Museo MADRE

MADRE, Museum of contemporary Art DonnaREgina, is located in the heart of old Naples, on what is known as the “Via dei Musei,” just a stone’s throw away from the Duomo, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale and the Accademia di Belle Arti (Galleria d’Arte Moderna), where the ancient San Lorenzo district is situated.

Dating back to the 19th century the building is an outstanding example of historical stratification, which is characteristic of the historical district of Naples.

Purchased in 2005 by the Campania Region to be turned into a Contemporary Art Museum, it was leased free of charge for use by the Donnaregina Foundation. The building was restored and refurbished as a museum to a design by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Veira, 2012 Gold Lion for lifetime achievement. Thanks to the collaboration of the Studio DAZ-Dumontet Antonini Zaske, associate architects of Naples, in addition to the section almost entirely dedicated to exhibitions, an auditorium, a bookstore, teaching rooms and a restaurant with cafeteria were also built, for a total of 7,200 square meters, 2,662 of which destined to be used for the different exhibition levels.

On June 10, 2005 the Madre inaugurated its spaces with the opening of site-specific installations in the rooms on the first floor; between 2005 and 2006 the whole building was completed, and the rooms on the second floor were opened to the public. These rooms host part of the collection, while the rooms on the third floor are used for temporary exhibitions.