The Charterhouse and Museum of San Martino occupies a former Carthusian monastery on Vomero hill, at Largo San Martino in Naples. Its church, cloisters and museum rooms bring together Neapolitan Baroque art and objects from the city’s past. Look for the elaborate nativity collection, including the Cuciniello scene, and the church’s paintings, frescoes and marble decoration. The elevated setting also gives wide views across Naples towards Mount Vesuvius. There are stairs within the complex, so comfortable shoes help when exploring its different rooms and levels.
A monastery transformed into a museum
Construction of the Charterhouse began in 1325 under the patronage of Charles of Anjou. The complex was altered over the centuries, with a major Baroque transformation in the 17th century. Architect Giovanni Antonio Dosio worked on its redesign in the late 16th century, followed by sculptor Cosimo Fanzago in the next century.
The monastery’s religious life ended after the upheavals of the late 18th century. In 1799, monks were expelled amid accusations of republican sympathies. After further changes in its fortunes and the Unification of Italy, the monastery was suppressed. Its rooms became the setting for the National Museum of San Martino, inaugurated in 1866 at the initiative of archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli. The collection documents aspects of society across different periods.
Church, cloisters and decorated rooms
The church is one of the complex’s principal interiors. Its single nave has side chapels, marble inlay and paintings and ceiling frescoes from the 17th and 18th centuries. The broader collection of Neapolitan painting and sculpture sits within richly decorated surroundings of marble, stucco, frescoes and carved detail.
The complex includes several cloisters, among them the Great Cloister and the Cloister of the Procurators, as well as gardens and rooms arranged across the former monastery. The Quarto del Priore, in the southern wing, contains part of the historic picture collection. Works noted there include Pietro Bernini’s Madonna col Bambino e San Giovannino and a statue of St. Francis of Assisi by Giuseppe Sanmartino.
Nativity scenes and the Bourbon navy
The Sezione Presepiale presents Neapolitan nativity scenes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Its Cuciniello nativity fills an entire wall of the former monastery kitchen, with a large cast of figures and miniature objects. These presepi belong to a tradition closely associated with Naples, and the collection gives visitors a detailed look at its craftsmanship.
Another section follows the history of the Bourbon navy from 1734 to 1860. It includes royal barges, while other museum rooms display paintings, a model of the monastery and historical objects connected with Naples and southern Italy. The collections range from religious art to objects associated with the city’s rulers and daily life.
Getting to Vomero
The Charterhouse stands beside Castel Sant’Elmo on Vomero hill. The Montesanto funicular reaches the Morghen stop, from which the complex is a short walk. The hilltop setting gives views over the city and the Gulf of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius visible across the bay.
Allow for steps as you move between parts of the museum. Some areas are difficult to reach because of stairs, though the complex has an accessible entrance, elevator and restroom. Check the official ticket site before setting out for current admission information.
FAQ
Where is the Charterhouse and Museum of San Martino?
It is at Largo San Martino, 5, on Vomero hill in Naples, beside Castel Sant’Elmo.
How do you get to the Charterhouse by funicular?
Take the Montesanto funicular to Morghen. The Charterhouse is a short walk from the stop.
What can you see inside the museum?
The complex includes a Baroque church, cloisters, paintings and historical collections. The nativity section includes the Cuciniello scene, and another section covers the Bourbon navy.
Is the Charterhouse accessible to wheelchair users?
The complex has an accessible entrance, elevator and restroom, but stairs make some areas difficult to reach.
