| The Venice Naval History Museum |
| A Bargain way to enjoy Venice's Naval History |
Venetians and Great Shipbuilding - The Arsenale
It is a widely held belief that Henry Ford installed the first assembly line in 1913. Sure, in 1913 producing a simple car in 93 minutes was quite a feat, but Venetians were accomplishing the very same thing with naval vessels hundreds of years earlier at the Arsenale.
Said to have employed 16,000 men at its peak, the Arsenale could, if pressed, crank out a copy of a galley, the famous Venetian warship, during a typical Italian lunch. And you could order spare parts from a common parts bin, too, just like the Model T.Founded around 1220, the Arsenale is the anchor point of Venice. Power and wealth came from within its 2 mile long walls. You can't visit the Arsenale without special permission. It's pretty much an Italian Naval Secret. But you can visit the impressive Navel History Museum just around the corner. Venice's Naval History Museum: What you'll see At the Southeastern side of Venice in the Sestiere of Castello you'll find imposing Arsenale and the Naval Museum. [map below] Upon entering, you'll find some interesting artifacts from the second world war, including manned torpedoes invented in Italy. On the first floor are rooms full of models and other remnants of the shipbuilding trade. The crown jewel is the huge model of a Bucintoro, a ridiculously grand vessel used by the Doge in an annual ceremony in which he would conduct a marriage between the city with the sea with the help of a huge ring. The second floor shows off some lagoon craft while the third floor holds a collection of 24 Chinese junks and silk panels. The fourth floor is devoted to northern vessels, Viking craft and the like. Your ticket gets you into a couple of warehouses full of other boats that couldn't fit in the museum. There are pictures of some of these below. To see them you just turn right out of the museum and walk down the canal toward the arsenale until you see the ticket checker sitting on a chair outside. What's it all Cost? The Naval History Museum is a bargain at €1.55. That's right, a buck and a half to see a vast museum and a couple warehouses chock full of ancient vessels. Vaporetto Stop: Arsenale. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:45 am-1:30pm; Saturday 8:45am-1pm Hotels in the Area Often Recommended is the Pensione Bucintoro, a quirky joint with great views. See the linkbox on the upper right for links to reviews. Restaurants The Corte Sconta at Calle del Pestrin 388l near Campo Bandiera e Moro is recognized by Venetians as one of the premier places for Venetian Seafood. Expensive.
photos and graphics © 2002 by James Martin, Licensed to About. Explore Europe TravelMust ReadsMore from About.com
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