Establish after the 1st World War in 1919, the Naval History Museum is located in Campo S. Biagio, next to the Old Arsenal of Venice, in a building which was a granary of to the Serenissima Republic and is still under the jurisdiction of the Italian Navy. This museum is the most important of its kind in Italy.
Besides the main building, whose exhibition area develops on five levels for a total of 42 exposition halls, there are other parts belonging to the museum: the Ships Pavillion, located in the old oars laboratory of the Arsenal, and San Biagio Church (XI century, renovated on the XVIII century). This was the old church of the Serenissima Republic Navy and then of the Austrian Navy, today reopened for religious functions of the Italian Navy and exposition area of the museum itself.
Inside the museum, there are numerous relics of the Serenissima and Italian Navy’s history: equipment, models, uniforms and real ships. The most important one is surely the Bucintoro, a ceremony ship for the Doge, who throw his ring in the lagoon as a symbol of the Marriage of the Sea during a ceremony held every year on the Ascension Day. Besides the Bucintoro, there are other kind of tipical Venetian boats, military vessels and a part of the engine room of Guglielmo Marconi’s yacht Elettra.
This is a very important museum, to let us understand the history of a once great Maritime Republic as Venice.
Useful information:
Address: Riva S. Biasio Castello, 2148, 30122 Venice
Opening hours:
The Venice Naval Historical Museum is open every day 1 April – 31 October: from 10 am to 6 pm (last admission 5 pm)
1 November – 31 March: from 10 am to 5 pm (last admission 4 pm)
The Ships Pavilion is open every day 1 April – 31 October: from 11 am to 6 pm (last admission 5 pm)
1 November – 31 March: from 11 am to 5 pm (last admission 4 pm)
Pirce:
Full price : 10.00 euro
Reduced: 7.50 euro children aged from 6 to 14; students aged from 15 to 25; over 65; holders of Muve Friend Card
Schools: 4.00 euro (a list of the students’ names must be provided by the school, valid also for coordinators)
Residents: 1.55 euro Free entrance: staff of the Ministry of Defence; people with disabilities; children under 6 years old; ANMI; ICOM members
Contacts:
Call center: +39 041 2424
Groups info: education@fmcvenezia.it
Website: www.visitmuve.it/en/museums/naval-historical-museum/
How to get there:Vaporetto ACTV: Line 1, 4.1, 4.2 stop Arsenale
