National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN)

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, usually shortened to MANN, is the place to start if you plan to visit Pompeii or Herculaneum. The building began life as a cavalry barracks in 1585, housed the University of Naples from 1616, and was chosen in 1777 to hold the Bourbon royal collections. For much of the 19th century it was known as the Real Museo Borbonico, and it has been altered many times since.

Two great collections give the museum its standing. The Farnese collection, inherited by the Bourbon kings, supplies much of the Greek and Roman sculpture, including the Farnese Hercules, the Farnese Bull, the Farnese Atlas and the Farnese Cup. The second is the material lifted from the cities buried by Vesuvius in AD 79: wall paintings, bronzes, everyday objects and mosaics. The Alexander Mosaic, made around 100 BC for the House of the Faun in Pompeii, shows Alexander the Great in battle against Darius and is one of the most famous mosaics to survive from antiquity. There is also an Egyptian collection of about 2,500 objects, and the Gabinetto Segreto, the Bourbon "secret cabinet" of erotic art from Pompeii and Herculaneum, where under-14s must be accompanied by an adult.

Allow at least three hours, and more if you want to see the fresco rooms and the Egyptian section properly. Seeing the mosaics and paintings here before visiting Pompeii helps a great deal, because many of the finest pieces were removed from the excavations and are now in this building. An audio guide or a guided tour is worth having, since the collection is huge and not always arranged in an obvious order.

The museum suits history lovers, students and families with older children; younger children tend to enjoy the sculpture halls and the Egyptian rooms most. Facilities include a refreshment area, a bookshop and access arrangements for visitors with physical disabilities. Check the official website for current opening days and any rooms closed for rearrangement before you go.

MANN stands at the top of Via Toledo's continuation, Via Pessina, on the edge of the historic centre. Museo station on metro Line 1 and Cavour station on Line 2 are both next to the building. From here it is a short walk down to Piazza Bellini and Via dei Tribunali, or uphill towards the Capodimonte museum.