Tese delle Nappe, Historic shipyard in the Castello district, Venice, Italy
Arsenale Nord is the northern section of Venice's historic shipyard, located in the Castello district, and made up of large brick warehouses, open yards, and internal canals. The space is flat and wide, with high arches and broad doorways sized to move ships and heavy materials through.
The Arsenal was founded around 1104 and grew over the centuries into one of the largest shipbuilding operations of its time, with new sections added throughout the 13th and 14th centuries. When the Republic of Venice fell in 1797, the yard closed, and the complex eventually passed to the Italian Navy, which still owns it today.
Arsenale Nord comes alive during the Venice Biennale, when its old warehouses are turned into exhibition spaces for art and architecture shows. The brick buildings, with their wide doorways and high arches, give the area a raw, industrial feel that contrasts with the rest of the city.
Arsenale Nord is generally open on weekdays during morning and early afternoon hours, though which parts are accessible depends on what events are taking place, so it is worth checking ahead. Visitors on foot can follow the waterfront from the main city center, and the Arsenale vaporetto stop is a convenient option for those arriving by water bus.
Dante Alighieri visited the Arsenal and was so struck by the activity there that he described it in the Divine Comedy, comparing the boiling tar used to seal ships to a scene from hell. A plaque at the entrance still marks the reference today.
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