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Home > Italy Travel Guide > Pisa Travel Guide > Museum of Ancient Ships in Pisa (Le Navi Antiche di Pisa)

Museum of Ancient Ships in Pisa Travel Guide

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduction
History
Location

ATTRACTIONS

Whats to See

INFORMATION

Useful information
Links

Introduction

In Pisa is where they found a fleet of Ancient Roman ships buried in the mud and experts now believe that Pisa was once like Venice. They believe that this find is a good indication as to what may eventually happen to Venice. They found about 16 ships which where all very well preserved and they date from 200BC-AD500.

History

In 1998, an inspection was carried out before work was to begin on the foundations of a new FS National Railways control centre in the vicinity of the Pisa-San Rossore train station, not far from Behind the Tower. The builders made an amazing discovery only 500 metres from the Piazza dei Miracoli: they found the remains of the urban harbour of Pisae, the ancient Etruscan and Roman harbour and in it, were found several ancient ships, perfectly preserved.

This was immediately acknowledged as a discovery of great historical import for several reasons, not least of which, for the number of archaeological finds present at the site.

There are at least 16 ancient ships, 9 of which are presently being recovered. This is an amazing discovery, because there are no other examples of ancient ships (1st century B.C - 4th century A.C.) so well preserved. Perhaps even more significantly, their cargo was found, including the most perishable goods such as ropes, rigging, fishing equipment, equipment for negotiating the canals, anchors made from stone, wood and iron, baskets and fishing pots.

These items do not usually survive centuries of burial, but the conditions of the ground in this location, in the absence of oxygen, managed to preserve even the most fragile objects. These finds are fundamental in order to improve our knowledge of the life and activities in Pisa in the Etruscan and Roman times.

Location

Address: Medici Arsenale, Ponte della Cittadella, Pisa, Italy.

Whats to See

The Museum of the Ancient Ships of Pisa will be ready in 2009 and it will be one of the most important in the world. At the moment, there is an interesting “Exibition in Progress” hosted in the Arsenali Medicei (Medici Shipyards - built by the powerful Florentine family), on the Lungarno Simonelli.
The Arsenals are a very important monument themselves, dating back to the 16th century and well worth a visit. They have been defined as an example of industrial architecture ante litteram, and were the heart of boat-building. The brick building lies at the edge of the historic centre on the side of the river opposite the beautiful old church of San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, where, according to legend, the poet Pier delle Vigne committed suicide. It is a magical place in itself, and the Museum will add to the immense historical value of this area.

Useful information

Telephone: 0039 050 21441
Open: October to April:
Tuesday to Sunday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.- 6 p.m.
May to September:
Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.- 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m - 9 p.m.
Closed: Monday

Links

Website (Italian)

Archaeology.org

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