Naples · Centro Storico & Spaccanapoli

National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN)

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) is the most important collection of Roman and Greek antiquities in the world, significantly better than what is in Rome itself.

About National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN)

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) is the most important collection of Roman and Greek antiquities in the world, significantly better than what is in Rome itself. This is because the museum holds the entire Farnese collection (accumulated by one of Rome's most powerful families over two centuries) and the objects recovered from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae after the 1748 excavations began. The Farnese collection includes the Farnese Hercules (the largest surviving ancient statue, 3.15 metres, a 3rd-century Roman copy of a Greek original, the head is disproportionately small because the original head was lost and replaced) and the Farnese Bull (the largest surviving sculptural group from antiquity, 3.7 metres high). The Pompeii galleries contain the actual mosaics, wall paintings, and objects removed from the excavations: the Alexander Mosaic (the battle between Alexander the Great and Darius, originally the floor of the House of the Faun in Pompeii, 20 square metres, made from 1.5 million tesserae) is in Room 61. The Secret Cabinet (Gabinetto Segreto) contains the erotic art recovered from Pompeii, which was locked away for most of the museum's history and only fully opened in 2000. EUR 18. Closed Tuesday.

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The details

Practical bits

WalkingMinimal walking

The place

Getting there

Address

Piazza Museo, 19, 80135 Napoli NA, Italy

Neighborhood

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Good to know

Tips, answered

EUR 18. Closed Tuesday. Book online to skip the queue. Prioritise: Room 61 (Alexander Mosaic), the Farnese gallery (Hercules and the Bull), and the Secret Cabinet (Gabinetto Segreto, erotic art from Pompeii, request entry at the desk if the room is closed). The Pompeii galleries on the mezzanine level are the most important material anywhere. Allow 2 hours minimum, 3 if you are serious.

Plan for about 2h 30m.

National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN) is in the Centro Storico & Spaccanapoli neighborhood of Naples. The address is Piazza Museo, 19, 80135 Napoli NA, Italy. The area is well-served by metro.

This works well at any time of day, though mornings tend to be quieter. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.

Closed on Tuesday. Check the official website for holiday closures and special hours.

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