Venice Arsenale, Venice Arsenal, Castello, Venice
Venetian Arsenal
Venice, Italy
The former shipyards that contributed greatly to Venice’s maritime power
About the Venetian Arsenal
The Venice Arsenale is an impressive reminder of Venice’s days a formidable naval power. The Arsenale is over 45 hectares (110 acres), and is a complex of former shipyards and armories.
It was responsible for the bulk of the Venetian republic’s naval power during the middle part of the second millennium AD. It was described as “one of the earliest large-scale industrial enterprises in history”
The Arsenal produced the majority of Venice’s maritime trading vessels, which generated much of the city’s economic wealth and power, lasting until the fall of the Venetian Republic to Napoleon in 1797. It is said that they could build a naval vessel in one day.
Visiting Venice Arsenale
Useful Information
Tickets & Information
Tours & Tickets:
The Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour
This tour includes a guided tour of the Arsenal, Rialto Bridge, La Fenice, St Mark’s Basiclica and more.
The Castello District Private Walking Tour
This tour includes Riva degli Schiavoni and the Arsenale along with St Mark’s Square.
Opening Hours
Porta Magna gate area is always available to view. The Northern Arsenale is normally open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 8.00 AM to 3.00 PM. At times of the Venice Biennale this may change
The Porta Magna Gate
The best time to see the Arsenale is when the Biennale is on (usually May-November) when the normally closed parts of the former shipyards are open.
Viewing of the Porta Magna entrance to Arsenale (built around 1460 and was one of the very first works of Venetian Renaissance architecture) can be done anytime.
The monumental gate of the Venetian Arsenal is one of the earliest examples of Early Renaissance architecture. It was built in 1460.
How to get to the Northern Arsenale
Venice Arsenale Map
The Northern Arsenale can be reached by lines 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2 waterbus stop Bacini – Arsenale nord. The Northern Arsenale is normally open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 8.00 AM to 3.00 PM.
During the opening months of the La Biennale arte / architecture, accessibility to the Northern Arsenale extends to seven days a week and a connecting boat with the Southern Arsenale (Giardino delle Vergini) is available.
The Southern Arsenal can be reached by lines 1, 4.1 and 4.2 (the ACTV reference stop “Arsenale”) or by foot from Riva degli Schiavoni.
The areas of the Southern Arsenale are used by the La Biennale di Venezia Foundation and they are accessible during the months of the opening of an exhibitions (May-November) with the payment of the entrance fee.
Building Bridges Scultpure
Nearby in the Arsenale is the Building Bridges sculpture (hands across the water) by artist Lorenzo Quinn.
Building Bridges features six sets of reaching arms with hands clasped over a waterway, meant to represent people and cultures coming together over differences. It’s also said to represent the six essential universal human value: Friendship, Wisdom, Solidarity, Faith, Hope and Love. These ideals, according to Quinn, are the foundation for building bridges between cultures, communities, and generations.
Building Bridges can be difficult to find. This map gives you an idea where it is! The vaporetto (waterbus) stop is Bacini.
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Nearby Venice Attractions
Link to: Marinaressa Gardens
Marinaressa Gardens
Relaxing Gardens used for art exhibitions
Link to: Naval Museum
Naval Museum
Museum of Venice’s seafaring history
Link to: Querini Stampalia
Querini Stampalia
Art collection and museum
CASTELLO ATTRACTIONS MAP
With Place Markers
CASTELLO AND VENICE TOURS & ACTIVITIES
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