Wreck of a 16th century galleon found. It is the first of its kind discovered in Italy

In the sea off Camogli, at a depth of fifty meters, the wreck of a 16th-century galleon has been found. It has been deduced from the remains found that it is a large Renaissance vessel and, in particular, may be the Santo Spirito, one of the largest Italian galleons that sank just off the coast of Camogli in 1579. The lucky find was made by two professional divers who, while they were intent on testing their underwater vehicles, saw large pieces of wood sticking out of the sand and immediately realized that they had stumbled upon something important; they therefore called the Superintendency, which carried out the dives and confirmed the importance of the discovery.

Superintendence and Carabinieri have already started investigations that will lead to the knowledge of the galleon’s identity.

The discovery is very relevant because it would be the first such galleon discovered in Italy. “This is the first wreck of this era, in Italy, where we can conduct research activities,” commented Simon Luca Trigona, head of underwater archaeology at the Superintendency. “Wood is not preserved unless it is covered by cargo, and these hulls usually carried grain and cloth that could not protect the planking. From this ship we have one side. Search operations on the wreck will be complex because it is at fifty meters, the limit of the capabilities of professional divers. We will have to find the necessary funding to operate at this altitude,” he added.

Image: Evening Courier

Wreck of a 16th century galleon found. It is the first of its kind discovered in Italy

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