The Arsenale della Repubblica di Venezia is widely regarded as the world’s first production complex organised according to proto-industrial principles. For centuries, its strategic role in shipbuilding and repair supported and accompanied the historical events of the Serenissima.
The Gondola: A Floating Symbol of Venice
The gondola was not “invented” by any designer. As with all objects shaped by use and nature, the boat under consideration, which measures approximately 11 metres in length and 1.5 metres in width, has reached its current form through an endless series of almost imperceptible changes.
The oar, measuring 14 Venetian feet (or approximately four metres) in length, plays a pivotal role in understanding the way gondola works.
More than a hundred years ago, an epic feat of Italian aviation revealed a different way of waging war — one that still deserves reflection today.
How Medieval Scholars Shaped the Book as We Know It