What is a good book on the Venetian Arsenal, and is the site worth visiting?
Short answerThe Arsenal belongs on a naval-history itinerary; an inexpensive Charles River overview is a practical introduction, while a heritage volume is stronger on reuse than operational history.
NotesThe Charles River Editors overview of the Venetian Arsenal is the suggested inexpensive introduction. Venice Arsenal: Between History, Heritage and Reuse is praised for its treatment of heritage and reuse, with reservations about its value as an operational shipyard history. Ship Builders of the Venetian Arsenal is recalled as a substantial, old, and expensive work. These are reading judgments made in the stream, rather than a comprehensive bibliography. A visit to the Arsenal is also endorsed, alongside the observation that shipyards attract relatively few institutional histories.