Gela Opens Museum of Greek Shipwrecks After 38-Year Wait
In Gela, a city in Sicily, the Museo dei relitti greci (Museum of Greek Shipwrecks) was recently opened in the Bosco littorio. This museum displays a Greek merchant ship from the 5th–6th century BC, which was uncovered in 1988. The 17×4.3-meter vessel was located 800 meters offshore by divers Gino Morteo and Gianni Occhipinti. Between 1989 and 1992, five excavation campaigns retrieved portions of the ship, notable for its unique vegetal stitching. Although fully recovered by October 2008 and returned in 2014, it had no dedicated museum until now. The museum, designed by the Soprintendenza di Caltanissetta, cost over €5 million. Additionally, a second 5th-century BC shipwreck is being restored with €853,000 in funding and will be featured alongside the first.
Key facts
- Gela opened the Museo dei relitti greci to display a Greek merchant ship from the 6th–5th century BC.
- The ship was discovered in 1988 by divers Gino Morteo and Gianni Occhipinti.
- The wreck measures 17 × 4.30 meters and features rare vegetal stitching on its planking.
- Five excavation campaigns were conducted between 1989 and 1992.
- The ship was fully recovered by October 2008 and returned to Gela in 2014.
- The museum building was designed by the Soprintendenza di Caltanissetta, led by Daniela Vullo, with architect Ettore Dimauro.
- The project cost over €5 million from the Regional Assessorate of Cultural Heritage via POR 2000-2006.
- A second 5th-century BC shipwreck discovered in 1990 is being restored with €853,000 in funding and will be displayed alongside the first.
- The second wreck site yielded 39 ingots of orichalcum and two Corinthian helmets.
Entities
Artists
- Gino Morteo
- Gianni Occhipinti
- Rosalba Panvini
- Daniela Vullo
- Ettore Dimauro
- Studio Azzurro
Institutions
- Museo dei relitti greci
- Museo archeologico di Gela
- Soprintendenza regionale di Agrigento e Caltanissetta
- Soprintendenza di Caltanissetta
- Assessorato regionale dei Beni culturali
- Regione Sicilia
- Soprintendenza del Mare
- Artribune
Locations
- Gela
- Sicily
- Italy
- Bosco littorio
- contrada Bulala
- molo Anic del Petrolchimico
- Siracusa
- Chios
- Agrigento
- Caltanissetta