The Vila was an Italian transport ship of 3,365 tons. It was February 20, 1935. When the port was almost within reach, the swell of a cold winter day delivered the vessel and all its varied cargo to the seabed opposite the mouth of the Sile River, off the Cavallino lighthouse.
It sank 5 miles off the coast of Cavallino ("Porto di Piave Vecchia").
The wreck, nearly 100 meters long, lies on a sandy plateau in a navigational position. The most interesting area of the wreck for diving purposes is the bow.
Unfortunately, the nearly seventy years spent on the seabed have compromised its structural integrity, although the incredible tangle of metal plates at the stern has created many shelters for the countless species of fish that inhabit the wreck (conger eels, lobsters, sea bream, baby hake, and damselfish). Often, due to the proximity to the mouth of the Sile River, visibility is not the best, but for this reason, diving under certain conditions can represent an interesting test for slightly more experienced divers who wish to refine their underwater navigation skills. Therefore, the Vila wreck is definitely a dive not to be missed for those who want to experience the thrill of diving that is not in "slippers", unlike that typical of particularly crystal-clear waters. Among the attractions of this wreck is a sociable Conger eel (Conger conger) that greets divers upon their arrival by poking its head out from its den, and the Lobsters (Homarus gammarus) that are well hidden among the structures of the wreck, some even of large size. The behavior of some Comber (Serranus cabrilla) is interesting as they approach divers, standing in front of them and scrutinizing them with a curious and questioning air.