Naples, Italy
National Archaeological Museum, Naples

Be privy to private collections and acquisitions from the excavations of Southern Italy and Campania. One of the oldest archaeological museums with a wealth of European cultural heritage.

The National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy features one of the world’s best artefact collections of Graeco-Roman period. The museum houses eminent sculptures such as Toro Farnese, huge collection of Egyptian artefacts, and several mosaics discovered from the ruins of Pompeii's Casa del Fauno, such as the Alexander Mosaic, illustrating a battle between the armies of Darius III of Persia and Alexander the Great.


A walk through the gallery admiring the rich assortment of sculptures from the Farnese Collection, Roman bronzes from the Villa of the Papyri, and Herculaneum papyri carbonized by the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, will be overwhelming for history buffs.


The museum also holds many secrets deep within its Secret Room or Secret Cabinet wherein lies a massive collection of erotic pieces, acquired form the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii. The pornographic contents of the secret cabinet managed to survive the attempts by the government and the monarchy to eliminate it, lest they be accused of lasciviousness. From limiting access just to the director, controller, and butler of the museum, to limiting the viewership, and censoring some of the contents, this section of the museum has seen all. Today however, the secret cabinet is open for all, except minors. Make the most of this opportunity and take a look before a new regulation bans the collection from being viewed by the public!


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Tips Before You Go
Save on admission fee by purchasing the Naples or Campania Artecard at the museum itself or in advance. The museum remains closed on Tuesdays. As there is no parking space available, taking the metro would be a clever idea.
40.8535985
14.250525400000015
Piazza Museo, 19, 80135 Napoli NA, Italy