Naples Archaeological Museum: tickets, tours, etc.

The Archaeological Museum of Naples, nicknamed MANN, is one of the oldest and most important museums dedicated to the ancient world. Its birth and development are linked to the royal family of the Bourbons; the splendid Farnese Collection and the frescoes and mosaics found in Pompeii are inherited from the monarchs.

The MANN is a must on any trip to the city of Vesuvius and my article gives you all the information you need to know before buying your ticket. You will discover what to see and do in Naples and in its most representative museum.

A standard ticket costs €15 although there are exceptions. The list below details all the options available:

• All persons under the age of 18 get in free of charge.
• Disabled persons and accompanying persons (one per person) also get in free of charge.
• EU citizens between 18 and 25 years of age (under 25) pay a symbolic price: 2 €.
• A family ticket is also available. In this case it is valid for two adults and costs €26.

The MANN organises guided tours throughout the week except on Tuesdays, when the museum is closed. The tours usually last approximately 2 hours and are led by regionally certified guides.

The organisation of the tour depends on participation; in the case of groups of more than 10 people, headphones will be provided.

Generally, the standard ticket costs approximately €12, while it is free for children under the age of 18.

The museum is open all week except Tuesday. On other days you can visit from 9:00 to 19:30. Please note that at 19:00 they start to organise the closing time and it is therefore advisable to arrive in front of the entrance a little earlier. On some occasions there are reduced opening hours:

• 25 December: from 9:00 to 14:00.
• 1st January: 14:00 to 19:30

This cultural institution dedicated to the ancient world is one of Naples' must-see museums. It has been a beacon of culture since the 18th century and brings together perfectly preserved works. Below you will find our top five:

• Pompeian frescoes and mosaics, the decorations "detached" from the villas and placed safely inside the archaeological museum. Paintings and mosaics were discovered during excavations carried out in the 18th century. If you are interested in the subject, I recommend booking an excursion to Pompeii and Ercolano from Naples.
• Collezione Farnese, the collection of ancient and modern artefacts of Alessandro Farnese, who later became Pope under the name of Paul III. His successors took up the inheritance and expanded the collection with objects acquired on the antiquities market or from archaeological excavations.
• Gallery of the Emperors, a series of modern sculptures representing the Roman emperors. Among the most elegant are the portrait of Julius Caesar and the statue of Marcus Aurelius.
• Egyptian collection. The flagship is the works belonging to the Borgia collection which was established in the second half of the 18th century by Cardinal Stefano Borgia. It includes mainly everyday accessories and funerary objects found between the Nile delta and the ancient city of Menfi. This collection reflects the interest in oriental art of the period.
• Gabinetto Segreto, a collection of erotic artefacts found in the residences of Pompeii. This extraordinary material reveals how sexuality was experienced in the ancient world.

The cultural institution is located in Piazza Museo 19, a short distance from the central Piazza Cavour. Technically it is part of the "Stella" neighbourhood although it is popularly known as Rione Sanità. Getting here is very easy, just choose one of the following options:

• Metro, undoubtedly the most convenient option. You can get off at the stations "Museo" (line 1) or "Napoli Piazza Cavour" (line 2). Actually, the latter is not a real metro but a kind of suburban train that operates underground as if it were a metro. In both cases, you will have to walk at most 5 minutes to get in front of the entrance.
• From Piazza Garibaldi (where the central station is located) you can reach the Archaeological Museum by taking bus number 650. For more information, I recommend consulting the website of the local transport company.

Near the entrance you will find a bookshop with books on archaeology, exhibition catalogues and museum guides.

The bookshop is managed by Electra, a publishing house of the Mondadori Group, which is also present in other cultural institutions in the country. In addition to the volumes, you can buy bookmarks, reproductions of works of art, gadgets, T-shirts, stationery and much more.

It depends on your interest. Generally speaking, it is advisable to spend at least two hours there. However, those with a passion for ancient art can dedicate half a day to the visit.

Bear in mind that, in addition to the archaeological finds, the museum also hosts exhibitions that are not necessarily linked to classical art. If you are interested in them, the visit will inevitably take longer.

In my opinion, this is not a particularly suitable attraction for children. If I were travelling with my children, I would choose the following options:

• Città della Scienza, Italy's first interactive science museum. It is designed especially for families and among its most famous attractions we can mention the museum dedicated to the human body and the 3D planetarium. For more information, see the official website (Via Coroglio 57/104).
• Underground tours of Naples, the ideal option for little explorers. There are two routes through corridors, cisterns and spaces used during the Second World War bombings.
• Zoological Garden, a green area that has returned to its former splendour. It houses rare animals such as the royal condor and the black rhinoceros. In spring and summer it is open from 9:30 to 19:00 (weekends) and from 10:00 to 18:00 (weekdays).
• Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte. Organises ASTROKIDS, workshops for children and parents to spread the passion for astronomy. They are aimed at children between 6 and 10 years old. To find out more, please consult the official website (Salita Moiariello 16).

After a visit, sometimes you get the munchies. Fortunately, the Archaeological Museum is located in one of the city's most popular neighbourhoods - Rione Sanità - which boasts a myriad of restaurants and bars with cuisine. All options are within a 15-minute walk of the museum:

• Cantina del Gallo, a must-visit stop in Rione Sanità. Its signature dishes are three: pennette alla sorrentina (short pasta with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil), baked cod and pizza cafona (with potatoes and sausage). Via Alessandro Telesino 21.
• Pizzeria da Concettina ai Tre Santi, one of the best pizzerias in town, is a family-run business now in its fourth generation! It is about ten minutes walk from the museum (Via Arena alla Sanità 7).
• Taverna Luciana, an informal restaurant offering traditional Neapolitan dishes. The highlight is the Pizza Luciana which pays homage to the neighbourhood "Stella" (star in Spanish). The dough is shaped like this and garnished with a layer of tomato sauce and tasty octopus. The cornice, in this case the tips of the star, is filled with provolone, mussels, spicy oil and pecorino (Via Santa Teresa Degli Scalzi 143/145).
• Starita, a pizzeria with a very wide selection. You can choose from classic, speciality, seasonal and fried pizzas. It has two more branches: one in Milan and one in New York, a success without borders (Via Materdei 27/28).

Do you have room for dessert? Then I recommend you reach for the Poppella patisserie whose flagship is the fiocco di neve, a cream cake covered with icing sugar. You can also choose a chocolate or pistachio filling. The establishment is located in Via Sanità 147. If you are a good fork, I advise you to read the post about the best gastronomic tours in Naples.