Official Information
Official info: Ministry of Culture – National Network
Official tickets: https://portale.museiitaliani.it/b2c/buyTicketless/52129e6b-aba0-4ed6-81fb-f925d1734bb5
Address: Largo San Martino 5, 80129 Naples, Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
Typically open most days from around 08:30/09:00 to early evening, with one weekly closing day (often Wednesday). Opening hours and accessible sections can vary; confirm specifics on official channels before visiting.
Perched high above Naples in the Vomero district, the Certosa e Museo di San Martino combines spectacular views with one of southern Italy’s richest museums. The former Carthusian monastery, founded in the 14th century and transformed over centuries into a baroque showpiece, now houses collections that narrate the city’s history, from nativity scenes to naval models and historical paintings. Visitors move through cloisters, gardens and monastic spaces before reaching the museum galleries. The Chiostro Grande offers serene arcades and greenery, while the smaller cloisters reveal more intimate corners. Inside the church, frescoes, gilded stuccoes and marble inlays showcase Neapolitan baroque at its most theatrical. Elsewhere, the famous presepi (elaborate Neapolitan nativity scenes) present miniature cityscapes dense with detail, a highlight during the Christmas season but fascinating year-round. One of the museum’s biggest draws is its terrace and open viewpoints. From here, you get what is arguably the definitive panorama of Naples: the dense historic centre, Castel dell’Ovo, the bay, Capri and Vesuvius aligned in one sweeping arc. Photographers and contemplative travellers alike tend to linger, especially around golden hour. Because of the size and variety of the complex, you should allow at least 2–3 hours if you want to see both the monumental architecture and the main museum collections. There are many stairs and slopes, so comfortable shoes are essential; the funiculars from the centre (for example, from Montesanto or Piazza Amedeo) make the climb to Vomero easy. Tickets are modestly priced compared to the experience and can sometimes be combined with other state museums in Campania. Check official sites or partner ticketing platforms for updated prices, free-entry days and any partial closures, since restoration works can occasionally limit access to specific cloisters or galleries.