At the beginning of the 20th century, the Palazzo di Capodimonte became the residence of the Dukes of Aosta, then, in 1920, it was transferred to the national heritage. After the war, its designation as a museum was established, which was inaugurated in 1957 following renovation works and the transfer of medieval and modern art collections previously exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
In the austere rectangular building, with three internal courtyards, the collections, about 20,000 objects, are distributed over three floors.
Noble Floor of Capodimonte
The noble floor houses, in the southern wing, the Historic Apartment, a reflection of the taste of the sovereigns who succeeded each other on the throne of Naples—from Charles of Bourbon to his son Ferdinand, including the Napoleonic period with the couple Murat, who furnished it with French furniture—organized into monumental rooms (the Cradle Room, the Reception Hall, the Camuccini Hall) and more intimate rooms (the Porcelain Salon, made between 1757 and 1759 for the Royal Palace of Portici by the Royal Factory of Capodimonte and transferred here in 1866, and the Pompeian style bedroom).
In the opposite wing, the Farnese Gallery hosts the extraordinary collection started by Pope Paul III, expanded in Parma and Piacenza by the ducal branch of the family, then inherited by Charles of Bourbon.
The collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, and artistic treasures occupies 23 rooms, in chronological order, organized by schools: the great Italian schools from the 1400s to the 1600s are complemented by a large group of Flemish painting, the Velletri collection of Cardinal Stefano Borgia, and objects gathered as in a “cabinet of curiosities.”
The path is completed by the Porcelain Gallery, with precious examples from the Royal Factories of Capodimonte and Naples, the Farnese Armory, and the eclectic, late 19th-century De Ciccio Collection with majolica, porcelain, Venetian glass, ivories, enamels, sacred vestments, textiles, silverware, bronzes, Sicilian nativity scenes, and archaeological finds.
Second floor of Capodimonte
On the second floor, the Neapolitan Gallery gathers a vast heritage, partly coming from the most important religious complexes of Naples and its province, illustrating the evolution of art in Naples between the 17th and 18th centuries.
Four rooms are then dedicated to the d’Avalos Collection, with the rich series of Flemish tapestries, paintings, embroideries, miniatures, prints, and arms collected by Alfonso II, Marquis of Pescara and his family, while the 19th Century Gallery exhibits examples of artistic production in post-unification southern Italy, to which works by non-Neapolitan and foreign masters have been added.
Between the second and third floors is instead located the Contemporary Art collection, formed from 1978 when Alberto Burri, following a solo exhibition, left one of his works (the Great Black Cretto), to which works by many other artists have been added, from Warhol to Kounellis, Paladino, Sol Lewitt, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Daniel Buren, Joseph Kosuth.
Drawings and Prints Cabinet
From the southern courtyard, access is gained through the Hexagonal Staircase to the Drawings and Prints Cabinet. Here are preserved 2,500 sheets and 25,000 prints, coming from the original Farnese core, as well as drawings by Emilian, Florentine, Genoese, Venetian, Roman, and Neapolitan authors, concluding with the masterpieces of the collection of graphic works, about 20,000 items, mostly prints, distributed in 227 volumes, one of which is dedicated to the drawings of Count Firmian, acquired by the Bourbons in 1782.
Information about Capodimonte Museum
Via Miano 2 80131 Naples – Tel. 081.7499111 – 081.749915 – 848.800288
Capodimonte Museum Ticket
€ 12 full price
€ 8 reduced for visitors aged between 18 and 25 years
The museum is free: for under 18 years
€ 8 reduced for visitors aged between 18 and 25 years
The museum is free: for under 18 years
Capodimonte Museum and park opening hours
The Capodimonte Museum is open every day except Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The last admission is at 6:30 PM. The museum closing operations and visitor exit towards the exit start at 7:00 PM. The museum is closed every Wednesday, January 1st, and December 25th. The Capodimonte Woods is closed on December 25th, January 1st, and Easter Monday, April 17th.
