Venice – Arsenal and east of the city
The eastern part of the Castello sestiere was once the main industrial center in the city and the largest production center in Europe, but today it is primarily a residential area with few cultural monuments.
However, avoiding it entirely would be a mistake, because the absence of tourists (with the exception of the summer months in even-numbered years, when the Biennale takes place here) is one of the main advantages of this area, and unbuilt spaces, Garibaldi Gardens, Giardini Pubblici and Parco della Rimembranze are a good remedy for often felt city fatigue after a short time.
Arsenal
The very name of Arsenale, which comes from the Arabic darsin (house of industry), points to the strong ties between Venice and the Eastern Mediterranean. It was on the work of the workers employed in the local shipyards and factories that the commercial and military power of the city was based. The construction of the Arsenal began in the early. 12th century, and in the 1530s, more than three hundred maritime trading companies had their headquarters here, which had a total of approx. 3000 ships, each with a capacity of over 200 your. The performance at the Arsenal was legendary: in year 1574, during the official reception in honor of the visiting king of France, Henry III, The Arsenalotti managed to build a complete ship for the king.
The expansion of the Arsenal continued in the 16th century: in the forties, e.g, a covered dock was built to a design by Sanmicheli for the Bucintoro barges used by government officials, and in the year 1579 the huge Tana rope factory designed by da Ponte. At that time, however, despite the famous victory at Lepanto, Venice's naval and military power began to wane, and the recovery of the Peloponnese at the end of the 17th century was just a brief glory in a long period of decline. When in the year 1797 Napoleon took the city, he ordered the docks and quays to be set on fire, the sinking of the last Bucintoro and confiscation of the remaining Venetian fleet.
During the Austrian occupation of the city, the docks were rebuilt. During World War I, numerous ships for the Italian Navy were built in the local shipyards, and then (in year 1917) all devices were dismantled, to prevent them from being used by the enemy. Since then, the Arsenal has been used as a stationing and repair site for ships, but recently there are plans to expand the maritime museum with some of the Arsenal buildings and to convert other parts into sports halls.
BUDYNKI ARSENALE I NA VALE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Arsenale complex is closed to visitors. However, a fragment of it can be seen from the bridge, which connects Campo Arsenale with Fondamenta delTArsenale. A more interesting view is from the vaporetto route # 5, which crosses the oldest part of the Arsenal and runs next to the dock for Bucintoro Sanmicheli and the adjacent Darsen Grande outlet.
The main gate of the Arsenal, built in the year 1460 by Antonio Gambello, it was the first Renaissance structure in Venice to truly follow ancient patterns. The four lvas on the side are among the most photographed symbols of the city. The pair of lions on the right were probably brought from Delos, and one of them (more to the left) placed here on the occasion of the recovery of Corfu in the year 1716. Second, a bigger pair, brought from Piraeus Francesco Morosini after re-conquering the Peloponnese in a year 1687.
Near, on the other side of the Rio dell'Arsenale, is located Museo Storico Navale, facade facing the lagoon (pn.-pt. 9.00-13.00, sb. 9.00-12.00; 1000L). The most interesting part of this museum is the collection of models of all possible Venetian ships from the gondola to the Bucintoro. The museum gives a complete picture of the daily work at the Arsenal and other smaller boatbuilding workshops, but wanting to know a bit of the city's history during a visit to only one museum, better go to Correr (tooth. above under San Marco”).
San Pietro di Castello
In year 1808 most of the canal connecting Bacino di San Marco with the wide mouth of the Canale di San Pietro was filled in and the widest and busiest shopping street in the eastern district was created, today called Via Garibaldi. On the right side of the street you pass through Ponte di Quintavalle to San Piętro Island. It used to be the center of church life in Venice, and now the island seems to live in an atmosphere of memories of its heyday.
In year 775 the local settlement has grown so much, that she was granted the status of episcopal see under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Grado. However, the Rialto-San Marco area has become the political and economic center of Venice, and the relations of the church with the distant city authorities were never very good. In year 1451 the first Venetian Patriarch was ordained, but Castello remained its seat until a year 1807 (10 years after the fall of the Republic), when he was finally allowed to move to San Marco.
Just like the Arsenal, San Pietro's history is perhaps more interesting than this, what can you see there today. The magnificent church was erected on the basis of a design modeled on the Palladia style, but it does not stand out from the outside with anything special. Inside, the most intriguing object is the so-called. throne of st. Peter (in the south aisle). It is something like a marble chair, which was carved from an Arab tombstone (there are texts from the Koran on it). Campanile leaning by the church, rebuilt in the eighties of the 15th century by Coducei, it was the first stone tower in Venice.
St. Helena
Sant'Elena Island, which forms the eastern border of central Venice, it was enlarged tenfold under Austrian rule, primarily to create a training ground for the army. Most of the island was formerly covered with meadows, but today there are houses on it and only the green belt has survived at the waterfront. Nevertheless, choosing the island you can have a good break from the hustle and bustle of the city, and also visit the Church of Sant'Elena.
It was built in the 13th century, after bringing the body of St.. Helena (mother of the Emperor Constantine), a w 1435 significantly rebuilt. Austere gothic interior, the cloisters and the belfry have been recently restored (the tower was so thoroughly renovated, that it looks like a factory chimney now), but the main attraction is the door to the church, made in the 1770s by Antonio Rizzo. A sculpture in honor of the commandante Vittorio Cappello located above the door, which depicts him kneeling in front of St.. Helen, is the most outstanding work of art in this district.