Caravaggio, Titian and Masaccio in the royal palace above the woods
On the hill of Capodimonte, surrounded by a vast royal park, the palace built by the Bourbons from 1738 houses one of Italy's greatest art museums. The heart of the collection is the Farnese collection, inherited by King Charles of Bourbon from his mother Elisabetta Farnese: paintings by Titian, including the portraits of Pope Paul III, Raphael, Parmigianino's Antea, Bruegel and El Greco.
The Neapolitan gallery includes the dramatic Flagellation of Christ by Caravaggio, works by Masaccio, Simone Martini, Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith and Holofernes, and the painters of the Neapolitan baroque. The royal apartments preserve furniture, porcelain, including the porcelain parlour of Queen Maria Amalia, and arms. The upper floor is dedicated to contemporary art, with Andy Warhol's Vesuvius among others.
Tip: the museum is rarely crowded, a pleasant contrast with the centre; after the visit, walk in the Bosco di Capodimonte, a large wooded park with views over the gulf.
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