CASERTA, DIOCESE of. — On the slopes of M. Virgo, at 400 m above sea level, lies the present village of C. vecchia, which some would have occupy the site of ancient Saticola, while others regard it as of Lombard origin. It is first mentioned in the chronicle of Ecchemperto at the end of the 9th century under the designation Casa irta. It was held by the nephews of Bishop Landolfo; it flourished in the 10th century, after the destruction of Suessula and Calatia; in 1268 it was taken by Carlo d'Angiò from Count Corrado, who ceded it to Guglielmo di Bellomonte. It then passed to the Sanseverino, the Ribulsi, the della Ratta, and the Caetani, finally coming to the Borboni in 1750.
When Carlo III di Borbone began in 1752 the construction of the famous royal palace, designed by L. Vanvitelli on the plain in the Torre district, C. vecchia began to lose its population to the benefit of the new C., which was arising around the palace.
As for the origin of the diocese, it does not go back beyond the 12th century, when, in the time of Pasquale II, Rainulfo was bishop (1113). In 1818 Pio VII united the diocese of Cajazzo to C.; Pio IX, however, separated them again in 1852.
The cathedral dedicated to S. Michele Arcangelo is an outstanding monument of C. vecchia. It was consecrated in 1153 and completed subsequently; it contains various architectural elements, such as the classicizing colonnade with arches that are rather Arabesque, like those of the vaults of the transept. The tall tiburium with its double tier of arches is particularly striking; the interior has three naves with columns and reused capitals, a transept, and apses. Dating from the 13th century and featuring complex mosaic decoration are the surviving ambo and the Paschal candlestick, remodeled in the 18th century.
The pavement is in the Cosmatesque style, with cut-out figures; the bell tower, dating from 1254, has a drum and small turrets, likewise of Sicilian inspiration, like that of Gaeta.
C. vecchia also had the collegiate church of S. Giacomo,
erected by Roberto, count of C., and consecrated by Bishop Porfirio in 1178 in honor of SS. Giacomo, Nicola, and Basilio; it was later annexed to the Dominican convent in the 13th century.
There is also the church of S. Pietro ad Monte, said to have arisen over the ruins of the temple of Giove Tifernino and contemporary with the cathedral of C. vecchia. It is built of Roman material and has a semicircular apse; inside, beneath the plaster, remains of paintings have been revealed: a Crucifixion and, between the arches, the Prophets, as in the contemporary S. Angelo in Formis.
The diocese, a suffragan of Capua, covers an area of 407 sq km and has a population of 108,700 inhabitants, all Catholics, with 52 parishes, 109 diocesan priests and 35 religious priests, and a minor seminary (1948). G. A. Santori, known as di Santaverina, was born in C. vecchia; he died as cardinal bishop of Albano in 1602.