Barca Lariana Museum: 2,000 years of navigation history reopen to the

Barca Lariana Museum: two millennia of navigation on display

The Barca Lariana Museum in Pianello del Lario reopened to visitors this spring. Housed in a nineteenth-century textile mill overlooking the lake, the museum is a major European center for nautical heritage, built on more than forty years of study and preservation.

The exhibition unfolds across 13 rooms and 19 thematic areas, covering over 4,500 m². It traces the development of navigation from Roman times to the present day and preserves hundreds of historic vessels, including:

• rowing boats and gondolas;
• fishing and workboats;
• motorboats for leisure and racing;
• sailing boats and early steamers.

Recently, the museum foundation secured support through the «Valore della cultura 2025» grant (Fondazione Cariplo) for the project “Le Barche Raccontano”. The program enriches the displays with new panels and multimedia installations and aims to double annual visitor numbers by 2030, offering immersive educational experiences for schools and young audiences.

Current initiatives include a project to highlight the Venetian Gondola of Villa Carlotta, preserving artifacts and restoring the vessel’s historical significance. In 2026 the museum will mark the Bicentennial of Lake Navigation with talks and conferences organized with the Associazione Piroscafi Lariani, focusing on public lake transport and the lake’s social and economic ties to the surrounding territory.

Practical information:

• Location: Pianello del Lario (Como), in the historic mill on the lakefront.
• Exhibition area: over 4,500 m², 13 rooms and 19 thematic zones.
• Collection: hundreds of historic boats and archival materials.
• Active projects: “Le Barche Raccontano”, Venetian Gondola conservation, events for the Bicentennial of Lake Navigation.
• For opening times, bookings and program updates visit: www.museobarcalariana.it.

The museum offers in-depth insights into Lake Como’s nautical tradition, suitable for enthusiasts, families and school groups. Check the museum’s website before visiting for temporary exhibitions and educational activities.