The crowning of Charles of Bourbon in 1734 returns the independence to Southern Italy after almost 230 years of foreign domination. The territory that corresponds to the present-day provinces of Caserta and Benevento consequently became strategic, because of  its bordering with the Pontifical State and also represents the last defence toward the Capital. Political and military events brought to the creation of military barracks, jails, districts and schools. All testimonies left on the territory but often forgotten that we propose there to bring back to life with this itinerary. Our trail departs from Aversa where the Bourbons transform the Castle erected by the Norman Rainulfo in the XI century in a Military District of Cavalry. This had been the very point of departure of the Normans for their Mediterranean conquests. It was during this feudal period that the original construction of the following churches occurred: the Church of S. Francesco, the Benedictine Church of S. Lorenzo - today the Faculty of Architecture - and the Cathedral of S. Paolo of which Romanesque-Norman dome and apse still exist. The Church of the SS. Annunziata, instead dates back to the Angevin period, but it also presents evident Renaissance and Baroque elements.

Not too far from Aversa is the town of Marcianise where at the end of the XVIII century the Regal Military District was erected, today centre of the Town Hall. This construction clearly recalls Vanvitellian style however reminiscent in some particulars of the façade of the Caserta Royal Palace. Across from the Town Hall there is a fountain erected during Ferdinand's reign (1794) rich in elements that exalt the military virtues of the Bourbons. The Vanvitellian imprint is evident in numerous other constructions of the historical centre owing to G. Barba architect of the Vanvitelli School; Barba also designed the Convent of S. Pasquale realised by the same artisans who built the Royal Palace in Caserta and according to the tradition, they used the residual materials of the Palace construction. Other religious buildings of merit are the Cathedral devoted to S. Michele Arcangelo, and the magnificent Church of the Annunziata of the XVI century and enlarged in the XVIII in Vanvitellian forms.
Capua had a great military importance in the Bourbon epoch, built in the IX century by the Longobards to escape from the ancient Roman Capua because of the Saracen raids. Protected by the natural curve of the Volturno, the city was surrounded by strong stone walls widened by Fred II. He added a magnificent Portal, of which two Towers remain, inspiring several Renaissance works. The Portal was partially destroyed in 1557 during the construction of the Charles V Castle (today the centre of the State Pyrotechnic Laboratory). The Stone Castle (Castello delle pietre) of the Norman era was constructed utilising material plundered from Capua Vetere. During the Bourbon period the military structures were implemented with barracks, powder magazines and above all with the Armoury, that guarded precious collections of weapons and armatures (today still in the custody of the Capodimonte Museum). Capua has a rich sacred architecture with exceptional examples of Romanesque-Longobard Churches such as S. Salvatore a Corte, S. Giovanni a Corte and S. Michele, also fine work the bell tower of the Cathedral. Majestic buildings testify the elegance of the southern Renaissance: the magnificent Palazzo Antignano - Aragonese court of Lucrezia of Alagno who was the favourite of Alfonso I the Magnanimous and from 1874 converted to the Museum of Campania (that in 32 rooms follows the history of the region) -, the Town Hall Building, whose façade is decorated with material plundered from the Campania Amphitheatre and Palazzo Fieramosca (XII century, amply revised in Fourteen-Hundreds); all the above buildings are reached through Porta Napoli (XVI century).
The signs of the military engagement of the Bourbons are also evident in Casagiove; the town that is located close to the Caserta Palace, was developed in the XVIII century for the necessity to host the workers involved in the construction of the Royal Palace of Caserta. Later on an imposing Military District was installed there.
The itinerary continues to Maddaloni, which was established near the ancient Calatia, destroyed in the 862 by the Saracens. As an important Renaissance centre, the city saw its more florid moment in the XVIII century, when, the 8 April of the 1734 Charles of Bourbon received the keys of the Kingdom of Naples and to show his gratitude he recognised this feudal state of the Carafa the title of City. Here the Military College was founded which was the first nucleus of the "Nunziatella", from 1855 to 1859 in the Ducal Building of the city before being transferred to Naples. The monumental construction of the Ponti della Valle (of which we will discuss more in details in the Enlightenment itinerary) is located in the Maddaloni territory. It had been theatre of the epic clashes of October 1860 between the Bourbon and the Garibaldian armies. The casualties of this battle - which inexorably decided the fate of the Battle of the Volturno and the destiny of the Bourbons in southern Italy - are remembered in a war memorial, the Ossario dei Mille which is located at the base of the bridge. Beyond the Bourbon events, we must also remember in Maddaloni the mediaeval Castle, the Church of the Annunziata, the Church of Corpus Domini which is the present day Cathedral enlarged with a Vanvitelli bell tower, the Church of S. Francesco di Assisi, in Baroque style and the National Boarding School.
Travelling through the splendid Sannio landscape is possible to reach Montesarchio. The present day Commune is composed of two fractions: one of recent construction which extends to the foot of the Caudium hill (theatre of the Roman defeat of the "Forche Caudine") and another ancient fraction on the slopes of the same hill, whose summit is dominated by a fortified structure composed of a tower and a Castle. This structure, currently in phase of restoration, was donated by Prince Alfonso d'Avalos to Ferdinand II who transform it in a severe prison where illustrious patriots were segregated among which also Carlo Poerio. At the foot of the Castle we find the Abbey of S. Nicola (XII century), while outside the walled perimeter there are numerous others religious edifices: the Church and the Convent of S Francesco (where it is thought the Saint sojourned), the Church of the SS. Annunziata, the Church and the Convent of S. Maria delle Grazie, the Church of the SS. Trinità and the Church of S. Maria della Purità.
A different discussion involves Benevento: pontifical enclave from 1530, the city belong to the Bourbons for few years, from 1768 to 1774. Founded around the VIII century BC the city is rich with artistic, architectural and archaeological testimonies. During the Samnite period it was an important strategic point for the Romans and was the theatre ofimportant victories, especially against Pirro. The importance of its position along the Appian way was increased with the new road connecting quickly Benevento with Brindisi, celebrated by the Arch of Traiano (114 BC). Also Roman is the Leproso Bridge and the Theatre built at the end of the II century. After the Goths and Byzantine domination, Benevento became an important Longobard duchy, the longest lasting duchy of Italy. In this period there is also the Cathedral with a nave and four side aisles founded by Arechi in 762 whose portal is a significant example of Romanesque art; the Church of S. Sofia which with the Benedictines Monastery and the Cloister represents one of the most interesting structure of the Italian Middle Ages. Particularly rich and recently restored the Sannio Museum in the Fortress of the Rectors (Rocca dei Rettori).
Lastly we signal some localities for the impassioned visitor of art and history. These localities are connected to the memory of the days of the Bourbon capitulation in October 1860 and of the Unification of Italy. Sant'Angelo in Formis - famous for the magnificent Benedictine Basilica of the XI century enriched by extraordinary Romanesque frescos - and Castel Morrone, which with Capua, S. Maria Capua Vetere, San Tammaro, Caiazzo and Amorosi served as background to the decisive Battle of the Volturno. Our itinerary ends in Teano, which contends with the lesser known Taverna Catena the famous meeting place of october 26th 1860 between Garibaldi and Vittorio Emanuele II King of Italy. Teano has a prestigious historical medieval centre crowning the Castle (built in the IV century) on the top of a peak. Beside the Castle in Teano is possible to visit the Church of S. Francesco (XIV century), the new Archeological Museum in the Gotic Palace of the Princes of Teano and the Roman Amphitheatre.