Enrico Dandolo was the second of two turret ships built for the Italian "Regia Marina" (Royal Navy) in the 1870s. They were fitted with the largest guns available, 17.72 in (450 mm) rifled, muzzle-loading guns, and were the largest, fastest and most powerful ships of their day. "Enrico Dandolo" was built in La Spezia, with her keel laid in January 1873 and her hull launched in July 1878. Construction was finally completed in April 1882 when the ship, named for the 41st Doge of Venice, was commissioned into the Italian fleet.