Museo Storico Navale

The Museo Storico Navale, the Naval History Museum, is on Riva San Biasio in the Castello district of Venice, Italy, beside the Arsenale on the waterfront. It is run by the Italian Navy and tells the story of the Venetian Republic's maritime power and Italian naval history. Displays cover ship models, weapons, navigational instruments, flags, uniforms and paintings. Highlights include detailed models of Venetian galleys, and a large collection of models showing shipbuilding from the Middle Ages to modern times. A section is devoted to the Bucintoro, the ceremonial state barge of the doge, and remains of the last Bucintoro are associated with the museum's collections. The Padiglione delle Navi, a separate building near the Arsenale, holds larger vessels such as historic boats and gondolas, including examples of the elaborate ceremonial barges. Rooms show the history of the Arsenale, the naval battle of Lepanto and later conflicts, with maps and armour. A visit typically takes about an hour and a half. The museum is open with reduced hours on weekdays, generally Monday to Thursday until 1:30PM and Friday to Sunday until 5PM, and admission is around €5, with a reduced ticket for children. It is less crowded than the major sights near San Marco, and the quiet corner of Castello makes it an easy visit at any time. The nearest vaporetto stop is Arsenale on Line 1 or Line 4.1 and 4.2, and the museum is a short walk from the Arsenale gate. Photography rules vary by room, so signs should be checked. The museum pairs well with a visit to the exterior of the Arsenale and a walk along the Riva degli Schiavoni.