Bosco di San Silvestro WWF Oasis

The history of the Estate

Located north of the Royal Palace of Caserta monumental complex, the Royal Estate of San Silvestro extends over the two neighbouring hills of Montemaiulo and Montebriano. The estate's land was originally acquired at different dates from 1750 onwards and was then arranged into a single property in 1797, under the guidance of the architect Francesco Collecini. The area underwent further renovations during Francis I's reign, thus becoming part, together with San Leucio, the Royal Park and the English Garden, of the Bourbons "so-called 'Royal Delights", large agricultural and hunting estates where the royal family used to retreat. 

The Estate, which was part of the Crown Estate, passed to the State Government in 1922 and was handed over to the Ministry of Education. During World War II, the site was occupied by the Allied Forces, and from the post-war period until 1970 it served as an anti-trachoma colony. In 1983, the estate passed to the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage for the provinces of Caserta and Benevento, but faced a long period of neglect that ended only in 1993, when WWF Italy received the management of the entire site from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Finance. The San Silvestro Forest thus became the first WWF Oasis in the Province of Caserta, inaugurating on 10 April 1994 and opening to the public the following day.

Nowadays, the Oasis is managed, on behalf of WWF Italy, by the company La Ghiandaia, which was founded in February 2000 and has become, over the years, an Environmental Education Centre - C.E.A. WWF - Educational Farm of the Campania Region.

Heritage

The Royal Hunting Lodge of S. Silvestro was built to accomodate the King during his hunting expeditions and to provide the estate with suitable spaces for the manufacture of agricultural products. Today, the Royal Hunting Lodge is home to the Visitor Centre, and houses a small nature museum, a projection and conference room, an underground cellar suitable for exhibitions, two small dining rooms, a meeting room, a catering area and educational workshops. In the steps in front of the Lodge Courtyard, the Bourbon fruit orchard has also been restored, taking great care to replant the original fruit trees as far as possible.

Next to the S. Silvestro Lodge, a picnic area has been set up in the shadow of centuries-old oak trees, seating around 150 people, complete with tables and benches.

The sheep farm, once known as the "Pecoreria" (sheep farm), has been transformed through a restoration financed by 3M-Italia into a comfortable guest house with 4 beds, kitchen, dining room with fireplace, bathrooms, showers and heating.

Then there is the so-called Ecological House, also called the Old House. Originally a shelter and warehouse, the structure has been restored using green building techniques and materials and has been equipped with solar panels, photovoltaic cells, heating with a thermo-fireplace and a rainwater recycling system. Next to the ecological house is a motorhome park with drinking water and electricity.

Lastly, the Guardhouse is the original home of the forest ranger. Located beside the main gate, it is now used as a reception area for visitors, school groups and guests staying at the guesthouse.

The forest has fauna and flora typical of the Mediterranean ecosystem. Mammals such as dormice, badgers, red foxes, stone martens, hedgehogs, dormice and woodland voles are to be found here. Birds are also very plentiful, with species changing with the seasons. Among the wintering species are white and yellow wagtails, firecrests, chiffchaffs and siskins. Other birds are the tawny owl, jay, barn owl and great spotted woodpecker. The vegetation includes evergreen plants, especially ferns, sycamore trees, oak trees, holm oaks and downy oaks, as well as olive trees and other Mediterranean species.