Repairs to the Royal Palace of Caserta's nineteenth-century interiors have started. The restoration will focus on some of the most exquisite chambers in the bourbon complex. It will begin with a pair of chambers created in the early '800s by the architect Antonio De Simone, who was asked to work at court by the new king Joachim Murat. The rooms of Mars (or antechamber of the Barons intended for use by nobles, officers, and foreign intendants) and Astrea (reserved for gentlemen of the chamber, ambassadors, secretaries of state) were both designed by De Simone and are now widely regarded as among the finest examples of empire-style architecture ever built (the two projects are preserved at the Museum of San Martino in Naples). Work is also planned in the Throne Room, which is the biggest in the Palace and was created in 15 years, beginning in 1815, when the restored Ferdinand I dismissed the De Simone and gave the design of his palace's heart to Gaetano Genovese, who was already working on the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola in the city (in the current Piazza del Plebiscito). It wasn't until 1845, in time for the VII Congress of Scientists in Naples, that Ferdinand II's throne chamber was completed, and he was crowned king of Italy. The final room to be touched by the restoration work is the council chamber, which is positioned behind the Bourbon throne and is where the sovereign used to meet the Government. Looted from ceramic tiles created by artist Raffaele Giovine during the turbulent years of World War II, this room is most known for housing the sculptural table gifted to the Royal Family of Naples in 1859 (on the occasion of the marriage between the future Francis II and Maria Sofia of Bavaria). The four areas where construction is taking place are also the most popular with visitors.
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