The Venetian Arsenal has been the very first big ship factory of the city, an extended part of Venice since it was built (around 1200) when many small manufacturing factories were united in one complex.
The Arsenal has been very important in the history of Venice: the Republic managed in fact to defend itself militarily with the weapons produced there by the thousands of workers working at the army projects. Today, Venetian Arsenal is under restoration: a part is still used for the Film Festival, other parts are instead gradually reported to use. The Gate of Earth, the monumental entrance to the Arsenal was built in 1500.
Its mean should have been the opposition of Venice to the influence of the Turks and the representation of the role of the city as a symbol of Christianity. It is a portal with statues, columns and lions. The lion came from Greece and was brought to Venice as a trophy of war.
The restoration of the statues was recently completed. A visit to Venetian Arsenal can represent a different route from the traditional sightseeings of Venice, a location worth to be visited to understand the importance of the Venetian Republic and its great Sea military power.