Naples National Archaeological Museum

Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN)

The world's most important museum of ancient Roman artifacts, housing the originals of frescoes, mosaics and Farnese sculptures excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN) stands at the northern edge of the old town. Its building was originally a 17th-century cavalry barracks and university, and it became a museum in 1816. It has the richest collection of Roman antiquities in the world. Most of the frescoes and mosaics seen at Pompeii and Herculaneum are copies, and nearly all the originals are here. The ground floor displays the monumental Roman sculptures of the Farnese collection, including the Farnese Bull and the Farnese Hercules, both excavated from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. The mezzanine is the Mosaic Gallery. Its treasures include the Battle of Alexander and Darius mosaic, found in the House of the Faun in Pompeii and made from about 1.5 million tiny stones, and the famous “Cave Canem” (“Beware of Dog”) mosaic. Next to them is the Gabinetto Segreto (Secret Cabinet), which displays erotic artworks unearthed at Pompeii and was long off-limits to the public. The upper floor holds the Pompeii fresco gallery, with works such as Flora, Portraits of the Baker and His Wife, and Sappho. It also contains bronze statues from the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum and an Egyptian collection. Admission is about €22 (including temporary exhibitions). Visitors under 18 enter free, and admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. Opening hours are 09:00–19:30, and the museum is closed on Tuesdays. For the best understanding, visit Pompeii first and then the museum, or do the reverse and use the museum as a preview. The museum is vast, so allow at least 2–3 hours. Rent an audio guide (€5) or use the official app. Getting there: exit at Museo station on Metro Line 1 or Cavour station on Line 2, or walk 10 minutes from Spaccanapoli. The area around Piazza Museo has average safety, so take care at night.

Naples National Archaeological Museum

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