The Naples National Archaeological Museum is a museum situated in Naples at southern Italy, at the northwest center of the original Greek wall of the city of Neapolis. The museum there contains a huge collection of article and Roman artifacts from Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum. That collection involves the highest quality work as generated during the Greek, Roman and Renaissance times. It is the one of the most noted Italian archaeological museum.

The core of all the Greek and Roman antiquities in the museum is the Farnese Collection that includes the collection of the engraved gems and the Farnese Marbles. Charles III of Spain established the museum in the 1750s. The building that he employed there is presently is used as the cavalry barracks and during its time was the seat of the University of Naples and was further extended apart in the late 18th century.

Marbles that is another great works in the museum is the part of the museum’s classical sculpture that has arrived from the Farnes Marbles as it involves the Roman copies of classical Greek sculpture. They are the only surviving indication that was lost work by the great Greek sculptors like as Calamis, Kritios and Nesiotes and others. Some of these works has been transported to the Museo di Capodimonte to be showed in recent years. Some of the popular works there are as The Farnese Hercules, that fixed the image of Hercules in the European imagination, The Farnese Atlas is the another oldest extant depiction of Atlas from Greek mythology, and the oldest view of the Western constellations, primarily based upon the star catalog of Hipparchus. The Farnese Bull is known to be the largest and heaviest sculpture that has been recovered there. The Venus Kallipygos, The Farnese Artemis, again a Roman copy of a Greek original and a collection of busts of Roman emperors.

The mosaic collection of the museum includes the good number of unique portraits as recovered from the ruins of Pompeii and other Vesuvian cities. The Egyptian collection there is a third largest collection of Egyptians artifacts in Italy, after the Vatican Museum and the Muse Egizio in Turin. This is made up of two private collections as collected by Cardinal Borgia at the second half of the 18th century, and Picchianti in the first years of the 19th.  Secret Cabinet is a separately housed collection of erotic Roman art.

The Cappella Sansevero also called as the Capella Sansevero de’ Sangri or Pietatella is a chapel located at the north of the church of San Domenico Maggiore, in the historic center of Naples, Italy. The chapel is precise is named as the Chapel of Santa Maria della Pietà, or the Pietatella. It keeps the works of art by some of the best Italian from the 18th century. The foundation date of the chapel relates to 1590 when John Francesco di Sangro, Duke of Torremaggiore, after recovering from a serious illness, had a private chapel constructed at the place where the gardens of the nearby Sansevero family residence, the Palazzo Sansevero existed. The building was converted into a family burial chapel by Alessandro di Sangro in 1613.  The building finally constructed as to be finished by Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero, who also employed Masonic symbols during its reconstruction. Till the 1888 a passageway connected the Sansevero palace with the chapel.

In the chapel there are about thirty works of art including three idiosyncratic sculptures. These statues are symbols of the love of decoration in late-Baroque, and are constructed of a marble like substance which entirely or in part was invented by Raimondo. Raimondo also tool part in the design of the works of art in the chapel. Some of the popular list of works of arts as preserved in the chapel is  Monument to Cecco de’ Sangro, Monument to Giovan Francesco Paolo de’ Sangro,Il decoro, Monument to Paolo de’ Sangro, La liberalità, Monument to Duke Giovan Francesco Paolo de’ Sangro, Lo zelo della religione, Painting of Raimondo de’ Sangro, La soavità del giogo maritale, Altar to St. Rosalia, Veiled Truth, Antonio Corradini, Unknown artist, Angel, Altar (La Deposizione), Angel, Coretto, Release from Deception (Il Disinganno), Altar to St. Odorisio, La Sincerità, Monument to Raimondo de’ Sangro, Il Dominio di sé stessi, Monument to Paolo de’ Sangro, L’Educazione, Monument to Paolo de’ Sangro, Giorgio Marmorano, Divine Love, Monument to Giovan Francesco de’ Sangro and  Veiled Christ.

The chapel also has on its exhibition two earliest examples of the form of plastination in the basement. These “anatomical models” were considered as the examples of the processes of human metallization as formed by the anatomist Giuseppe Salerno ca. 1760 with a commission by Raimondo di Sangro. The exhibition is consisted of a mature male and a pregnant woman. Their skeletons are preserved in the hardened arteries and veins that are colored red and blue, respectively. Earlier, the historians of the opinion about the corpses as being injecting the hardening substances straight into the veins of the subjects and bodies, yet recent evidences have denied all such assumption for the plastination.

