Gondoliers of Venice
You will be surrounded by canals full of gondolas in Venice. No trip should be complete without taking a ride on one of these iconic boats.
It is unclear where the word “gondola” comes from, but the Greek word “koundoura”, which means small boat, is believed to have been used in the 11th century. Flat-bottomed boats are designed for the narrow canals of Venice. Modern-day boats still follow these specifications, and they are all handcrafted. For the closest thing in the UK, consider Cheshire canal boat hire from cheshirenarrowboat.com/
The boats are built to a standard design and weigh 700 kg. They consist of approximately 280 pieces, made of 8 different types of wood, including elm and lime. All the boats are painted black. The reason for this is that a 16th Century law required the gondolas to be painted black. It was a requirement to stop nobility from competing over the most ornate and flamboyant boat. Three decorations are now on the boats, a curly-tail, a multipronged prow, and a pair of seahorses.
The rowlock and the oar are made of walnut. The two pieces of equipment can be used to steer the Gondola in eight different directions, including:
- Forward rowing
- Backwards rowing
- Slowing down
- Turning
- Stopping
Rowlocks and oars are made to fit the specifics of each gondolier based on their height, strength, and rowing style. They are usually carried around with them just in case.
The prow is on the front to protect the wood from damage if the gondola hits another boat or part of the canal. The metal used can be iron, brass or aluminium. The counterweight also compensates for the gondolier at the back of the boat. The prow usually has six prongs that represent the six administrative districts of the city of Venice.
