The museums of Naples

This is one of the most significant archaeological collections in Europe (certainly Southern Italy's best), the only absolutely required sight in Naples, and well worth 2–3 hours of your time. If you explore Pompeii without paying this museum a visit as well, you've missed out on half the riches. The best statues, mosaics, and wall paintings at Pompeii that could be carried off (and hadn't been already by looters) were long ago removed from the archaeological site to be preserved here, alongside finds from across Southern Italy as well as many from Rome itself (including the important and impressive statuary collected by the Farnese family) ... » more

Set in an 18th-century royal palace in the midst of shady, grassy Capodimonte park high above the city, this is by far the best painting gallery in all of Southern Italy, particularly strong in works from Old Masters representing all phases of the Renaissance and baroque periods, including notable works by Caravaggio and Ribera... » more

Naples' royal palace had to be restructured following Allied bomb damage in 1943, but retains some sumptuous royal apartments and, in niches along the 18th-century facade, statues of the greatest kings from the eight dynasties that have ruled Naples ... » more

This 14th-century Carthusian monastery was baroqued in the 17th century, and is today famous for its fine church, peaceful cloisters, great views, small painting gallery, and remarkable presepio collection of Christmas crèches. What's more, the views across the city below from its perch atop Vomero hill are fantastic ... » more

Though the core Maschio Angioino, or Angevin Dungeon, was built in the 13th century, the grand entrance arch wedged between two massive 15th-century bastions is pure Renaissance. Inside are statues and frescoes from the 14th and 15th century, a middling collection of paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries, and the huge Sala dei Baroni hall where Naples' City Council still meets ... » more

A small, private house museum with an eclectic collection—paintings by Ribera, Mattia Preti, and Luca Giordano; porcelains; Asian arms—in a late–18th century palazzo complete with grand salons, a library, and a preserved majolica floor up on the first floor ... » more

Next door to the monastery of San Martino is the star-shaped Castel Sant'Elmo, built in a strategic position above the city in 1329–43 by the Angevins. It was enlarged in the 16th century and today offers a magnificent 360° panorama of Naples and its bay after a walk through the dark, echoey, medieval stone halls ... » more