naples archaeological museum

The Naples Archaeological Museum (which is officially known as Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in Italy) is located as it would suggest in Naples, Italy. 

The museum has an incredible collection of ancient artefacts, especially from ancient Rome, Greece, and Renaissance times.

On a recent trip to Pompeii, we stopped off at the Naples Archaeological Museum on the way back, as we had to change trains in Naples. Having also heard that this museum houses many of the finds from Pompeii, it was non-negotiable that we visited it! 

The museum is housed in a beautiful old building, which was originally built as a cavalry barracks in the 1500s.  Following that it was the University of Naples, and it became a museum in the 19th century.

If you want to see many of the treasures taken from the excavations at Pompeii, they are here on display at the Museum. This includes a lot of the more obscene items from the site.

How to get to the Naples Archaeological Museum

The museum is located on Piazza Museo in Naples. The closest subway is the Dante station.

How to Purchase Tickets for the Naples Archaeological Museum

Tickets can be purchased online here.

How long do you Need to visit the Naples Archaeological Museum?

A couple of hours should be more than enough to view all the collections at the museum.

Important Collections at the Museum 

The Secret Cabinet

The Secret Cabinet is a special room at the museum that is full of more obscene and pornographic objects that the museum does not want on display to everybody.

The Secret Cabinet contains a lot of items from Pompeii and Herculnaeum.  This includes paintings and wall frescoes from the brothel at Pompeii, and decorative garden elements.  There are a large number of penises on display, as ancient Pompeiians would place a penis outside their home as a good luck sign (just like a horseshoe to them!).