertmüller's 1999 film Ferdinando e Carolina. The Comune di Bacoli now owns the Casina and uses it for cultural events.