Arsenal (Venice)

The Venetian Arsenal ( Italian: Arsenale di Venezia , from Arabic Dar al-Sinaa - workshop) is a comprehensive enterprise for the construction and equipping of warships, including forges, shipyards, arms depots and various workshops ^[1] , founded in Venice in 1104, to equip warships required for the crusades in which the Republic of Venice participated.

Arsenal towers.

The Arsenal had two entrances: for land workers and a sea gate for ships. On the territory of the Arsenal there were warehouses of hemp , scaffolding and weapons, as well as covered shipyards , on which up to 20 galleys up to 40 meters long were built.

The expansion of the theater of warfare of Venice and the war with Genoa led to the construction in 1326 of the second, new Arsenal ( Italian Arsenale Nuovo ), in contrast to the old Arsenal ( Italian Arsenale Vecchio ), designed to build up to 80 galleys. Arsenal received a monopoly on the construction of ships for the city Commune and was the largest industrial enterprise of medieval Europe . During the war with Turkey, guns were cast in the Arsenal, gunpowder was made, as were sails and rigging.

After the defeat from the Turks, Negraponte in 1473 laid the third, newest Arsenal ( Italian: Arsenale Nuovissimo ), which was built until 1570 . The newest Arsenal made it possible to build large vessels up to 50 meters in length.

The Venetian Arsenal supplied materials to two arsenals under its jurisdiction, in Crete and Corfu , and produced ships not only for Venice, but also on order. Arsenal workers received less than in the private sector, and since 1425 Arsenal caulkers had no right to work in private shipyards. However, in the 15th century , outside shipbuilders and caulkers were allowed into the Arsenal, without depriving them of the right to work in other places.

In the former buildings of the granary and the oar workshop of the Arsenal , the Naval Historical Museum is now located.

Dante Alighieri dedicated the 21st song “Hell” to the Venetian Arsenal

And as in the Venetian arsenal
The viscous resin boils in winter,
To smear the plows, those that are dilapidated,

And everyone is doing winter things:
He gets along oars, this one scores
The gap in the body that flowed;

Who repairs the nose and who rips the stern;
Who works to make a new plow;
Who's howling howls, who's sails patching ...