Museo del Mare e della Navigazione Antica
Underwater archaeology museum in the Castello di Santa Severa, with seven rooms and more than a hundred finds on ancient navigation and the Etruscan port of Pyrgi.
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About the museum
The Museo del Mare e della Navigazione Antica, also known as the Museo civico di Santa Marinella, is located in the archaeological and monumental area of the ancient Etruscan city of Pyrgi and the Castello di Santa Severa, on the coast north of Rome. It was founded in 1993 and set up and directed by the archaeologist Flavio Enei. It holds finds recovered from the seabed off the Caeretan coast (ancient Caere) between Alsium and Centumcellae, with a focus on the port of Pyrgi, a Tyrrhenian harbour famous as a place of worship, Etruscan city, Roman colony, fortress and medieval village.
Since 2016 the museum has been completely renovated and expanded. The current display, created together with the Soprintendenza archeologica per l'Etruria meridionale, the Regione Lazio and the Provincia di Roma, comprises seven rooms with more than a hundred finds, along a display and educational route devoted to underwater archaeology and ancient navigation.
Life-size reconstructions of settings and tools, the result of work by the Centro Studi marittimi with specialists from Italian and European universities, allow visitors to get closer to the world of ancient sailors. The museum is part of the route “Pyrgi e il Castello di Santa Severa”, which also includes the Antiquarium di Pyrgi and the sacred area of the temples.
Highlights
- Seven rooms with more than a hundred finds from underwater archaeology
- Finds from the seabed between Alsium and Centumcellae
- The Etruscan port of Pyrgi and the sanctuary in the sacred area
- Life-size reconstructions of ancient sailors' settings and tools
- Housed in the Castello di Santa Severa, overlooking the sea
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso permanente di archeologia subacquea e navigazione antica – Seven rooms with finds recovered from the seabed off the Caeretan coast and reconstructions of ancient sailors' settings and tools.
- Founded
- 1993
- Operated by
- Regione Lazio / LAZIOcrea (Castello di Santa Severa)
- Director
- Flavio Enei
- Visitors per year
- approx. 34,971
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
By public transit
Santa Severa (stazione) · 15-min walk
By train: Rome–Civitavecchia line, Santa Severa station (Santa Severa Nord), about 15 minutes' walk to the castle. By bus: COTRAL Rome–Civitavecchia, stop S.S. Aurelia bivio Castello di Santa Severa (from Rome, departures from Cornelia station).
By car
Paid parking
Paid parking area in front of the entrance: €4 from 8:00 to 20:00, €2 from 20:00 to 8:00, or €0.50 per hour with the first 30 minutes free. With a museum ticket, 3 hours of free parking. Camping with campervans or tents is prohibited.
By car along the SS1 Aurelia to km 52.5, then follow the signs for the sea and drive along Via del Castello.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The museum can be reached from the complex's visitor centre. School visits including a visit to the Museo del Mare and workshops are available by booking (info@castellodisantasevera.it). |
