Fiumicino Roman Ships Museum
 

Located near the terminals of ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ Airport, the Fiumicino Roman Ships Museum houses one of the most important collections of Roman vessels in the world. Easily reachable thanks to the free Airport Line shuttle, it is a captivating stop for those who wish to discover the history of ancient navigation.
 
Among the exhibits are five Roman vessels: three naves caudicariae, used to transport goods along the Tiber from Portus to Rome; a small sailing vessel used in maritime transport; and a navis vivara (or ‘fisherman's boat’) equipped with a central fishpond to keep the catch alive. Of the wrecks, the keel is preserved as well as the wide and flat lower part where the goods were stowed to be later transported to Rome by towing (ie hauling from land).
 
The remains were discovered between 1958 and 1965 during construction work on the airport, inside the Portus Ostiensis Augusti, the ancient port basin of Claudius and Trajan and the largest maritime port of antiquity.
To preserve and enhance their value, the Roman Ships Museum was built in the 1970s and inaugurated in 1979 right next to the place where they were found.
 
In addition to the vessels, the museum houses numerous artefacts related to life on board and the goods transported, including marbles and food containers.

After a major restoration project, the Museum reopened to the public in October 2021, with a completely renovated exhibition itinerary. The work also involved the vessels, which underwent a careful restoration (completed in 2025) to enhance their authenticity and original historical value.