Venice has always had a privileged relationship with water, and to consolidate its power over the Aegean and the Mediterranean, it created a large-scale system of building, maintaining, and managing its naval fleet and supplies.
The Castello sestiere is the cradle of the arsenal, which occupies about 15 percent of the city’s northeastern area. The arsenal was the pride of the Republic and was the only place protected both from the lagoon waters and from a long city wall, and the only place from which one could “spy” on the interior was from the top of the bell tower in St. Mark’s Square.
Venice used labor, construction techniques and knowledge not only from Venice but from all over the known world, and the word “arsenal” itself comes from the Arabic “Dār al-ṣināʿa” meaning “shipyard.”
Proposed itinerary
Today it is not possible to enter the Arsenale area independently, especially the part under the Navy’s jurisdiction. The visitable part is occupied by the pavilions of the Venice Biennale only during international exhibitions.
This itinerary takes place around the Arsenal in the Castello district to discover the life of the arsenalotti, or workers who worked in the complex and rich assembly line for the production of galleys and galleons. With this tour we will discover the business activities, environments and places related to their work.
The walk begins in front of Ca’ di Dio, one of Venice’s main hospices for pilgrims, continues to the second floor of the Naval History Museum to discover Venetian seafaring among maps, boats and plans and a quick look at gondolas.
Leaving the museum we will visit the Ships’ Pavilion and then go into the calli and discover where the arsenalotti lived, where the famous galettes for sailors were cooked, where ropes for ships were made and sold, where wine and coffee were traded, and the rules that regulated this complex space.
A walk to discover one of the most authentic places in Venice.
This itinerary is proposed by:
Annabianca Traversa – tour guide
Qualifications: Italian, English
Tel. +393249933903
Email: annabianca.traversa@goguide.it
Website: biancatiaccompagna.wordpress.com
VAT number: 02542660275
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