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Naples’ art and history, above and below ground

Art

21 experiences in Naples, picked by people who live here.

Naples has two and a half thousand years stacked one on top of the other, and you can visit all of them. Above ground: Spaccanapoli and the ancient Greek streets (decumani), the Veiled Christ, the Archaeological Museum with the treasures of Pompeii, Capodimonte, the Certosa di San Martino, the Royal Palace. Below ground: the Galleria Borbonica, Napoli Sotterranea, the catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, the Cimitero delle Fontanelle. Outside the city: Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Royal Palace of Caserta. We've chosen the visits where the guide makes the difference: archaeologists and art historians who turn rooms and ruins into stories. On each page you'll find what you see, how long it takes and whether entry is included.

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Frequently asked questions

Art in Naples: the things people ask us most.

Do you need to book the Veiled Christ?

Yes, almost always. The Cappella Sansevero is small and entry is capped: without a ticket bought in advance you risk not getting in or losing hours in the queue. The guided visits you'll find here include entry at a guaranteed time and last from half an hour to two and a half hours with a walk round the Old Town.

Pompeii or Herculaneum?

Pompeii is huge and gives you the sense of a whole city: you need at least two or three hours. Herculaneum is smaller and better preserved, with two-storey houses, woodwork and mosaics, and you can see it in an hour and a half. Short on time or in the heat, go for Herculaneum; if you want the iconic visit, choose Pompeii.

Which underground sites in Naples are worth visiting?

The Galleria Borbonica for recent history: wartime shelters and abandoned vintage cars. Napoli Sotterranea for the Greek and Roman cisterns forty metres down. The catacombs of San Gennaro for the early Christian frescoes. They're very different visits: if you're staying a few days, you can do two without getting bored.

Is it worth taking a guide for the Archaeological Museum?

Yes. The museum is big and the labels don't tell you much: with an archaeologist, in two hours you see the Pompeii mosaics, the Farnese collection, the Herculaneum bronzes and the Secret Cabinet, understanding what's in front of you. On your own, pick three sections beforehand and stick to those.

What’s on in town right now?

Festivals, markets, concerts and exhibitions in Naples, day by day. Pick your dates and see what’s on.

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