Arsenale, Venice

Largest industrial complex in Europe
It might have existed as early as the VIII century, it definitely existed in the early XIII century
Present structure - 1104, during the reign of Ordelafo Faliero
Wood from Montello
Early XIII century 16,000 people able to produce nearly a ship each day
1320 creation of the Arsenale Nuovo


Main gate - Porta Magna built around 1460 (built perhaps by Antonio Gambello from a desing by Jacopo Bellini) - first Classic revival stucture built in Venice. The lions are from Greece (1687), see the runic inscriptions (XI century).

GALILEO GALILEI

1593 - external consultant to the Arsenal in matters of rowing, instruments and ballistics.

DANTE INFERNO CANTO XI


Così di ponte in ponte, altro parlando
che la mia comedìa cantar non cura,
venimmo; e tenavamo ’l colmo, quando
restammo per veder l’altra fessura
di Malebolge e li altri pianti vani;
e vidila mirabilmente oscura.

Quale ne l’arzanà de’ Viniziani
bolle l’inverno la tenace pece
a rimpalmare i legni lor non sani,

ché navicar non ponnoóin quella vece
chi fa suo legno novo e chi ristoppa
le coste a quel che più vïaggi fece;

chi ribatte da proda e chi da poppa;
altri fa remi e altri volge sarte;
chi terzeruolo e artimon rintoppaó:

tal, non per foco ma per divin’ arte,
bollia là giuso una pegola spessa,
che ’nviscava la ripa d’ogne parte.


From bridge to bridge thus, speaking other things
Of which my Comedy cares not to sing,
We came along, and held the summit, when
We halted to behold another fissure
Of Malebolge and other vain laments;
And I beheld it marvellously dark.

As in the Arsenal of the Venetians
Boils in the winter the tenacious pitch
To smear their unsound vessels o'er again,

For sail they cannot; and instead thereof
One makes his vessel new, and one recaulks
The ribs of that which many a voyage has made;

One hammers at the prow, one at the stern,
This one makes oars, and that one cordage twists,
Another mends the mainsail and the mizzen;

Thus, not by fire, but by the art divine,
Was boiling down below there a dense pitch
Which upon every side the bank belimed.


You can find very detailed information about the Arsenal, its structure and its expansion at the following website
http://www.veneziamuseo.it/ARSENAL/schede_arsenal/arsenal_vecio.htm

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