Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte
Historic INAF observatory at Capodimonte, with a neoclassical building, a museum of astronomical instruments and a planetarium, visitable on the occasion of events and by booking.
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About the museum
The first stone of the Real Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte was laid in 1812, and the works were completed in 1819 under the direction of the astronomer Carlo Brioschi, who began the first observations. The building, known as the Specola, has a neoclassical architecture with a Doric pronaos, a large terrace and two towers added later to house more modern instruments.
The observatory stands in a park of six hectares together with other historic buildings, including Villa della Riccia. It includes structures such as the meridian circle, the telescope, the coelostat, the library and the historical archive, which holds material from 1802 to 1948.
Today it is the Naples section of the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) and a research centre with over 70 people, among researchers, students and contract staff. Alongside its scientific activity it carries out outreach: it has a museum of astronomical instruments and a digital planetarium with about 70 seats, and it organises school visits, evenings and events open to the public.
Highlights
- Neoclassical Specola building with Doric pronaos
- Museum of astronomical instruments
- Juri Gagarin digital planetarium with about 70 seats
- Repsold meridian circle
- Six-hectare park
Permanent exhibitions
- Museo degli Strumenti Astronomici – History and collections of the observatory’s astronomical instruments.
- Planetario Juri Gagarin – Digital planetarium in a dome of 9.65 m with about 70 seats, used for school and evening visits.
- Founded
- 1812
- Operated by
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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 planetarium has space for two wheelchairs for people with disabilities.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The Astrokids programme offers activities for children and young people on set dates (for example 3 October and 7 November 2026, at 10:30).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Fermata C63 all'ingresso del Museo di Capodimonte · 100 m
From the station or the airport (with the Alibus to piazza Garibaldi), take metro line 1 to Dante; from piazza Dante, bus C63 to the entrance of the Museo di Capodimonte. The first turning on the right is the Salita Moiariello, about 100 m from the observatory.
By car: ring road, exit 6 Capodimonte, then via Sant’Antonio a Capodimonte and the Salita Moiariello; the entrance to the observatory is on the right.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | School visits by booking for primary and secondary schools; the Astrokids programme offers activities for young people on set dates. For safety and traffic reasons, during some events the observatory can only be reached on foot. |
