The Venetian Arsenal: The History and Legacy of the Weapons Industry that Made Venice the Mediterranean’s Strongest Naval Power

*Includes pictures
*Includes contemporary accounts of the Venetian Arsenal
*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading
*Includes a table of contents

“As in the Arsenal of the Venetians
Boils in winter the tenacious pitch
To smear their unsound vessels over 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…” – Dante’s Inferno

The mystical floating city of Venice has inspired awe for generations, and continues to be one of the most visited European cities for good reason. Tourists are drawn to the stunning blend of classical, Gothic, and Renaissance-inspired architecture across the picturesque towns and villages, the charming open-air markets, the mouthwatering traditional cuisine, and of course, the famous gondolas drifting down the twinkling blue waters. While these gondolas, along with the time-honored models of the Venetian vessels docked in the harbors, are one of the city's most defining landmarks, their beginnings are shrouded in a more obscure part of Venetian history.

To the first settlers of the unpromising, marshy islands of Venice in the 5th century BCE, it appeared as if any attempt at civilization was doomed to fail. Yet, even with the cards stacked against them, the artful inhabitants mastered the unlivable terrain and slowly pieced together a society that would put the small, unassuming city right on the map. In time, the city evolved into the most powerful maritime empire in all of Europe. And behind this flourishing nautical force was the interconnected system of shipyards and armories – the legendary Venetian Arsenal.

The Venetian Arsenal: The History and Legacy of the Weapons Industry that Made Venice the Mediterranean’s Strongest Naval Power dives into the city's origin story, and what led up to the birth of the shipping and armory complex. It also examines the community of craftsmen, as well as the arsenal at its zenith, and its inevitable undoing. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Venetian Arsenal like never before.