Capodimonte Museum

Charles of Bourbon began the palace in 1738 partly to house the Farnese collection he had inherited through his mother, and it holds Titian, Raphael, Parmigianino, Masaccio, Bruegel's The Blind Leading the Blind, and Caravaggio's Flagellation, painted in Naples. A separate floor covers Neapolitan painting from the thirteenth century onward, and there is a contemporary section including Warhol's Vesuvius. The royal porcelain manufactory operated here and one room is lined entirely with porcelain panels. The surrounding park of about a hundred and thirty hectares was a hunting reserve and is now open as a public park.

What you actually see

• The Farnese collection - Titian, Raphael, Parmigianino and Bruegel.
• Caravaggio's Flagellation - painted during his time in Naples.
• The porcelain room - a chamber lined entirely in Capodimonte porcelain.
• The park - 130 hectares of former royal hunting ground, free to enter.

When to go

Year-round; the museum closes Wednesdays. It is far quieter than Naples' central sights. The park is a genuine escape from the city in summer.

Honest expectations

It is on a hill outside the centre and the bus can be slow. The collection is very large and tiring in one visit. Some floors close in rotation.

Nearby

The Catacombs of San Gennaro lie below; the centre is south.