The Arsenale and Castello district
navy power at Arsenale, music at Vivaldi's church, that's Castello district
"The Venetian Arsenal stands behind hiss high wall and towers like a forbidden city within the city".
The Arsenal, the state shipyard where the famous Venetian galleys were built, defines, with its structure, the surrounding area.
The tour through the Castello area, the most typical district in Venice located in the farthest eastern part of the city, starts at the Pietà Church where the famous musician Vivaldi worked all his life, and winds through the very old Campo della Bragora with its ancient houses and church and ends in the Campo Dell Arsenale in front of the famous state shipyard's main entrance.
Your tourist guide will tell you about the strong Navy power developed by the Serenissima and how Arsenale became the focus of the Venetian maritime importance. It is a fascinating place where hundreds of specialised workers built a powerful war fleet and merchant Navy. During this city tour you'll see the high protective walls which surround the Arsenale area, Campo Dell Arsenale where you will see its famous classical doorway, and from the bridge beside the Campo, it is possible to have a look inside towards the basins.
This tour will put you in touch with two very different traits of the Venetian tradition: maritime culture at Arsenale and music culture at Pietà church. Pietà church with the nearby Ospizio, stands in the Castello district not far from Arsenale. Your guide will tell you about a very Venetian feature: the "Ospedali" or "Ospizi" for music, a type of conservatory where young girls were taught to play and sing.
During this tour it is possible to visit a handcrafted workshop (ask for prices and reservation)