Naples has played a very important role in developing the musical traditions of Italy and even has participated actively in common history of western European musical traditions. This influence of music of Naples is even experienced through the music conservatories in the 16th century by the music of Alessandro Scarlatti during the Baroque period and the period of comic operas of Pergolesi, Piccinni and Rossini and Mozart. The vitality of Neapolitan popular music is learnt from the late 19th century has made songs like ‘O Sole mio and Funiculì Funiculà immortal to our human consciousness and psyche.

In the 16th century, the Spanish royalty created a church based conservatory at different places of Naples. These all institutions were constructed at the four campuses of the churches in Naples, including, Santa Maria di Loreto, Pietà dei Turchini, Sant’Onofrio a Capuana, and I Poveri di Gesù Cristo. Initially these conservatories were meant for sheltering orphans. By reaching the 17th century conservatory were developed and were being termed as the music school. Therefore, the Neapolitan conservatories have   enjoyed the commendable reputation throughout Europe as training grounds not only for young children to be trained in church music as well as the feeder system into the world of commercial music and opera in the period of around early 17th century. This helped Naples to grow as an important center of musical training in Europe. By reaching 18th century, Naples was nicknamed as the “conservatory of Europe” and was home to the composers like as Alessandro Scarlatti, Pergolesi, Niccolò Piccinni, Domenico Cimarosa, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, etc.

Naples too is birthplace of the popular Neapolitan comic opera and the site of the San Carlo Theater that was constructed in 1737 and is one of the finest musical theaters around the world. During the short French rule of Murat in the early 19th century, the four conservatories were merged into a single institution that was further relocated to single institution at ex-monastery, San Pietro a Maiella. The conservatory still has the inscription “Royal Academy of Music” over the entrance and yet is a very important school of music in Italy.

The folk music of Naples is anonymous and is represented by folk percussion instruments like the putipù that has a membrane spread across the resonating chamber, like a drum. It has a handle attached to the membrane compressing air rhythmically into the chamber. There music is well represented by the Nuova Compagnia di canto popolare that combines dance, music, and drama. Mandolin is another popular musical instrument used in Italy and keep the names like as  the “Roman”, the “Lombard”, the “Genovese”, and the “Neapolitan” mandolin.

Along with the observation and sightseeing of historical buildings on the guided tour of Naples you can enjoy the company of local historians, theater performers and travel agents who are very passionate and knowledgeable. On the tour you can take journey of places like Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and the Isle of Capri.

• Capri Day Trip from Naples: On the tour you get opportunity to have lunch at the beautiful island of Capri on a full-day excursion from Naples. There you can spare your free time at Capri, and get a chance to take the chairlift funicular to the top of Monte Solare for spectacular island and sea views of the Bay of Naples. On a high-speed hydrofoil you start your journey to Capri. On arrival at the Port of Capri you by a minibus reaches too Anacapri. There you can tour around places like Villa San Michele, the home of Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe, journey on the top of Monte Solare by chairlift then return to Capri for lunch. After it, you take tour to Augustus’ gardens and have free time to see the Blue Grotto.

• Three Hour tour to Pompeii: In case, you are on short visit to southern Italy, you never should miss out the comprehensive tour to the haunting site of Pompeii. This three-hour tour from Naples let you enjoy all the comforts of Pompeii. Historically, on an unfortunate summer’s day in 79 A.D., Mt. Vesuvius erupted, churning out volcanic ash over the prosperous city of Pompeii. Unaware of the danger citizens busy with their daily cores the entire town and 20,000 of its inhabitants were buried under tons of ash and pumice. Yet after 2,000 years of disaster you can visit the site of this famous disaster, the houses, streets and public buildings miraculously preserved by the volcanic ash. In company of your guide you would get a chance to see attractive places like as the Forum, Thermal Baths, Lupanare brothel and Vetti’s House with its beautiful frescoes in Pompeii.

• Mt Vesuvius Half-Day Trip from Naples: This trip is filled with adventure as you will get opportunity to on the top of the only active volcano in continental Europe on this mesmerizing afternoon trip to Mt. Vesuvius from Naples. There you will drive through the town of Torre del Greco to Vesuvius National Park, then hike to the summit of Vesuvius to as around the eerie crater at 3,900 feet (1,200 meters). However you should be on comfortable walking shoes and a medium to high level of fitness is also needed to climb the mountain. After journey on the top you next should look deep down into the depths of crater to see clouds of steam emerging from the sleeping, yet still active, volcano.

