Galata Museo del Mare
Galata Museo del Mare
4.5
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The Galata Maritime Museum of Genoa, developed by Mu.MA, is the most important maritime museum of the Mediterranean whose mission is to cover the history of navigation.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Peter GSydney, Australia2,125 contributionsGreat displaysThe museum covers history from sailing ships and row boats to the present day. It’s very large and takes some time to do it justice. Most displays have explanations in English. As a grand son of an Italian emigrant I was particularly impressed with that section. It’s well worth a visit and has some records you can search. It’s much better than the emigrant museum across the road.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 29 July 2024
- Natallia B11 contributionsMust-visit museum in GenoaGalata Museo del Mare is a must-visit for families traveling to Genoa. The museum not only educates but also entertains, making history accessible and engaging for all ages. One of the highlights was the full-scale reconstruction of a 17th-century Genoese galley with ability to wander all over it. We also loved the part where we could experience the journey of Italian emigrants to America. Our visit concluded with a tour of the real-life submarine Nazario Sauro, docked outside the museum. Highly recommended for a family day out!Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 August 2024
- GmanbumpyChicago, Illinois940 contributionsSo fun for young and old while learning more about the history of GenoaThis is a very fun interactive museum. It far exceeded any of my expectations. The nearby sub was fun to explore. This was a great museum for my 20 something children. It would also be a great museum for young kids. We learned a lot there were surprises around every corner, I would definitely go back. I still feel like there was more to see.Visited September 2024Travelled with familyWritten 1 September 2024
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4.5
3,367 reviews
Excellent
1,923
Very good
1,075
Average
269
Poor
70
Terrible
30
Janne
22 contributions
Mar 2020
Had a day to spend in Genoa, and I'm sure there is much to see, but we spent most of the day in Galata Museo del Mare. Although there was a lot of information only in Italian, just some of the information was translated into English, this was a great museum! We also liked the interactive parts, where you could walk onto ships and get a feeling of how they work. And also, please visit the Memory and Migration-exhibition in this museum! It's just wow! How they have recreated the journey of an 19th century immigrant is just fantastic, that alone is worth the entry ticket!
Also, outside of the museum there is a u-boat that you can visit, that was also a great experience.
Also, outside of the museum there is a u-boat that you can visit, that was also a great experience.
Written 23 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gallio182
Woodland Park, CO470 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
We spent about two hours touring all 5 floors. We opted not to do the submarine visit. The cost was 11€ (seniors). We noted lots of English explanations about the displays. This is different from what other reviewers report.
The tour begins on the bottom floor with a tribute to Christopher Colombus. It then focuses on Genoa’s involvement with the naval war with the Turks. Each floor (5 total) moves you forward in history with the top floor focused largely on the sinking of the Andrea Doria in 1956.
We found the 4th floor the most interesting. The focus there was on emigration (going out) and immigration (coming in). The displays featuring the migration of Italians to North and South America from 1870-1950 were stunning. Equally brilliant was the saga of immigrants coming from North Africa and the Arab world beginning in the 1970s and continuing today. It concludes with the stament…”Are these events different, or merely different sides to the same coin?’ Very thought provoking.
The tour begins on the bottom floor with a tribute to Christopher Colombus. It then focuses on Genoa’s involvement with the naval war with the Turks. Each floor (5 total) moves you forward in history with the top floor focused largely on the sinking of the Andrea Doria in 1956.
We found the 4th floor the most interesting. The focus there was on emigration (going out) and immigration (coming in). The displays featuring the migration of Italians to North and South America from 1870-1950 were stunning. Equally brilliant was the saga of immigrants coming from North Africa and the Arab world beginning in the 1970s and continuing today. It concludes with the stament…”Are these events different, or merely different sides to the same coin?’ Very thought provoking.
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valterino
Lausanne, Switzerland458 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
Wirth a visit, as Genova used to be a wealthy Maritime Republic. I especially appreciated the upper floor dedicated to the emigrating of thousands of Italians towards the America’s at the end of the 19th century - beginning of 20th century.
The exhibit is well done.
The exhibit is well done.
Written 21 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SteveK
Los Angeles, CA168 contributions
Nov 2021
Disappointment. If you don’t read Italian and your primary objectives are those outlined below, don’t visit here and pay the bloated entry unless you’re a highly motivated maritime enthusiast.
I suspect most foreign tourists, the kind that don’t speak Italian, show up to learn two related things: "What is the history of the Port of Genoa, and how does Columbus tie in?"
