Tiziana Maffei Reflects on Her Tenure as Director of the Royal Palace of Caserta

Tiziana Maffei, the outgoing director of the Royal Palace of Caserta, concludes her second term in June 2026 after leading the UNESCO World Heritage site since July 2019. She succeeded Mauro Felicori, who retired early in 2018. Maffei describes inheriting an institution with significant administrative weaknesses, lacking teamwork and a clear interdisciplinary vision. Her tenure focused on restructuring administrative procedures, implementing transparent planning tools like quarterly and semi-annual public calls for proposals, and fostering institutional credibility. A major achievement was the complete reinstallation of the Terrae Motus collection, donated by gallerist Lucio Amelio, now displaying 68 of its 72 works. Maffei also prioritized staff development, especially after competitive recruitment, and established stronger relationships with state bodies. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to rethink the palace's role and expand its digital outreach. Unfinished projects include the theater's adaptation and work on the storage facilities. She expresses concern about the timing of her successor's appointment, emphasizing the site's complexity due to its vast real estate, the Carolino Aqueduct, and its role in southern Italy.