Arsenale Austriaco
Place of Interest
The main entrance of the garrison city
Arsenale Austriaco
Garrison city of the Austrians
From the Ponte Scaligero you can reach the Arsenale Austriaco – also known as Arsenal Franz Joseph I – via the Piazza Arsenale. The arsenal was built between 1854 and 1861 by Lieutenant Colonel Conrad Petrasch for the Habsburgs and housed Field Marshal Radetzky’s troops. Squares, farms, roads, warehouses, barracks, stables, officers’ buildings and shops are to be found on 7 hectares – almost like in a small isolated town.
After Italian unification the arsenal was left to decay – that’s the reason why it looks a little bit run down and sad today. But there are plans to restore the Arsenale Austriaco. Parts of the garrison city are to be declared a museum and the arena’s foundation is planning to build a cultural centre within the walls of the old arsenal.
Tweet