Naples: The National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa

 

The activity began with the assembly of seven locomotives, assembling the parts coming from England, following one of the English models purchased in 1843. Ferdinand II issued an edict on 22 May of the same year, establishing that the Pietrarsa factory would build locomotives and would take care of the repairs and needs of the new Italian railways.

Pietrarsa had an absolutely strategic role throughout the 19th and 20th centuries for the Italian Railways until the introduction of the new electric and diesel traction systems decreed the slow decline of the factory, which culminated on 15 November 1975 with its closure and the decision to transform it into a railway museum.

 

The National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa opened its doors on 7 October 1989, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Italian railways. After a period of closure for renovation, the museum was reopened on 19 December 2007.

The large museum, with a total area of ​​approximately 36,000 square metres, of which 14,000 are covered, houses a vast range of steam locomotives, three-phase electric locomotives, direct current locomotives, diesel locomotives, electromotives, railcars and passenger carriages. In addition to this, the museum has small-scale rolling stock, models and commonly used railway objects

Despite its emphasis on history, the Pietrarsa National Railway Museum also embraces modern technology to make the visitor experience even more engaging. You will be able to use multilingual audio guides, interactive apps and touch screens to deepen your knowledge of the Italian railways and the locomotives on display. Here on display is the reproduction of the Bayard locomotive, built in 1939 for the centenary of the first Italian railway section from Naples to Portici, twin of the Vesuvius which on 3 October 1839 towed the inaugural train of the route. The Pietrarsa Railway Museum boasts a collection of famous steam locomotives such as the Group 290, the Group 835 and the Group 480, together with direct current and three-phase electric locomotives, which represent true jewels in Italian railway history.

A true jewel of this museum is the Salone carriage of the Royal Train, created for the marriage of Prince Umberto of Savoy, heir to the throne of Italy, with Maria José of Belgium who left on 10 January 1930, together with the train of which it was part of the Rome Trastevere station to pick up the Belgian royal family and take them to Italy for the solemn wedding celebration. The ceiling is decorated in pure gold, with Murano crystal ceiling lights, and rests on a band along which the coats of arms of the main Italian cities are reproduced. The upholstery is in damask velvet and all the boiserie is in cherry wood. In the center, a mahogany table eight meters long, made in a single piece. 26 diners could sit there. The handles and radiator cover grills are made of finely chiselled bronze. Near the largest hall there are two small lounges with all comforts, reserved for the king and queen. Then, with the advent of the Republic, it became the Presidential Carriage, and in 1989 it became carriage no. 10 of the convoy was donated to the Pietrarsa Museum by the President of the Republic, Francesco Cossiga.

The best way to get to the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa is by train. You can choose between a regional train or a historic train: in this way, from the beginning of your journey, you will find yourself immersed in the wonderful context of the railway and the environment will thank you!

You can reach the Museum with:

metropolitan and regional trains of the Naples‐Salerno line, Pietrarsa‐San Giorgio a Cremano stop
historic Pietrarsa Express train, which leaves from the center of Naples and arrives right in Pietrarsa. Tickets can be purchased on all Trenitalia sales channels: station ticket offices, self-service ticket offices, the Trenitalia App, travel agencies, and on the website https://www.fondazionefs.it/content/fondazionefs/en.html and www.trenitalia.com

 

 

Getting to the museum with your own vehicle is also really simple. You can park your car comfortably in the Pietrarsa Parking guarded car park, which has an agreement and is reserved for visitors to the Museum. The car park is located in via Pietrarsa just 30 meters from the museum entrance.

The best road to take is the A3 Napoli‐Salerno motorway: For those coming from Rome: from the A1 motorway take the Napoli Centro - Via Marittima exit towards Portici to take the A3; immediately after take the S. Giorgio a Cremano exit
For those coming from Salerno: exit Ercolano - Bellavista or S. Giorgio a Cremano towards Naples

 

In conclusion, the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa is an extraordinary place that offers a unique experience for railway enthusiasts and anyone who wishes to explore the history of Italian railways. Furthermore, the museum is in an incredible location which houses a terrace overlooking the sea from which you can admire the entire Gulf of Naples up to Sorrento and Amalfi. Plan your visit today and prepare for an unforgettable journey into Italy's railway past!
Remember to share this news with your friends and relatives to let them know about this extraordinary museum and help preserve Italy's railway heritage.