Certosa di San Martino, Carthusian monastery museum on Vomero hill, Naples, Italy
Certosa di San Martino is a former Carthusian monastery on Vomero hill in Naples, Italy, now serving as a museum. The complex consists of several cloisters, monks' living quarters, terraced gardens, and a church whose interior is fitted with marble and frescoes.
Carlo, Duke of Calabria, founded the monastery in 1325 as an endowment for the Carthusian order. In the 17th century, architect Cosimo Fanzago redesigned the complex with Baroque elements and changed its appearance.
The name San Martino honors Saint Martin of Tours, whose devotion spread widely across medieval Europe. The monastery rooms show how religious life and artistic expression worked together in Naples.
The museum opens daily except Wednesdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and guided tours can be booked in advance. Walking through the different floors and outdoor areas requires good footwear and some mobility.
French troops expelled the Carthusian monks in 1799, ending centuries of monastic life at this site. Since then, the building has served as a museum preserving Naples' past and displaying collections from different eras.
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