Museo delle Navi Antiche di Pisa (Pisa Museum of Ancient Ships), Pisa

The Pisa Museum of Ancient Ships, located in Pisa and part of Tuscany's regional museum system, showcases artifacts and ships from ancient times. The display is organized in eight distinct sections within the Medici Arsenals, a historic building. The museum, which opened its doors on June 16, 2019, features ships and other items unearthed in 1998.

In December 1998, while constructing a facility for the new Command and Control System at Pisa's San Rossore station, workers found archaeological materials. This site, initially thought to be an old port, turned out to be a historically significant location where numerous boats sank due to floods from the 2nd century BC to the 7th century AD.

The boats, including cargo and river vessels, were remarkably well-preserved, protected by an oxygen-free environment and underground water sources. This preservation allowed for the recovery of typically perishable items like wood, ropes, and utensils, and even the cargo in amphorae. Studies suggested that these ships came from various Mediterranean regions like Gaul, Campania, and the Adriatic.

This discovery has been likened to a maritime Pompeii. The site was stabilized and converted into an educational excavation site for a decade. The boats were restored at the Wet Wood Restoration Center.

The Museum of Ancient Ships of Pisa is organized into eight thematic areas, presenting the exhibits in a logical order. The Medici Arsenals, where the museum is located, were historically used for building and maintaining galleys against Saracen threats. The building, which previously served various military and agricultural purposes, retains parts of its historical architecture to commemorate its past.