Capodimonte Director Sylvain Bellenger on Museum Reopening and Pandemic Challenges

Sylvain Bellenger, director of the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Naples, discusses the museum's reopening after over two months of closure due to Covid-19. As of mid-February 2021, the museum had received 2,119 visitors, with higher attendance on Thursdays and Fridays. Entry is limited via reservation through the Capodimonte app or CoopCulture website, ensuring safety in the 15,000-square-meter palace with 124 galleries. Visitors can access the entire collection and six exhibitions for €10, including 'Napoli Napoli, di lava, porcellana e musica' (until September 19, 2021), 'Santiago Calatrava. Nella luce di Napoli' (until July 25), and 'Luca Giordano, dalla Natura alla Pittura' (until April 11). Under-18s enter free, and those aged 18-25 pay €2. The Real Bosco park remained open during lockdown, hosting about 3 million annual visitors. Bellenger emphasizes the museum's social role, offering the Fagianeria building as a vaccination site in collaboration with ASL Napoli 1 Centro director Ciro Verdoliva. A magnolia will be planted to honor healthcare workers. Bellenger respects weekend closures mandated by the government to curb contagion, noting the threat of new variants. He stresses that museums contribute to community well-being beyond culture, including health.