Pompeii and Hercolanum artifacts. © MANN Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
The National Archaeological Museum of Naples (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, MANN) is one of most important and visited archreological museums in Italy, among the oldest and most important in the world for the richness and uniqueness of its heritage. It is located in Naples and includes collections from Greek, Roman and Reinassance times, and especially Roman artifacts from the nearby Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum sites.
The best time to visit is during the quieter lunchtime hours between noon and 3 pm. We recommend you set aside at least 2 hours to visit the National Archeological Museum. If you are a history-lover, a longer visit, between 3 and 5 hours is perfect for you.
Of course we suggest you avoid public holidays or weekends to avoid crowds.
How to best experience National Archaeological Museum of Naples?
Discover tickets, tours, and activities for National Archaeological Museum of Naples through these providers:
What is the National Archeological Museum of Naples?
It is one of the oldest and most important of its kind in the world. Inside you can admire mosaics, frescoes, statues, paintings and sculptures.
When was the National Archeological Museum built? What was the National Archeological Museum used for?
The palace that currently houses the National Archaeological Museum of Naples was first a cavalry barracks (1585) and then Palazzo dei Regi Studi, the seat of the University during the Bourbon era. From the end of the eighteenth century it became one of the first and most important museums of archaeology in Europe, thanks to the figure of Charles III of Bourbon and his enlightened cultural policy.
The king promoted the first excavations of the Vesuvian cities buried by the eruption of 79 A.D., preserving in the museum part of the incredible treasures that came to light, and transferred part of the rich collection inherited from his mother Elisabetta Farnese, with masterpieces still part of the collection on display to the public. The museum suffered many changes to the main structure.
How many and which are the main parts of the museum?
The museum is made up of private collections acquired or donated to the city over the centuries, such as the Borgia, Santangelo, Stevens, Spinelli collections. The main parts are three:
- the Farnese collection, made up of finds from and around Rome and transferred to Naples in the 1700s;
- the Pompeian collections, largely Bourbon, with finds from the Vesuvian area;
- the Egyptian collection, in third place in the world for importance after those of the Egyptian museum in Cairo and the Egyptian museum in Turin.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to the National Archeological Museum.
Location
The address is: Piazza Museo, 19.
Opening hours
To visit the National Archeological Museum the times are as follows:
- Wednesday to Monday: 9 am to 7:30 pm.
Tuesdays: closed. - The site is open for free every first Sunday of the month.
The booking service is suspended on the free days.
How to get to the National Archeological Museum
To reach the National Archeological Museum of Naples:
Metro: Museo or Cavour, lines 1 and 2.
Buses: lines 201, C1N and R2.
Attractions nearby
- Cappella Sansevero (603 m)
- San Domenico Maggiore Church (627 m)
- San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica (685 m)
- Via San Gregorio Armeno (765 m)
- Naples Cathedral (795 m)