Museo MADRE (Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina)

The Museo MADRE, short for Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina, occupies the Palazzo Donnaregina on Via Settembrini in the Centro Storico of Naples, in Italy's Campania region. The museum opened in the 2000s inside a converted historic palace, and sets contemporary art against a backdrop of old walls, courtyards and modern gallery spaces. Visitors move through floors of permanent collection and temporary exhibitions that include works by internationally known artists such as Anish Kapoor and Jannis Kounellis, as well as Neapolitan and Italian artists. Large-scale installations suit the high, bright rooms, and the programme changes regularly, so each visit tends to differ. The museum is also known for site-specific commissions made for particular halls. A visit takes about one and a half to two hours. The museum is rarely crowded; weekday afternoons are the calmest time, while weekends bring more local visitors. The museum is about an eight-minute walk from Metro Line 1 at Museo or Line 2 at Piazza Cavour, and it sits close to the Duomo and to Via dei Tribunali, so it can easily be added to a walk in the historic centre. The museum is a useful counterpoint to the archaeological and baroque sights that dominate most Naples itineraries, and appeals particularly to visitors interested in modern art. Photography policies differ between exhibitions, so visitors should check signs in each room. Some floors, including the second floor, may be closed during maintenance or installation, and the programme and opening hours should be checked before travelling.