Museo delle Navi Antiche di Pisa

The Museum of Ancient Ships grew from the discovery of Roman vessels during excavations at Pisa San Rossore. Its eight sections occupy the Arsenali Medicei, where preserved hulls, cargoes, navigation equipment and other finds tell the story of the city’s long relationship with water.

Why it matters

The collection brings together archaeological evidence of ancient navigation and daily life aboard ship. The vessels and their cargoes illuminate the commercial routes that connected Pisa with other parts of the Mediterranean, while the objects recovered with them reveal details of shipboard work and belief.

What to notice

The ships themselves are the centre of the display, shown alongside original cargoes and equipment. Amphorae and other transported goods speak to the range of ancient trade; tools and personal objects add a more intimate view of life at sea. The museum also presents finds relating to navigation, maritime cults and the practices of sailors.

Context and history

The museum’s eight thematic sections trace more than a thousand years of Pisa’s connection with water, from ancient commercial routes to the everyday lives of sailors. Set in the Medici shipyards on the Arno, it places the archaeological discoveries within a building long associated with the city’s maritime history.