The historic Silk Factory of San Leucio, near Caserta, created by the 18th century Bourbon monarchs Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, is to be re-launched, with the backing of the Campania Regional government, as a consortium of manufacturers, geared to enter the global marketplace.
San Leucio has always produced a particularly high quality silk, used mainly for furnishing fabrics. In fact, its products embellish palaces and government offices, including Buckingham Palace and the White House, as well as the official residence of Italy's President, the Quirinale Palace.
The Consortium has pledged to invest in quality, as well as to use non-polluting dyes and recycle correctly all waste material.
The San Leucio colony was set up as a model manufacturing community in the mid-18th century. Inspired by the philosophies of the Enlightenment, it provided free housing for the workers and schools for their children. It had a statute that guaranteed equal pay for men and women as well as free choice for young people in their marriage partners.
The village is also open to visitors with guided tours round the historic looms and the adjoining Belvedere royal palace and gardens. Look out for the historic plane tree, last survivor of the row of plane trees planted by the Bourbons over two centuries ago.
Info: Tel. ++39. 823.301817 www.sanleucionline.it belvedere@comune.caserta.it