A modern archive of hybrid readings and personal itineraries
The museum experience offered by "Memus" steps away from traditional cataloguing and offers its visitors a genuine multi-dimensional, multi-sensory and interactive journey.
History of the Museum
Inaugurated on 1 October 2011, the "Memus" (acronym of "memory" and "museum") exhibiting area covers the history of the San Carlo Theatre and Italian opera in general. Founded in 1737, the San Carlo is the oldest theatre in the world to still be operational, as well as the first Italian theatre to establish a dance school. Together with the important Bourbon royal palaces, it was the symbol of a Naples that wanted to highlight its status as important European capital, and it acted as a standard model that would be copied by so many theatres subsequently built across Europe.
UNESCO included it on its list of World Heritage Sites, and is still classified as the most beautiful theatre in the world. Access to the museum is through the gardens in the nearby royal residence and the internal path, requested by Carlo di Borbone to access the theatre without going into the street, allows people to visit the historical rooms of the Palace as well.
Heritage
The Memus exhibition path winds through an exhibition of paintings, photographs, musical instruments, costumes and documents from the era, with the aid of an audio musical and video image archive.
There is also a virtual 3D gallery, a bookshop where you can purchase products manufactured by the Theatre's dressmakers and a room where documents and eye-witness accounts are kept on the prestigious history of the San Carlo Theatre.
