Located in the historic heart of the city, within a 16th-century palazzo, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples is one of the most important archaeological museums in the world. Not only is it home to the most significant collection of artefacts from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other sites around Vesuvius, but it also boasts the famous Farnese Collection, a magnificent array of Greek and Roman sculptures amassed by the powerful Farnese family, as well as a whole host of other artworks and objects from Egypt, Greece and across Italy. Our private tour with a local expert guide is a great way to get the most out of your visit to the museum, helping you navigate the extensive galleries with ease and showing you a carefully planned selection of the most interesting pieces.
On this 2-hour private tour, you will:
- Explore the National Archaeological Museum of Naples with tickets included;
- Enjoy the undivided attention of your expert archaeologist private guide;
- See a carefully curated selection of the museum’s most important works;
- Discover the Farnese Collection of Greek and Roman sculptures and learn about the illustrious family who accumulated them in the 16th century;
- Visit the grand Hall of the Sundial, one of the museum’s most architecturally impressive rooms and find out how it was once a royal library;
- Admire some of the most remarkable objects from the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum;
- Get a closer look at stunning frescoes and mosaics from the archaeological sites, including the Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii’s House of the Faun;
- Learn about what life was like before the devastating volcanic eruption as you survey jewellery, glassware, pottery, tools and even carbonised food found in Herculaneum;
- Uncover the infamous Gabinetto Segreto (secret cabinet), an assortment of ancient Roman erotic art once considered too risqué for public display;
Step inside one of Europe’s most fascinating museums on a privately guided visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN), where your pre-booked tickets and expert archaeologist guide ensure you make the most of your time. Over the course of two richly informative hours, you’ll wander through an extraordinary collection that brings the ancient world vividly to life, discovering masterpieces that shaped our understanding of Greek and Roman civilisation.
Your guide will lead you through a thoughtfully curated route, beginning with the celebrated Farnese Collection, an astonishing assembly of classical sculptures gathered by a powerful Renaissance dynasty. Here, you’ll encounter monumental statues carved with extraordinary skill, including the so-called “Farnese Bull” and “Farnese Hercules”, and hear the stories of the family who amassed them in the 16th century. You’ll also discover the dramatic Hall of the Sundial. This grand neoclassical space once served as a royal library, where you can admire the elaborate ceiling fresco as well as the treasures displayed within.
The tour continues with the museum’s most evocative assets: the finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum. As you move between exquisite frescoes, intricate mosaics, precious jewellery, delicate glassware, and everyday household objects, your guide will help you envision life in these thriving Roman cities before the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius. The famed Alexander Mosaic, one of the most remarkable pieces ever unearthed, offers a breathtaking glimpse into ancient artistry and meticulous attention to detail, depicting an epic battle fought by Alexander the Great.
Your visit culminates in the Gabinetto Segreto, a once-hidden trove of Roman erotic art that reflects cultural attitudes and curiosities long obscured from public view. With your guide’s nuanced commentary, the collection becomes not merely sensational but insightful. Designed for curious travellers who want a meaningful, well-paced encounter with the museum’s highlights, this private tour blends archaeology, art, and history to tell captivating tales of the ancient world, taking you on a memorable journey through centuries of discoveries, preserved right in the heart of Naples.
