Inside an 18th-century villa that overlooks the Bay of Naples are the collections of art and archeological artifacts of the Museo Correale di Terranova. The mansion belonged to a noble Sorrentine family and was bequeathed to the city by its last male descendants Alfredo and Pompeo Correale who also left their art collection. Visit the Museo Correale di Terranova to survey Roman and medieval finds, clocks, watches and portraits and paintings that are spread across four floors.
Start your self-guided tour on the first floor and examine the collection of archeological discoveries from the area. These include medieval artifacts and ancient Roman marble pieces, furnishings and sarcophagi.
Walk up the grand staircase to the second floor and its rooms that feature Neapolitan painting and decorative arts from the 15th to the 18th century. Look at the gallery of portraits of the ancestors of the Correale family,
On the third floor, browse Neapolitan school still life paintings and decorative art pieces from the 17th to the 19th century. See watches and clocks from the 18th and 19th centuries and an 18th-century pharmacy cabinet. Tour rooms of the fourth floor which houses a collection of 18th-century European porcelain and Italian majolica painted pottery, also from the 18th century.
After your tour of the museum stroll through the mansion's gardens of exotic flowers that leads to the Belvedere terrace. From here, take in breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.
From April to October, the museum hosts the annual Opera e Lirica concert series. If you are in Sorrento during these months book tickets to see Italian opera performed in one of the mansion’s grand salons.
The Museo Correale di Terranova is open every day except Mondays and has an admission fee. Children under the age of 10 are admitted for free. Find the museum in the city center, about a 10-minute walk from the main square, the Piazza Tasso.
