Museo Storico Navale (MUNAV)
Venice's naval museum in a 15th-century granary near the Arsenale, with ship models, the Padiglione delle Navi and the submarine Dandolo.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Storico Navale was founded in 1919, after the Great War, on the initiative of the Navy's General Staff, and was officially established by royal decree in February 1923. It is located near the Venice Arsenale, in a 15th-century building that was the granary of the Serenissima: there the grain was stored for the ovens that produced “biscotto” (ship's biscuit), a long-keeping bread intended for galleys setting out.
The museum's forerunner was the Casa dei Modelli dell'Arsenale (House of the Arsenal Models), founded at the end of the 17th century to collect scale models of ships, which at the time replaced design drawings. It was looted in December 1797, during the French occupation; what remained was recovered by the Austrians, and at the end of their rule, in 1866, the relics were reorganised in a single seat, which formed the first nucleus of the Museo dell'Arsenale.
Today the museum includes, in addition to the main building, the Padiglione delle Navi (Ships Pavilion), housed in the former oar workshop of the Arsenale, and the Navy area inside the Arsenale, where the submarine Enrico Dandolo is located. The route tells the maritime tradition of Venice and the history of the Italian Navy, with boats, paintings, weapons, nautical instruments and documents.
Highlights
- Galleon models at 1:70 scale
- Slow-running torpedo (“maiale”) of the Second World War
- M.T.M. explosive boat
- Padiglione delle Navi with historic vessels
- Submarine Enrico Dandolo
- Audio guide with stories of historical figures
Permanent exhibitions
- Percorso espositivo del Museo – The route presents boats, paintings, weapons, nautical instruments and documents that tell the bond between Venice, the sea and navigation, with rooms devoted to weapons, galleons and assault craft.
- Padiglione delle Navi – The old oar workshop of the Arsenale houses boats of great historical importance, included in the museum ticket.
- Sommergibile Enrico Dandolo – Visit on board a submarine built in Italy after the Second World War, in the Navy area inside the Arsenale; entry with a dedicated ticket.
- Founded
- 1919
- Operated by
- Marina Militare
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €17 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €14people over 65, students, groups of at least 10 people, teachers (Saturdays and Sundays only), partner organisations, ICOM members |
| Children & teens | €10free up to age 5 · Ages 6 to 26 special reduced rate; free under 6. |
| Seniors | €14Over 65 |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with non-self-sufficient disabilities, companion included. |
| Students & apprentices | €14 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €14 per personGroups of at least 10 people; group bookings at gruppi@munav.it. |
| Museum, Padiglione delle Navi and submarine Enrico Dandolo (full price) | €27Audio guide included |
| Museum, Padiglione delle Navi and submarine Enrico Dandolo (reduced) | €24Over 65, students, groups of at least 10 people, teachers (Saturdays and Sundays only), partner organisations, ICOM members |
| Museum, Padiglione delle Navi and submarine Enrico Dandolo (special reduced) | €19Ages 6 to 26, residents of the Comune di Venezia and other categories |
| Schools, museum only without audio guide | €4The accompanying teacher is always entitled to free admission |
| Schools, museum with audio guide | €5 |
| Schools, with visit to the submarine | €6Monday to Friday |
The museum ticket includes the Padiglione delle Navi and the audio guide. Special reduced ticket (€10): ages 6 to 26, residents of the Comune di Venezia, first-degree relatives of military and civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence, and members of veterans' and branch associations. Free admission, among others, for Defence personnel, members of ANMI, licensed guides and accredited journalists. The rates include the share for the Istituto Andrea Doria.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
Free admission under 6 and a special reduced rate from 6 to 26 years; offers dedicated to schools.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Arsenale
ACTV vaporetto (water bus) lines 1, 4.1 and 4.2, Arsenale stop. From Venezia Santa Lucia station with line 4.1 (about 30 minutes), from Piazzale Roma about 25 minutes, from San Marco–San Zaccaria about 3 minutes. From Marco Polo airport with the blue Alilaguna line to the Arsenale stop.
The museum is at Riva San Biasio 2148; the Padiglione delle Navi is at Fondamenta dell'Arsenale 2162C.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Online shop with the gadgets of the bookshop.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
For renting spaces for private events, write to info@munav.it.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The audio guide is included in the entrance tickets and tells the route with the voices of historical figures. The visit to the submarine has fixed departures and limited entries. Bookings for groups and schools: gruppi@munav.it. |
