I can highly recommend everyone interested in (the Venetian) naval history to visit the Naval History Museum (Museo Storico Navale) located just a few steps away from the Arsenale.
You will find: canons, uniforms, Roman/Venetian (for instance the Bucintoro, the vessel of the Doge)/Asiatic model ships and, last but not least, real historic gondole “de casada”. I even “discovered” a painting attributed to Tintoretto.
The Museum is easily reachable by foot from Piazza San Marco (about 10 minutes) or from the stop “Arsenale” (get off the vaporetto, turn right and cross the bridge: voilà the museum is right in front of you). As the museum is now managed by Vela Spa the ticket costs – since june 2014 – €5/person (reduced €3,50/person) and gives you access to 5 floors of naval history.
Opening Hours (since June 2014):
Mo-Thu: 08.45 am – 01.30 pm
Fri/Sat: 08.45 am – 05.30 pm
Sunday and holidays: 10.00 am – 05.00 pm
Holidays: 2nd of June, 15th of August, 1st of November
Closed: 25th of December, 1st of January, 1st of May
Riva S. Biasio Castello, 2148 30122 Venezia
