We decided to begin our first day in Naples with a visit to the Palazzo Reale. The entrance to the palace is on Piazza del Plebiscito. Entering the courtyard, you will see signs for the ticket office. Go inside, buy tickets, and then, proceed up the stairs! The entrance to the museum is to the left, and directly ahead of you, to the right, you will find the entrance to the Museo del Teatro di San Carlo. This requires an additional ticket, which cost us €6.00 per person, but it is worth it, as it is a little gem of a museum, and we were also given a guided tour through the exhibits in English, as well as a book about the theater, to take home with us. The Teatro di San Carlo, pictured above and below, dates from 1737, and was designed by Giovanni Antonio Medrano. It is Naples’ premier opera house, and is known all over the world for its spectacular productions. For that reason alone, we thought it was smart to tour the small, but interesting museum.
The MeMus, the Museum of Memory and Music, or as it is also known, the Museo del Teatro di San Carlo, opened in 2011. While the original museum space is undergoing renovations, a temporary exhibit space has been set up in the Palazzo Reale, right next to the entrance to the Museo del Palazzo Reale. On display, you will find costumes from the different operas that have been performed here, over the years, as well as period photographs and other memorabilia.
On the second floor of the temporary museum space, you will find a machine that is used to reproduce the sound of wind. Guests are able to operate it themselves, and it is fun!
Next up: We continue our day with a visit to the Palazzo Reale di Napoli!
<em>Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear. If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from Naples, as well as other Italian destinations. Grazie!</em>