Naples National Archaeological Museum Private Guided Tour with an Archaeologist

The Farnese obsession

Alessandro Farnese was an interesting individual. Apart from being the pope of the Catholic Church, he had an obsession with collecting artifacts. Over time, his collection grew into one of the most valuable in Europe. This 2-hour private tour begins at the imposing entrance. You can directly skip the wait and your guide will meet you and reveal the historical relevance centered around the Farnese collection. Among the many masterpieces, you will come across the Farnese Bull - the largest sculpture recovered from the antiquity period. You will witness the masculine might of the Farnese Hercules who once greeted visitors at the Baths of Caracalla in 216 AD. Gaze upon mighty Atlas carrying the world depicted in the Farnese Atlas. Admire the beautiful frescoes and mosaics, including the scene of a triumphant Alexander the Great against the Persians at the Battle of Gaugamela.

The secret is revealed

Prepare yourself for what is to come. Your guide will take you to the Secret Room where you will be able to feast your eyes on over 250 sexually-themed objects excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum. This collection was viewed as too scandalous for the eyes of the public and was only reserved for “mature gentlemen with good moral standing”.

Your tour ends at the magnificent Great Hall of the Sundial - named after the sundial embedded in the floor. Look to the ceiling and stare at one of the greatest ceiling paintings in Europe, depicting the symbolic crowning of King Ferdinand IV and his wife, Queen Maria Carolina.