Museo di Etnopreistoria «Alfonso Piciocchi»

About the museum

The Museo di Etnopreistoria “Alfonso Piciocchi” was founded in 1972 by the Naples section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). Many members of the Naples CAI were archaeologists, geologists, naturalists and speleologists: Alfonso Piciocchi decided to put these skills to use by setting up the first display cases for the finds made during the explorations of the section’s speleological group. In 1984 the CAI obtained some rooms in Castel dell’Ovo, where Piciocchi installed numerous display cases for scientific outreach.

The non-profit museum aims to preserve and present its finds in chronological order, mainly for educational purposes. One part is devoted to prehistory: a room for the Palaeolithic, one for the Mesolithic and Neolithic and one for the Metal Age, with worked stones and objects of bone, pottery, terracotta and metal, coming mainly from the hills around the Piana del Sele.

The other part is devoted to ethnography and presents three realities: a tribe of New Guinea with an economy of Palaeolithic type (a collection donated by the ethnologist Carlo de Martino), the pastoral world connected with the Apennine civilisation, and rural culture, with materials collected by members in various provinces. For many years the museum has run educational activities for schools.

Highlights

• Finds from the Palaeolithic to the Metal Age
• Worked stones, bones, pottery and metals of prehistoric Campania
• Ethnographic collection from New Guinea
• Sections on pastoral and rural life
• Educational activities for schools and groups

Permanent exhibitions

• Preistoria – Display cases in chronological order with finds from the Palaeolithic, the Mesolithic and Neolithic, and the Metal Age.
• Etnografia e cultura contadina – Collection from New Guinea, the Apennine pastoral world and materials of rural culture.

Founded

1972

Operated by

Club Alpino Italiano – Sezione di Napoli

Visitors per year

approx. 2,500

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

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 is located inside Castel dell’Ovo; the sources consulted do not provide information on accessibility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is housed in Castel dell’Ovo, on the islet of Borgo Marinari in Naples; the opening of the castle is indicated by the municipality of Naples.

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