The largest maritime museum in Italy, installed in a 17th-century Genoese dockyard warehouse right on the Porto Antico. The permanent collection spans the history of Genoa as a sea power, from the medieval republic's commercial reach across the Mediterranean to 20th-century emigration — the museum has a powerful section on the millions of Italians who crossed the Atlantic from Genova between 1892 and 1920.
The exhibits include a full-scale replica of a 17th-century galley, an original submarine from WWII (you can go inside), and an immersive reconstruction of an early 20th-century steerage hold. The emigration section includes personal testimonies and documents that give the numbers a human face. Allow three hours; this is a serious museum worth taking seriously.