The Museum of Ancient Ships - Pisa, Italy

Hello everyone. I want to share a bit about our visit to the Museum of Ancient Ships today. Before reaching the museum we made a quick stop at a charming coastal place called Marina di Pisa This was actually back at the tail end of last year. We had spent the entire month of December sick at home. And decided that a walk by the sea would do us a world of good. That day was the 26th of December, Saint Stephen’s Day, to be exact.

After wandering around a bit we went to a restaurant. Our usual spot from last year was closed for the holiday.So we decided to try another place called Il Belvedere based on its reviews. We had our meal. It was delicious. But to be honest, it's not worth coming all this way just for this restaurant. If you happen to be in the area by the coast, it can be a good choice. Then we finaly made our way to the Museum of Ancient Ships.

The museum itself sits perfectly on the edge of the Arno river. There is the Medici family crest at the top of the building and this is no coincidence. This place was built as a shipyard by the order of Cosimo I de' Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The architect is Bernardo Buontalenti, whom I have frequently mentioned in my previous posts. The building did not remain a shipyard for very long; it was later converted into military stables and used this way until the 19th century. The stable structure is still preserved in the interior architecture.

As for the museum collection, this is an archaeological museum and the artifacts are divided into 8 thematic zones. Everything is explained, from how life and maritime began in the region to how these ancient ships were found. Some ships date back to the 2nd century BC! The archaeological discovery process, how the ships were excavated and transported here and why they could be preserved until today are detailed. The last part of the museum covers subjects such as life on ancient ships, trade and navigation. The pearls of the collection are the ship hulls, which are incredibly well-preserved for their age.

I really loved our time here. And I should mention a couple of tips for anyone planning a visit. First of all, since the museum is huge, it can be cold if you come in winter like us or hot in summer. I suggest you choose appropriate clothes accordingly. Dressing in layers is a smart move, especially in winter. Give yourself around 2-3 hours to comfortably explore the eight thematic zones. That's all I have to say for today. See you on the next trips.