National Archaeological Museum of Naples

Description

A world class museum located in the heart of the city, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli boasts a diverse and extensive collection of artifacts dating from prehistory to late antiquity. Located in the massive 16th century palace Palazzo degli Studi, the museum houses an unparalleled collection of over three million objects of archaeological and historic importance.

Founded by Ferdinand IV in 1777, the museum brought together the discoveries from the Vesuvian excavations which were at time exhibited in Museo Herculanese in the Royal Palace at Portici alongside his family’s extensive art collection. Known as the Farnese collection for his grandmother Elisabetta Farnese, it included important works of art from the 1500s to 1700s as well as relics of ancient history from Rome and other locations. Today, the museum houses one of the most important collections of classical archaeology in the world.