Home > Travel > Sightseeing International > Arsenale

Arsenale

Newest Review: ... would be stationed here refitting, equipping and building ships, making the Arsenale like a separate city within the city of Venice, with its own workshops, factories and foundries. Today, the fortified site, surrounded by towering walls, is virtually abandoned. The gate is impressive, built in the 15th century, and is thought to be one of the first Renaissance constructions in the city of Venice. Three statues of lions stand outside the entrance to the shipyard, two of which were stolen from Piraeus in the 17th century, and the other is thought to be Scandinavian in origin. The future of the Arsenale is ambiguous. Several plans have ... more

Read Reviews for Arsenale

Arsenale: A big empty space (244 words)
by MykReeve - written on 25.07.00 (Very useful, 14 readings)
Rating:

The Arsenale in the east of the city isn't actually open to the public, and is in the hands of the Italian military. However, it is possible to view the gates by foot, and to travel through it on a vaporetto. The Arsenale was the centre of the maritime industry of the city, founded in the 12th century, and expanded in the 14th and 16th century, making it the world's largest naval shipyard. In its heyday 16,000 workers would be stationed here refitting, equipping and building ships, making the Arsenale like a separate city within the city of Venice, with its own workshops, factories and foundries. Today, the fortified site, surrounded by towering walls, ...

Read review