National Archaeological Museum

Description

A world class museum located in the heart of the city, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples houses one of the most important collections of classical archaeology in the world. Set in the massive 16th century palace Palazzo degli Studi, the museum was founded by Ferdinand IV in 1777. Formed from the discoveries from the Vesuvian excavations which were at the time exhibited in Museo Herculanese in the Royal Palace at Portici and his family’s extensive collection of art and Roman antiquities, the Farnese collection, today the museum holds over three million objects of archaeological and historic importance.

Greek and Roman Sculptures; Frescoes and mosaics from Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia; an Egyptian collection 2nd only to Turin’s Egyptian Museum; over 200,000 coins and medals from Ancient Greece to the Bourbon Era; and a collection of nearly 2500 documents written in Latin, Greek, and dialects of the Italic peoples. Of course what most people want to see is the Secret Cabinet, an erotic collection of finds from Pompeii.

Fascinating to be sure, however Neapolis Station, the latest addition to the museum is even more so. Graphical, photographic and video exhibits along with a select number of artifacts are documenting the discoveries that are being made during excavations for the construction of Naples Metro System. Opened in 2005, it is housed aptly enough below the museum in the Museo Metro Station.