Real Albergo dei Poveri in Naples could become a vast museum complex
The Real Albergo dei Poveri, also known as Palazzo Fuga, located in Naples, is an 18th-century structure that spans 389 meters in length and 140 meters in depth. Originally commissioned by King Charles of Bourbon in 1751 and designed by Ferdinando Fuga, the building was left unfinished in 1829 and gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995. Current proposals suggest it could serve as a museum hub, potentially accommodating the National Library of Naples or the Municipal Historical Archive. There is also an ambitious vision for a universal museum, referred to as a "Neapolitan Louvre," featuring treasures from Naples' storerooms. Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano endorses this initiative, reminiscent of earlier proposals, including a 1996 Museo del Mediterraneo by economist Alessandro Leon.
Key facts
- Real Albergo dei Poveri measures 389m long, 140m deep, with 103,000 sqm usable space.
- Building commissioned in 1751 by King Charles of Bourbon, designed by Ferdinando Fuga.
- Construction halted in 1829, leaving the structure incomplete.
- Declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1995.
- €100 million from PNRR allocated for restoration.
- Proposal includes a universal museum for artworks from Neapolitan museum storerooms.
- MANN holds 1,500 frescoes from Pompeii, only 300 on display.
- Treasure of San Gennaro comprises 21,000 works.
- Dario Marco Lepore leads the RAM movement advocating the museum plan.
- Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano supports MANN expansion to Palazzo Fuga.
Entities
Artists
- Ferdinando Fuga
- Carlo Vanvitelli
- Federico Zeri
- Alessandro Leon
- Paolo Leon
- Dario Marco Lepore
- Walter Veltroni
- Gennaro Sangiuliano
Institutions
- Real Albergo dei Poveri
- Palazzo Fuga
- Comune di Napoli
- UNESCO
- Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN)
- Museo Nazionale della Certosa di San Martino
- Museo Nazionale della ceramica Duca di Martina
- Tesoro di San Gennaro
- Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli
- Palazzo Reale
- Archivio Storico Comunale
- RAM Rinascita Artistica del Meridione
- Cles srl
- Università di Roma Tre
- IULM
- MuCEM
- Consiglio d'Europa
- Depot Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
- Louvre Conservation Centre
- National Gallery di Londra
- Gemäldegalerie
- Kulturforum
- Galleria Borghese
- Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Venezia
- Artribune
- La Mattina
Locations
- Napoli
- Italia
- Orto Botanico
- Museo di Paleobotanica ed Etnobotanica
- Osservatorio astronomico
- Parco di Capodimonte
- Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte
- Pompei
- Ercolano
- Oplontis
- Stabia
- Boscoreale
- Roma
- Parigi
- Londra
- Rotterdam
- Liévin
- Berlino
- Marsiglia
- Torre del Greco
- San Leucio
- Vietri
- Ariano Irpino
- Borgo Orefici
- Capodimonte