Monaco Naval Museum, Monte-Carlo

The Naval Museum (Musée naval de Monaco) is located in Fontvieille, Monaco, and houses a diverse collection of model ships, paintings, and maritime artifacts. This museum has a global perspective, showcasing the naval history of various civilizations, spanning from ancient times to the present day.

The museum, established in 1993, owes its existence to Professor Claude Pallanca's passion for the sea and boats. With the help of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the Monegasque Administration, Bernard Fautrier, and Charles Ballerio, the museum was founded. It features antique models, some dating back to 1874, including ones crafted by Prince Albert I.

Monaco's Naval Museum proudly displays over 250 model ships, paintings, and maritime artifacts, but its full collection encompasses more than 1,200 scale models and numerous naval-related items. This institution has an international scope, chronicling the naval heritage of humanity from antiquity to contemporary times.

The museum showcases remarkable exhibits including an Egyptian funerary boat, Roman and Greek vessels, Viking longboats, Venetian gondolas, and Spanish galleons. Visitors can explore full-scale models of iconic ocean liners like the Titanic and the France, training ships like the Amerigo Vespucci and the Belem, and various warships, from the Jeanne d’Arc to the battleship Missouri.

The museum's portrayal of the Second World War era includes a substantial representation of submarines, a minelayer, and a Maiale manned torpedo. Additionally, Professor Pallanca's contribution extends to the inclusion of 550 paintings depicting ships and aircraft from the Second World War.

Modern naval vessels are also featured in the collection, including a remarkable 5-meter-long model of the American aircraft carrier "Nimitz."