Venice - Arsenal Arsenale

The Arsenal was the Shipyard of Venice - until the end of the 17th century the largest and busiest in the world. Founded in 1104, it was continuously expanded and in its heyday employed as many as 16,000 workmen. The Arsenal was a prohibited area and accessible by one land and one sea approach only. Every workman was privy to its secrets and, therefore, subject to security checks, which was how the Republic managed to keep its art of shipbuilding secret until about 1550.

The landward entrance (Ingresso di Terra) is a triumphal arch in the Renaissance style.