Museo delle navi romane, Archaeological museum in Fiumicino, Italy.
The Museo delle Navi Romane holds five ancient Roman shipwrecks, including three river vessels, one ocean-going cargo ship, and a fishing boat. The wood remains are remarkably preserved, offering clear views of how different ships were built and what purposes they served.
The ships were discovered in 1957 during construction of Rome-Fiumicino Airport, leading to the excavation of eight ancient vessels in total. These finds provided rare evidence of Roman shipbuilding techniques and trade routes from the second century.
The displayed vessels reveal how Romans relied on different boat types for trade, fishing, and river transport across their territories. Walking through the exhibits, you notice how central shipping was to daily commerce and communication in ancient times.
The museum sits near the airport with access on weekdays and weekends except Mondays and public holidays. Guided tours are sometimes available and can help you understand the displays better.
One fishing boat features a central water tank system built to hold about 300 liters and keep caught fish alive during transport. This clever engineering reveals that Roman fishermen had ways to keep their catch fresh for market.
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