Museo Archeologico Nazionale

Lonely Planet review

Even if the idea of an archaeology museum usually sends you to sleep, this place will amaze you. With many of the best finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum on display, as well as hundreds of classical sculptures and a trove of ancient Roman porn, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale is world museum heavyweight. You could easily spend a couple of days exploring the museum, although it is possible to do an abridged tour in a morning.

The museum was established by Bourbon king Charles VII in the late 18th century to house the rich collection of antiquities he'd inherited from his mother, Elisabetta Farnese. However, he never lived to see its inauguration; he died in 1788, 28 years before the Reale Museo Borbonico (Royal Bourbon Museum) was opened by his successor Ferdinand IV. The museum became the property of the new Italian state in 1860.

Before you venture into the five floors of galleries it's worth investing in the green quick-guide National Archaeological Museum of Naples or an English audioguide.

In the basement you'll find a collection of Etruscan and Egyptian relics, while on the ground floor a collection of colossal Greek and Roman sculptures is displayed.

Other highlights include exquisite mosaics from Pompeii and ancient smut in the Gabinetto Segreto (Secret Chamber).