National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic

Overlooking the seafront of Grado in a striking setting, the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic preserves a unique heritage, brought back from the depths of the sea. Among its galleries, visitors can admire an ancient Roman merchant ship, resurfaced after two thousand years: the famous Iulia Felix.

Along the exhibition route, the ship becomes the main feature and leads visitors on a true journey through time. The introductory section offers an insight into the intense network of trade and commercial relationships that animated the Upper Adriatic in Roman times, centred on the great port system of Aquileia, a key hub for the traffic of the period.

At the heart of the museum is the wooden hull of the Iulia Felix, discovered in 1986 a short distance from the coast and recovered thanks to a long and complex excavation and restoration process. In the first half of the 2nd century AD, the vessel was transporting fish-based products made in the Aquileia area and was en route from the port when it sank.

Reassembled on an impressive steel structure, the hull is surrounded by the finds that made up its cargo: over 600 amphorae from different areas of the Mediterranean, arranged to recreate their original position in the hold. Nearby, visitors can observe fish remains found inside some containers and thousands of glass fragments intended for recycling. Additional display cases present objects that belonged to the crew, as well as the ship’s onboard equipment.

The museum was designed to be fully accessible and welcoming to everyone, with user-friendly spaces and multimedia content that enrich the visit. Thanks to interactive installations, visitors can explore the coastal landscapes of the ancient Upper Adriatic and delve into the story of the Iulia Felix in an engaging and immersive way.