ARCA – Museo di Arte Religiosa Contemporanea
Neapolitan museum of contemporary religious art in the Santa Maria La Nova monumental complex, with works by 94 artists from 1949 to today.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The ARCA museum (acronym of Arte Religiosa ContemporaneA) was set up from December 2006 by the Associazione Oltre il Chiostro onlus inside the Santa Maria La Nova monumental complex in Naples. The complex is a former Franciscan convent, founded in 1279 at the behest of Charles I of Anjou, and stands in the historic centre of the city. In 2008 the Campania Region recognised the museum as an institution of regional interest; since 2009 ARCA has been a member of ICOM and AMEI.
The collections, consisting mainly of paintings, sculptures, drawings and lithographs donated to the association by the artists themselves, document the religious inspiration of contemporary art from 1949 to today and include works by 94 Italian and foreign artists, with particular attention to Neapolitan artists. The museum aims to foster dialogue between contemporary artistic expression and the various religious traditions, with a view to the Mediterranean area.
The exhibition is arranged in eight routes through the rooms of the convent: the entrance and floors of the complex, the cloister corridor, the former cells, the garden area and the room dedicated to Margherita Lama Caputo. A permanent section, created in collaboration with the Centro Permanente di Ricerche e Studi sul Presepe Napoletano, is devoted to nativity-scene art.
Highlights
- Eight exhibition routes through the Santa Maria La Nova convent
- Works by 94 artists of contemporary religious art since 1949
- Permanent section on Neapolitan nativity-scene art
- Chiostro di San Giacomo della Marca with restored frescoes
- Guided tours of the monumental complex by reservation
Permanent exhibitions
- Museo ARCA – otto percorsi di arte religiosa contemporanea – Exhibition routes with works by 94 artists from 1949 to today, spread across the convent rooms, the cloister and the former cells.
- Nativity in the World – sezione presepiale – Permanent section on Neapolitan nativity-scene art, created with the Centro Permanente di Ricerche e Studi sul Presepe Napoletano.
- Founded
- 2006
- Operated by
- Associazione Oltre il Chiostro onlus
- Visitors per year
- approx. 41,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Children, young people (10–12 years) and students |
Standard ticket €5; reduced ticket €3 for children, young people (10–12 years) and students, also available online.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum’s regulations state that the venue has measures in place to remove architectural barriers; no details on lifts or routes are published.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Università (Metropolitana linea 1)
Metro Line 1, Università and Toledo stations, a few steps from the complex.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours of the monumental complex and the ARCA Museum last about one hour and require a mandatory reservation (info@oltreilchiostro.org). The museum also offers educational activities for schools. |
