As a country surrounded on three out of four sides by water, situated in the heart of the Mediterranean and the trading routes that various civilizations have utilized throughout the centuries, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a significant portion of Italy’s rich cultural heritage resides at the bottom of the sea.
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The renowned Riace bronzes, retrieved from the sea near the Calabria town of the same name and currently displayed in a museum in Reggio Calabria, are merely one famous example. Italy possesses a wealth of fascinating artifacts, ranging from remnants of naval battles during the Punic Wars and amphoras used by Phoenician merchants to entire submerged cities, as found in the Archaeological Park of Baiae in the Gulf of Naples. Consequently, Italy is deeply invested in safeguarding this underwater treasure trove.
This commitment is further evidenced by the recent announcement from Italy’s Ministry of Culture regarding the establishment of a new Soprintendenza. This new department will specifically focus on protecting, preserving, and promoting the underwater cultural heritage of Italy. This initiative aims to safeguard not only the extensive Mediterranean shoreline, which stretches nearly 8000 km, but also the historical treasures submerged in its lakes and rivers.
“Underwater archaeology is one of the most crucial areas of research in our country,” asserted Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini. He introduced the new department’s director, underwater archaeology expert Barbara Davidde, during the announcement. The Soprintendenza will be based in Taranto in Puglia, strategically located in the region that was once Magna Graecia, and will also maintain offices in Naples and Venice.
If you would like to learn more about this new department, you can visit its page on the website of the Italian Ministry of Culture here.
