PisaCard Participating Site

Museum of Ancient Ships

Inside the Arsenali Medicei overlooking the Lungarni, Roman-era ships are displayed along with artifacts discovered in 1998 during expansion work at San Rossore railway station. Seven vessels, dating from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD, and approximately 8,000 objects tell the story of a millennium of trade and sailors, routes and shipwrecks, navigation, life on board, and the history of the city of Pisa.

MUSEUM OF ANCIENT SHIPS

Created following the fortuitous discovery in 1998 near Pisa San Rossore station, the Museum of Ancient Ships represents a unique institution at the international level. Within the imposing and restored spaces of the Arsenali Medicei, commissioned by Cosimo I to consolidate Tuscan naval power, an archaeological exhibition spanning nearly 5,000 square meters unfolds across eight thematic areas. The core of the collection consists of Roman-era vessels (dating from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD), shipwrecked due to repeated and disastrous floods and sealed in mud in the complete absence of oxygen. This incredible preservation phenomenon has returned not only the wooden structures of the ships, but also an extraordinary quantity of sailors' personal belongings, onboard equipment, amphorae, clothing, and food remains. The exhibition offers a true encyclopedia of daily life and trade in the ancient Mediterranean basin: from commercial routes to the evolution of shipbuilding techniques, to the geological description of the Pisan territory, historically characterized by a complex network of lagoons and canals. Equipped with a modern auditorium and spaces for cultural and performance events, the museum combines the rigor of scientific research with a strongly narrative and multimedia approach, offering an immersive and essential experience for understanding the historical roots of the city and its ancient, glorious maritime vocation.