by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Maurizio Spoto, Director of the Miramare Marine Protected Area (WWF); Guido Comis, Director of the Historical Museum and Park of Miramare Castle, Regional Directorate of National Museums of Friuli Venezia Giulia
A new exhibition opening Oct. 12 at the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic brings together two striking reminders of the region’s maritime history and marine life: a Roman trading vessel and the 10-meter skeleton of a fin whale.
Titled Profondo Presente (“Deep Present”), the exhibition pairs the remains of the Iulia Felix, a Roman ship discovered off Grado in 1986, with the skeleton of Boralena, a young fin whale found dead in the Gulf of Trieste in 2024. The whale’s skeleton is being displayed in its entirety for the first time.
The exhibition combines archaeology, marine science and contemporary art to explore the Adriatic’s changing ecosystem and the relationship between human activity and the sea.
“This project highlights how closely archaeology and natural sciences can be connected,” said Guido Comis, director of the Historical Museum and Park of Miramare Castle.
Boralena’s remains were recovered and reconstructed by a team from the Miramare Marine Protected Area and the University of Padua, with support from the 11th Hour Foundation. Researchers hope the specimen will contribute to a better understanding of fin whales in the Mediterranean and the threats facing marine ecosystems.
The Iulia Felix, which dates to the second century A.D., offers a different perspective on the sea. Its remains and cargo document ancient trade routes and the movement of goods across the Mediterranean. Artifacts also reveal historical practices of recycling and reusing materials, including glass fragments collected for remelting and amphorae repurposed to transport fish products.
An installation by contemporary artist Elisabetta Milan connects the two displays through a visual interpretation of their skeletal structures, inviting visitors to consider the links between natural and cultural heritage.
The exhibition also includes multimedia elements and educational activities for schools, families and adults. A family program exploring Boralena’s story and the marine environment is scheduled for Oct. 17 at 4:30 p.m., with advance reservations required.
The museum, which opened in December 2025, is dedicated to preserving and presenting the region’s underwater archaeological heritage. With Profondo Presente, its collection expands to address marine conservation and the environmental changes affecting the Adriatic.