That seems like the basics.
Galata Museo del Mare fails resoundingly in telling this story. At least in English.
Museum presents itself as a world-class institution, but the large portion of greatest appeal to foreigners has almost no English. This is the exposition, the crucial setup, where they present old maps and pictures of Christopher Columbus. There’s lots of top-level narrative but only in Italian. The important story we came for is inaccessible.
Other parts of museum sporadically, inconsistently, minimally offer English translations. Over and over I found topics & artifacts of interest, but descriptions are only in Italian.
Museum seeks to broaden its audience with peripheral topics like a 1956 shipwreck, Italian migration, their 1976 Italian submarine. They’ve spent money on theatrics and experiential storytelling. That’s great. But it’s not what most foreigners come for.
Museum neglects core mission insofar as they seek foreign audience. Hopefully curators revisit this choice and invest some of the money lavishly spent on other exhibits to make English a first-class citizen throughout.
VISITED: 19 Nov 2021, 17 euro/person entry fee.
I suspect most foreign tourists, the kind that don’t speak Italian, show up to learn two related things: "What is the history of the Port of Genoa, and how does Columbus tie in?"
That seems like the basics.
Galata Museo del Mare fails resoundingly in telling this story. At least in English.
Museum presents itself as a world-class institution, but the large portion of greatest appeal to foreigners has almost no English. This is the exposition, the crucial setup, where they present old maps and pictures of Christopher Columbus. There’s lots of top-level narrative but only in Italian. The important story we came for is inaccessible.
Other parts of museum sporadically, inconsistently, minimally offer English translations. Over and over I found topics & artifacts of interest, but descriptions are only in Italian.
Museum seeks to broaden its audience with peripheral topics like a 1956 shipwreck, Italian migration, their 1976 Italian submarine. They’ve spent money on theatrics and experiential storytelling. That’s great. But it’s not what most foreigners come for.
Museum neglects core mission insofar as they seek foreign audience. Hopefully curators revisit this choice and invest some of the money lavishly spent on other exhibits to make English a first-class citizen throughout.
VISITED: 19 Nov 2021, 17 euro/person entry fee.
Written 20 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew B
9 contributions
Aug 2022
There's a full-size replica of a Galley, a mock-up of the inside of a Steam Liner and lots and lots of maps/pictures of the rise of Genoa as a Port City. There's also a submarine in the harbour moored outside the Museum which you can go on. When we were there, the Galleon Pictured on this review was not at the Museum (August 2022), that was moored right outside our hotel further around the harbour!
This attraction only gets 3 stars, as I really didn't feel they had made an effort to make it an enjoyable visit. Most of the exhibits were not in Italian/English...and do we really need to see 10 model replicas of steam liners?
This attraction only gets 3 stars, as I really didn't feel they had made an effort to make it an enjoyable visit. Most of the exhibits were not in Italian/English...and do we really need to see 10 model replicas of steam liners?
Written 21 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelEmmPee
London, UK252 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
This museum is easy to find by the old port in Genoa and houses a comprehensive selection of artifacts from Genoese naval history. I particularly liked the full sized replica of a Mediterranean renaissance galley and the ship models including those of the ships used by Columbus to discover the New World. I also liked the submarine which you could walk through and gave you a real sense of just how claustrophobic life must be on one of those vessels, though it was disappointing that there was little contextual information given inside.
On the downside, the shop, like so many museum shops in Genoa, was poor and really leaving money on the table. There were frequent errors in the contextual texts on the boards including a board which said that food on ships was *not* chosen for it's ability to survive long periods of time; one map which put Bristol in Wales and one map which put Bristol where Portsmouth is! There was little mention of the Italian navy during the first and second world wars despite the Italian naby being one of the larger navies participating in those conflicts.
On the downside, the shop, like so many museum shops in Genoa, was poor and really leaving money on the table. There were frequent errors in the contextual texts on the boards including a board which said that food on ships was *not* chosen for it's ability to survive long periods of time; one map which put Bristol in Wales and one map which put Bristol where Portsmouth is! There was little mention of the Italian navy during the first and second world wars despite the Italian naby being one of the larger navies participating in those conflicts.
Written 2 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mnel
Estoril, Portugal153 contributions
Nov 2021 • Family
Quite complete regarding sec XV-XVII ships and the story of the harbour.