• Naples City Sightseeing Tour: It is a very attractive opportunity for tourist to learn and better understand the spirit of city on tour of Naples by minibus in a company of an experienced Guide. The stops on this tour of Naples are the Cathedral, baroque Treasure Chapel and S. Restituta basilica, dating back to the 4th century. You will also guide to Plebiscito Square to visit the Royal Palace and the beautiful neoclassical Church of St Francesco di Paula. After a drive to the Town Hall Square and the New Castle, built by the French Family of Anjou, the tour terminates at terrace at Posillipo as to have the wonderful tips and views of the city.

Italy is filled with fun and joy, everything, there attracts people towards it be its food, the wine, the people, culture, history and art. This all makes it one of the most desirable vacation spots in the world. The assumed capital of southern Naples holds its own name and prestige for variety of reasons and causes. There are many things in Naples that one can do enjoy his day. From volcanoes to pizza, Naples indeed offers something for everyone. The historic center can be considered as crowded and chaotic, but the local color is what you came for. So here are some spot, where you must go on a tour of Naples.

• Castles: Naples has around three castles to worth visiting they are 12th century Castel dell’Ovo (Egg Castle), dominating the Neapolitan seafront from its island position, Castel Nuovo (New Castle) overlooking the port, as created by Charles I of Anjou towards the end of the 13th century. Castel Sant’Elmo, that is raising high over the city, provides panoramic view from its ramparts.

Napoli castel Nuovo

• Cappella Sansevero: This is a very beautiful chapel that keeps the one of the most beautiful statues in the world, Christ Veiled under a Shroud. It is an intense life-like carving that let you to have a closer look towards it.

• Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace): The Museum of the Historical Apartments on the first floor is an ‘open house’ that tells about the art of Bourbon rules who furnished their homes during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Palace Of Palazzo Reale Naples

• San Carlo Theater: It is the oldest working theatre in Europe as well the largest in Italy. Guided tours are there available for those who can’t snag an opera ticket, but love to have a look of the interior of gilded one.

• Il Duomo (The Cathedral): The Cathedral of Naples situated around an area of the Greek-Roman city which was put under control by the basilicas of Saint Restituta and Saint Stefania. Originally constructed in Gothic style but somehow has lost to reconstruction and renovation. Within the cathedral are two vials of Saint Gennaro’s blood (Naples Patron Saint).

• National Archaeological Museum of Naples: In the museum you can have opportunity to get one of the most known and remarkable collections from ancient periods and times. The most attractive artifact in the museums is Farnese collection, exhibiting objects from the closest Pompeii and Herculaneum. There is said to be secret room in the museum holding collection of erotic artifacts.

• Church of San Francesco di Paola: It is many a times is compared with Rome’s Pantheon, the Church of San Francesco di Paola has a front standing upon six columns and two Ionic pillars.

Activities to do around Naples

You can’t understand and know a city completely unless you have not knowledge and understanding about its surrounding areas. And the same theory to travel even lies with Naples as its most die hard fan even need a break from the city after a couple of day and most importantly around Naples. One can tour following spots around Naples.

• Paestum: The Greek temples of Paestum as old as close to first half of the 6th century BC, still well preserved and its completed takes one to that ancient period and times. The temples are situated in the countryside near the coast and completely off the beaten path. It provides solace and calm as needed by the every disturbed soul of modern time and period.

Temple of Paestum

• Sorrento & Costiera Amalfitana: At south of Rome away from urban roar of Naples Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast is remains of itinerary of the tourist visiting Naples for rugged coastlines and raw scenic beauty. Extending from the Positano to Vietri sul Mare, the Amalfi Coast drive provides terraced lemon and olive groves, picturesque towns, and amazing views and aptly this place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Pompeii and Herculaneum: These are known Roman cities destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD can be reached from downtown Naples employing the Circumvesuviana Railway. The cities give an idea of life that existed there almost 2,000 years ago.

• Isle of Capri: This attractive island is great fun place for holiday makers and weekenders around centuries. Day trips are commuted to the island from Sorrento or Naples.

• Mount Vesuvius: Trekking on Mount Vesuvius is one of the fun tricks to do on Mount Vesuvius that is responsible for destruction of cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Mount Vesuvius is considered as one of the world’s most dormant volcanoes.

Mount Vesuvius