Museo Madre - Museo d'arte contemporanea Donnaregina

The Madre, Naples' contemporary-art museum, occupies Palazzo Donnaregina near the cathedral. Its collection places modern and contemporary works in dialogue with the restored 19th-century palace, including installations by Sol LeWitt, Richard Serra, Jeff Koons, Anish Kapoor and Mimmo Paladino.

Why it matters

The museum opened on 6 June 2005 with site-specific installations on the first floor; the building was completed over the following year. Its home, Palazzo Donnaregina, was enlarged between 1845 and 1872 as a pawn bank, abandoned after flood damage in 2001, and acquired by the Campania Region in 2005. Architect Álvaro Siza Vieira reshaped the palace with Naples-based Studio DAZ, preserving the historic shell while creating exhibition spaces.

What to notice

The collection includes works and installations by Sol LeWitt, Richard Serra, Jannis Kounellis, Luciano Fabro, Giulio Paolini, Daniel Buren, Francesco Clemente, Rebecca Horn, Richard Long, Anish Kapoor, Mimmo Paladino and Jeff Koons. Site-specific works make the palace's rooms part of the experience. The museum's name, Madre, recalls the nearby monastery of Santa Maria Donnaregina, rebuilt from 1325 by Queen Maria of Hungary.

Context and history

The Fondazione Donnaregina per le arti contemporanee was established in 2004 to promote contemporary art and culture in Campania. The museum's restoration transformed the former pawn-bank building into a major exhibition space while retaining the character of the 19th-century palace.