Museums
p>PAN – Palazzo delle Arti di Napoli
From March 2005, Naples finally also has its own centre for documentation of Contemporary Arts. In fact, the Pan, Palazzo of Arts of Naples, is the city’s first civic structure for the function of an exclusive and permanent Centre of Contemporary Arts.
Via dei Mille 60, Naples
Tel. 081 7958 605
www.palazzoartinapoli.net
Museo Archeologico Nazionale
It is the oldest and most important archaeological museum in Europe. The archaeological material recovered from the Vesuvian area is of inestimable value; other items are also of excellent prestige: statues, bronzes, ancient coins, mosaics,… Among the more significant pieces are: the “Doriforo of Policleto”, il group of Tyrannicides, the bronzes and the papyri of Herculaneum, the sarcophagus of Ruggero d’Altavilla, the Pompeian paintings. The museum has an hitinerary for childern entitled “Permanent Story”.
Piazza Museo Nazionale 19, Naples
Tel. 081 4422 149
www.archeona.arti.beniculturali.it
Museo e Gallerie Nazionali di Capodimonte
The Capodimonte Royal Palace was constructed in 1739 under the reign of Charles of Bourbon to house the Franese family’s art collection. Today is set out in the following way: the Farnese works are on the 1st floor, followed by the rooms of the Royal Apartment with their furnishings and decorative arts from the 18th and 19th centuries; on the second floor the Gallery of “The Arts in Naples from the 13rd to the 18th cen.” Is dedicated to Neapolitan and southern Italian works, collected from churche and monasteries suppressed during the 19th century; on the 3rd floor the sections dedicated to the 19th century and contemporary art; on the ground and basament floors there is the Cabinet of Drawings and Prints.
Parco di Capodimonte, Via Miano 1, Naples
Tel. 081 7499 111
http://capodimonte.spmn.remuna.org
Museo di Palazzo Reale
Built for Charles of Bourbon starting in 1738 to plans by Antonio Mediano, the palace stands at the centre of a 120-hectare park, the former royal hunting reserve. Here is how the museum is organised: the Farnese works are on the first floor, followed by the rooms of the Royal Apartment with the collection of furnishings and decorative arts from the 18th and 19th centuries; on the second floor is the gallery of Neapolitan art from the 13th to the 17th centuries; the sections on the 1800s and contemporary art are on the third floor; and drawings and prints are displayed on the ground floor and the mezzanine.
Piazza del Plebiscito 1, Naples
Tel. 081 292 823
http://marcheo.sanc.remuna.org
Civic Museum of Castel Nuovo
Located inside the Maschio Angioino, is made up of: Armoury Room, with archaeological evidence of the Ancient Roman period; the Hall of the Barons, the “Sala Major” of the Castle; the picture gallery, that cover two storeys – on the 1st there are the most religious works from the 15th to the 18th centuries, on the 2nd there is a collection of 19th century Neapolitan paintings as well as other works from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Finally there are the chapels: the Palatine Chapel, with a cicle of frescoes by Giotto and his school; the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory, with Baroque decorations; the Chapel of St. Francesco di Paola, decorated in the Baroque style, howether, only three works by Nicola Russo remain of its historical splendour.
Maschio Angioino, Piazza del Municipio, Naples
Tel. 081 4201 241