Sestiere Castello
Arsenale di Venezia
Venetian Arsenal
Historic shipyard powering Venice's former naval supremacy.
Arsenale (3-min walk)
www.labiennale.org
+39 041 521 8711
Additional resources
What makes it special
Early industrial giant
Occupying around 15% of Venice, the shipyards had at their peak an army of 16,000 workers that could construct a galley in just a few hours using an advanced assembly line.
Motivation
For centuries, Venice controlled the eastern Mediterranean. The success of the Arsenale stemmed from defense spending driven by the perceived threat of the Ottoman Empire.
Origin of the name
Still in use in modern Italian, 'arsenale' is derived from the Arabic 'Daras-sina’ah' meaning 'house of industry'. The term 'darsena' continues to denote an 'artificial water basin' used for docks on inland waterways.
Northern section
You can visit ancient sheds and docks, read the excelent informative panels and enjoy refreshments at the Tesa 105 while spotting the 46m (150ft) military submarine Enrico Dandolo (S 513) along with the massive 1885 hydraulic Gru Armstrong crane.
'Building bridges'
Lorenzo Quinn's monumental sculpture features six giant pairs of hands joined together atop a northern dock, symbolizing six universal values of humanity: friendship, faith, help, love, hope and wisdom.
Your experience here
- Admire the main gate adorned with beautiful marine-themed statues.
- Uncover the Viking rune on the lion statue — a little detective work required.
- Check out the unique giant pairs of hands up close.
- Grasp the scale and story behind the world’s first industrial complex.
- Appreciate how, unlike today, industrial buildings can be aesthetically pleasing.
Start with the main gate
As you admire the triumphant marine-themed statues at the entrance, take a closer look at the Piraeus Lion and you might spot something surprising: Viking runes carved into its side.
Viking runes — in Venice — on a statue from Athens, Greece?!
Solve this historical puzzle with a visit at the nearby Naval History Museum.
Enter the northern section
Free of charge and opened all year round, it should provide sufficient insight into the entire complex.
The easiest way to reach it is to take the water bus (#4.x or #5.x) to stop 'Bacini - Arsenale Nord'.
How to visit the southern section
This section is utilized by the La Biennale di Venezia Foundation and is accessible only during the exhibition months from late April to November.
Enter the submarine
How thrilling would it be to step inside a military submarine from the Cold War era and discover what life was like beneath the surface?
Explore the entire 46 m (150 ft) Enrico Dandolo (S 513) submarine from the engine room to the torpedo chamber with a guided tour that also includes entry to Naval History Museum.
Who were the Arsenalotti
This is the nickname for the Arsenale workers, also known as the Castellani.
The fierce rivalry between the Nicolotti and Castellani exploded at Ponte dei Pugni, where epic fistfights once shook the bridge — and you can still stand in the stone footprints where it all kicked off.
What to see nearby
These top spots are just a short walk from Arsenale:
10-15 min away
Naval History Museum
15-25 min away
Giardini della Biennale
15-25 min away
Chiesa della Pieta (Vivaldi Church)
15-25 min away
Riva degli Schiavoni
15-25 min away
San Zaccaria
15-25 min away
Palazzo Grimani
15-25 min away
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