Overview
Originally built in 1939 by the architect it is named after, Palazzo Piacentini, also known as the Palazzo del Banco di Napoli, welcomes you with a stately façade in travertine and grey Billiemi stone, underpinned by imposing half-columns soaring upwards. The grand staircase leads you to the 10,000 square metres of the Gallerie d'Italia, relocated here from its previous location at Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano.
The museum is home to some of Caravaggio's most important artwork in Italy, such as The Martyrdom of St Ursula, as well as masterpieces of modern and contemporary art.
The first floor displays paintings and statues by predominantly Neapolitan and southern artists between the 17th and 20th centuries, from Artemisia Gentileschi to Domenico Morelli, as well as Caravaggio himself. Go up to the second floor to admire the 500 Greek and Magna Graecia vases from the Caputi Collection, along with contemporary artwork by Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni, Alberto Burri, Sol LeWitt and others. With an entrance from Via Toledo, the large hall hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural initiatives. Stop in for a coffee at the café-bistro and browse for a souvenir at the bookshop.
