The Cryptoporticus is a mysterious semicircular tunnel nestled in the English Garden of the Royal Palace of Caserta.
It is not a real ruin, but a fake 18th-century ruin, designed to amaze and simulate a collapsed ancient temple, inspired by the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
The opening in the ceiling is not a sign of damage, but a “magical wound” created by architect Carlo Vanvitelli to make the ruin more authentic by simulating a collapse.
The site serves as a custodian for authentic ancient statues and artifacts (from the Farnese Collection and the excavations), creating the atmosphere of a secret cave.