Poorly scientific based. I.E the room about Colombo is not updated with the last findings about his history and stayed lock in the past when historians accepted he was from Genova (which is increasingly less accepted - the rest of the city no longer promotes this view)
Poorly scientific based. I.E the room about Colombo is not updated with the last findings about his history and stayed lock in the past when historians accepted he was from Genova (which is increasingly less accepted - the rest of the city no longer promotes this view)
Written 28 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo S
Sanremo, Italy129 contributions
Feb 2022
Excellent museum giving a real feel of the life of the sailors and migrants in the port of Genova. Also beautiful full size replicas of galley ships and sailing boats.
Also you can go into a real 1980's submarine and see what cramped conditions the submariners and to cope with. Good views of the city from the roof too.
Excellent value for money and be aware you need at least three hours to see it all !
Also you can go into a real 1980's submarine and see what cramped conditions the submariners and to cope with. Good views of the city from the roof too.
Excellent value for money and be aware you need at least three hours to see it all !
Written 13 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JMEdQ
Edinburgh, UK333 contributions
Feb 2023
Rooms which hold exhibitions of ancient trade in the Mediterranean, the story of Christopher Columbus, the development of maritime navigation, the extraordinary story of Italian emigration to North and South America, and much more. A large museum with most (but not all) information panels in English. Fascinating and well presented. Genoa's place in maritime history and trade is world famous and this museum certainly shows its story and heritage in excellent ways. We stayed three hours, even though the heating was full on!
Written 3 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brett D
Melbourne, Australia16 contributions
May 2022
I've been to a few maritime museums and this one is top of the tree in my experience. Well housed in a modern building, with some very special and valuable exhibits. Along with models of the port and various vessels, I was pleased to see some early (and rare) atlases and maritime charts, and a bonus room containing many beautiful paintings of sailing ships. Good views from the rooftop too!
I didn't have time to visit the exhibits outside (e.g. the submarine). If I visit Genoa again, I will aim to make two more visits to this museum.
I didn't have time to visit the exhibits outside (e.g. the submarine). If I visit Genoa again, I will aim to make two more visits to this museum.
Written 6 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
È adatto a un bambino di 4 anni e mezzo o rischia di annoiarsi?
Written 26 August 2020
Ci sono dei modellini di navi da vedere, ce xo tanto da leggere io francamente mia figlia di 5 anni l ho lasciato al porto con i nonni e siamo andati solo noi adulti...
Written 30 August 2020
ALICE F
Caprino Veronese, Italy
Ma è aperto il lunedì, martedì e mercoledì? Sul sito sono presenti informazioni discordanti.
Written 6 August 2020
Noi siamo stati al museo galatea circa 20gg fa e all ingresso il cartello riportava che era aperto tutti i giorni dalle 11 alle 19. Sul mio profilo trova il cartello pubblicato.
Written 7 August 2020
Si può uscire per pranzare e poi rientrare per finire la visita?
Written 4 October 2019
ho letto che i bambini sotto i 4 anno non possono visitare il sommergibile. È vero?
Written 19 August 2019
Non so cosa dirle, mi spiace. Controlli sul sito oppure chiami.
Written 4 October 2019
Posso visitare il museo portando nello zainetto un cucciolo di chihuahua
di 2 kg?
Written 25 April 2019
Sinceramente non so se sono ammessi gli animali,anche se di piccola taglia. Provi a telefonare, sicuramente le daranno notizie più certe
Written 25 April 2019
Buongiorno, volevo sapere se acquistando un biglietto acquario Village open per acquario, museo del mare e le altre strutture e' possibile visitare per esempio l'acquario nella prima giornata + altre strutture ed eventualmente se non basta una gironata per tutto, il museo nella seconda giornata. Voglio dire pur essendo un biglietto comulativo orni struttura segna l'ingresso separatamente
Written 29 March 2019
Noi il primo giorno abbiamo visitato l'acquario visto che al momento dell'acquisto del biglietto on - line ho dovuto indicare l'ora e giorno. Nel tardi pomeriggio biosfera e bigo. Il giorno seguente il museo il sommergibile e dialogo nel buio (solo per quest'ultima c'è bisogno della prenotazione).
Written 10 April 2019
C’è un guardaroba per poter lasciare un piccolo bagaglio a mano ?
Written 3 June 2018
Scusa per il ritardo! Sì, c'è un guardaroba all' interno del museo.
Written 14 June 2018
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