Sant'Andrea da Varriale

45°26'29"N 012°22'59"E

Runway: n/a - n/a - water

Sant'Andrea da Varriale seaplane base (l'idroscalo Sant'Andrea da Varriale, also known as St. Andrea seaplane base) was an aerodrome in Venice.
The airfield was built around the start of World War I by the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy). During World War I it was used by the Italian Navy Squadriglie da Caccia (Fighter Squadron).
In the interbellum the base was jointly used by military and civilian flying boats.
During World War II it was used (along with the satellite aerodrome at Punta Sabbioni) by both the Italian Navy (Cant Z.506) and the German Luftwaffe (Ar196 and Do-24).


Overview of the Idroscalo and its hangars during World War I (kataweb.it).


The Idroscalo was an important base of the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) during World War I (kataweb.it).


Undated aerial view of the Idroscalo near Venice (Archivio Antonellini, via kataweb.it).


THE 1927 BRITISH SCHNEIDER TEAM : This photograph, taken at St. Andrea, shows the two types of British machines in the race, the Gloster IV on the left and the Supermarine S.5 on the right. In front of the machines are seen, among others: First Row—L. E. Coombes, Capt. Forsythe (Air Ministry), Flying-Officer Schofield, Flight-Lieut. Kinkead, Wing-Commander Fletcher, Flight-Lieut. Worsley (second in the race), Air Vice-Marshal Scarlett (Commander of the R.A.F. team), Flight-Lieut. Webster (winner of the race), Sqdn.-Ldr. Slatter, Flying-Officer Moon (Technical Officer of the team), Maj. Buchanan (Air Ministry) Mr. Ransome, and Mr. Reason.
Second Row Mr. E. Scott, Sir Harry Brittain (Director of Napiers), Mr. Vane (Managing Director of Napiers), Mr. Folland Idesigner of the Gloster IV), Mr. Mitchell (designer of Supermarine S.5), Commander Bird (Managing Director of the Supermarine firm) and Mr. R. E. G. Smith. (flightglobal.com)
 
Although the base stopped seeing flying boats after World War II, it remained a millitary installation. Renamed 'Base Giuseppe Miraglia', it became a base of the Italian Army's amphibious troops, the Lagunari. Its hangars were removed and the entire complex was converted for use by amphibious assault boats. The Lagunari still occupy the base.


The former Idroscalo in the summer of 1982 (associazionelagunari.it)


Overview of the former Idroscalo in 2007 (Google Earth)