Museo del Mare, Maritime museum in Castello di Milazzo, Italy.
The Museo del Mare sits within a fortress structure and displays exhibits related to ocean life and marine science. At its heart is the skeleton of a sperm whale called Siso, approximately 10 meters long, which serves as the centerpiece of the collection.
The museum emerged after a sperm whale was found entangled in illegal fishing nets near the Aeolian Islands in 2017. It opened in 2019 and became a turning point for bringing public attention to ocean conservation in the area.
The rooms use a symbolic design that connects what visitors see about marine life with artistic works focused on ocean protection. This layout helps people understand how the sea and its creatures relate to conservation today.
The building offers partial wheelchair access, though certain sections of the historical fortress have limited passage ways. Plan to move slowly through the space and expect stairs and narrow passages typical of old castle structures.
The display includes the actual fishing net that killed Siso alongside plastic waste removed from its stomach. These direct objects make the impact of ocean pollution immediately visible and disturbing to those who see them.
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