Archivio di Stato di Venezia, State archive and former friary near Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
The State Archive of Venice is a former monastery with Gothic architecture that spans multiple floors near the Grand Canal and houses about 62 kilometers of shelving. The building contains numerous reading rooms and workspaces designed for examining its vast collections of documents, manuscripts, and maps.
The archive was founded in 1815 following Napoleon's defeat and collects records from over 1000 years of Venetian history. Its collections document the administration, diplomacy, and maritime commerce that defined the republic across many centuries.
The archive holds records that reveal how Venetian artists, musicians, and ordinary people lived and worked over many centuries. Documents here show traditions, celebrations, and daily routines that shaped the city's character.
Visitors must register in advance and schedule appointments to access the reading rooms, which are open Monday through Saturday mornings. Planning your visit ahead of time is important since access is limited to researchers and researchers must arrange their specific visit times.
The archive maintains detailed records of every ship that entered the port of Venice, offering a remarkable window into the city's maritime history. These ship registers allow researchers today to trace individual trading voyages and maritime connections across the centuries.
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