Museo delle Navi Romane
Beneath the glittering surface of Lake Nemi lie the ghosts of two colossal pleasure ships built by Emperor Caligula in the 1st century AD. The lakeside museum that houses their remains — and the extraordinary bronze fittings salvaged from them — is one of the most underrated Roman antiquity experiences in all of Lazio.
A Story of Imperial Excess
Caligula's two ships, each longer than a football pitch, were fitted with mosaic floors, rotating statues, plumbing and heated baths — effectively floating palaces moored on a sacred volcanic lake. They were deliberately sunk after his assassination in 41 AD and lay forgotten for nearly 1,900 years.
Mussolini had the lake partially drained in the 1930s to recover the hulls, and the museum was built around them. Tragically, the wooden ships were burned by retreating German forces in 1944, but the bronze lion-paw fittings, anchors, lead pipes and decorative hardware that survived are breathtaking up close.
Visiting the Museum Today
The building itself sits right on the lake shore, with large windows framing views of the water that once hid these imperial wonders. Scale models reconstructing both ships in full give a visceral sense of just how audacious the engineering was.
Allow at least 90 minutes to read the bilingual panels carefully — the social and engineering context is as fascinating as the objects themselves. Combine your visit with a walk along the lakeside path for a full afternoon.
Getting There and Practicalities
The museum is on Via Diana, directly below the hilltop village of Nemi. From Rome's Termini station take the Castelli Romani regional train to Velletri and change for a bus, or drive the Via Appia Nuova south-east — the journey is around 45 minutes by car.
Parking is available near the lake shore. The road down from the village is steep and narrow, so confident driving helps.
More of Nemi
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Nemi →
