Naval museum

Since 1870, La Spezia has hosted the oldest naval museum in the world.

It was originally set up in the 16th century in Villefranche sur Mer, the first military naval base of the Savoys. The collection of artifacts suffered considerable damage during the French Revolution and following wars, particularly the Second World War.

Today the museum presents a wide range of technical and historical sections dedicated to various aspects of maritime tradition and culture.

The section of the assault vehicles is also important, including the originals of the MAS (Mezzi d’ASsalto = assault vehicles), of the explosive punt, of the “Maiale” or slow torpedo, and the only existing example of its forerunner from the First World War, the “Mignatta”. Connected to these are the Panarai Radiomir No. 1 watch belonging to commander Ernesto Notari, the patent of the stern leg registered by the engineer Cattaneo in 1936 and sold after the war to Volvo Penta for mass production, the numerous relics from the mythical Scirè submarine which was sunk with its crew in the sea of Haifa after numerous missions with the “Maiali” (see above), and the remains of the Olterra ship, the storm-troopers’ secret base in enemy territory.

On the upper floor are the collections of flags: of the naval groups, combat, medals and seals of naval units, historic uniforms, nautical and astronomical instruments. T

here is also an interesting room dedicated to naval apparatus; the symbol of a past historical age which we can still experience today through the Vespucci ship, of which a wholly handmade 1:50 scale model is present.