Late in the afternoon of July 10, at around 7:20 p.m., a fire struck the Royal Site of Carditello, affecting one of its appurtenant woods, the so-called Eucalyptus Woods. The area, located behind the main entrance to the Bourbon Royal Palace, was in perfect condition, constantly maintained in terms of cleanliness and maintenance. Frequently used to host family events and equestrian activities with ponies and horses, the forest represented a vital space for both the local community and the cultural and environmental enhancement of the site.
The fire, of an arson nature according to initial reconstructions, quickly developed within the wooded area, spreading to involve about 7,000 square meters. The presence of eucalyptus trees and other dry vegetation favored the advance of the flames, which were also visible from a distance due to the column of black smoke that rose above the affected area. It was this dense cloud that drew the attention of the security personnel present inside the monument complex, who promptly intervened to attempt to contain the fire.
The action of the internal staff proved decisive in the early stages. It was thanks to their immediate intervention that the spread of the fire was contained, limiting the damage and allowing the firefighters to arrive under more favorable operating conditions. Once on the scene, the firefighters completed firefighting operations and secured the area, averting the risk that the flames could involve other areas of the site or cause even more serious damage to local flora and fauna.
In the morning following the event, Forest Carabinieri from the Marcianise station carried out an inspection along the entire perimeter of the affected area. The objective of the inspection is to gather useful elements to trace the precise causes of the fire, with particular attention to any traces that may indicate the point of ignition or the materials used to start the flames. The investigation is leaning toward the hypothesis of arson, a lead that, if confirmed, would constitute environmental crimes of particular gravity, in an area under landscape and historical-cultural protection.
“We do not know the motive,” explained Maurizio Maddaloni, president of the Real Sito di Carditello Foundation, “but we immediately filed a complaint with the Santa Maria Capua Vetere Carabinieri station, which will now have to assess whether it was arson. Certainly, the work of the Foundation continues and stops at nothing and no one. These events-if any were needed-incite us even more to pull straight. In the very area affected by the flames, a thistle, a plant that gave Carditello its name, survived and an eagle soared. Symbols of resilience and rebirth, like the hawk and hoopoe that today returned to repopulate the royal grove. So let us always move forward with our heads held high, in the name of legality, administrative transparency and environmental protection.”
The Royal Site of Carditello, an 18th-century Bourbon residence located in the municipality of San Tammaro, in the province of Caserta, has long been the subject of a careful process of restoration and enhancement by the Foundation of the same name, with the support of public institutions. The estate, which includes historic buildings, gardens, wooded areas and spaces for cultural activities, represents a relevant example of heritage that has been recovered and returned to collective enjoyment. The fire hit precisely one of the areas that had been the subject of maintenance and enhancement work in recent years, as part of a regeneration project that aims to combine historic preservation and environmental sustainability.
The regular presence of families, school groups, associations and visitors within the site is testimony to the new centrality that the Royal Site has assumed for the area. In this context, the act of arson appears all the more serious, not only because of the direct environmental damage done to the vegetation and ecosystems of the forest, but also because of the interruption of the public activities that were taking place there. Equestrian events, in particular, involving ponies and horses in educational and recreational activities, could be temporarily halted due to the need to check the safety conditions of the surrounding area.
Although the promptness of rescue efforts prevented worse consequences, alarm remains over an act that could be repeated. The vulnerability of landscape and cultural assets to degradation and malicious attacks remains a relevant issue in public heritage management. Such episodes, if not adequately countered, risk undermining efforts made in recent years to restore value and social function to places that were once abandoned or underutilized.
The technical surveys carried out by the Carabinieri Foresteri will now serve to guide the investigation. It is not excluded that in the coming days images will be acquired from any video surveillance systems or reports from residents, in order to reconstruct more accurately the dynamics of the incident. The cooperation of the citizenry will also be crucial to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future. On the administrative side, a verification and restoration activity will be carried out by the relevant agencies to assess the actual damage and prepare the necessary actions for the recovery of the affected area. The priority will be to ensure the safety of the area, restore environmental conditions and make the damaged spaces usable again.
The affair, however, reiterates the need to strengthen preventive and control measures, with particular attention to cultural and landscape sites, which not only guard the historical memory of an area but also play a crucial role in social cohesion and the promotion of sustainable practices.
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| Fire at the Royal Site of Carditello, devastated the Eucalyptus Woods |
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