Francesco Sirano appointed new director of MANN in Naples

Francesco Sirano, a Neapolitan archaeologist born in 1964, was appointed director of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) on July 16, 2025, by Minister Giuli. He succeeds Massimo Osanna, who held the interim role since 2023 after Paolo Giulierini. Sirano previously directed the Parco Archeologico di Ercolano for two terms and led the Parco di Baia e Cuma in the Campi Flegrei, as well as serving as delegated director of the Parco Archeologico di Capri. He describes himself as a 'builder' and aims to make MANN a hub for all archaeological sites in Campania. His priorities include overseeing the museum's expansion into the new Palazzo Fuga (Real Albergo dei Poveri) in Piazza Carlo III, continuing initiatives started by Osanna such as climate control and reopening the Sala della Villa dei Papiri at Ercolano, and implementing a program of scheduled maintenance. He plans to collaborate with the MADRE museum for contemporary art exhibitions while maintaining MANN's archaeological identity. On Capri, he is working on three projects: restoring the Certosa di San Giacomo (including a former prison area), restoring Villa Jovis (Tiberius's palace), and maintaining Villa Damecuta in Anacapri, with new excavations funded by the University of Messina. Sirano envisions MANN as a European-style museum serving as a community agora.