The history of Italian trains begins in Pietrarsa where the first railway in Italy was built, connecting Naples with Portici, in 1839. The Museum was inaugurated in 1989, reopening in 2007 after a long restructuring. Today the museum also hosts events and conferences.
The complex stands between the sea and the train station of Pietrarsa-San Giorgio a Cremano in an area that was previously the factory for steam locomotives and contains 7 pavilions which extend over about 36,000m2. The largest building in the museum, the Salone delle Vaporiere, is a 5,000m2 structure supported by iron plinths, with a roof with metal trusses. The other pavilions house three-phase electric locomotives, continuous current, diesel and electric engines and passenger wagons and the drawing-room wagon of the Royal train, later used by the President of the Republic with its ceiling of gold leaf and 8m mahogany table. The most ancient part of the structure, known as the “cathedral” because of its naves and pointed arches, displays historical furnishings, train objects, old ticket franking machines and model trains.
Outside the complex is a cast iron statue of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies smelted in the Officine di Pietrarsa in 1852, the elegant 19th century awning from the station of Fiorenzuola d’Arda, a water column for replenishing the steam trains and a railway turntable.
Film Commission Regione Campania
Piazza G. Bovio, 14 — 80133 Napoli
Phone: +39 0814206091
Fax: +39 0817904221
Email: info@fcrc.it
