When you visit Venice, you'll encounter elegant black boats known as gondolas, celebrated globally as symbols of the city. Similar to how pizza represents Naples, the gondola embodies Venice's essence. The distinctive iron prow, resembling a comb at the front, serves to balance the gondolier's weight and carries deeper symbolism.
Its design isn't arbitrary:
- The S-shape mirrors the meandering course of the Grand Canal.
- Six teeth point forward, symbolizing Venice's six districts (sestieri).
- One tooth pointing inward signifies Giudecca Island.
- An arch over the final tooth represents the iconic Rialto Bridge.
- The top part of the prow reflects the Doge's hat.
Discovering these hidden details adds richness to your gondola experience. If you're a first-time visitor to Venice, embark on a gondola ride. Our recommended routes include the Grand Canal and San Marco basin, offering views of landmarks such as St. Mark's Square, the Bridge of Sighs, Punta della Dogana, and the Rialto Bridge. You can also navigate the narrower canals in the historic heart of the city.
Explore our diverse gondola ride options, whether you prefer private tours or group excursions. Venice awaits your exploration!
Gondola ride Venice: private and group tour
Taking a gondola ride through the canals of Venice is somewhat of a must-do activity in the city, almost a given, but believe us, it's truly a beautiful adventure! Rocked by the gentle movement of the water and captivated by the skill of the gondolier steering the gondola, you'll have a perspective of the city that's truly unparalleled. You can choose between:
- Private daytime tour
- Private evening tour
- Shared daytime tour
- Shared evening tour with serenade
All experiences have a duration of 30 minutes. In private tours, you can opt to include onboard aperitifs or a serenade. Click on the tour link, explore the itineraries, and choose the gondola ride that suits you best.
The daytime tour is available year-round from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM; the evening tour is available until 8:00 PM from April to October.
Available year-round at 3 different times (11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 5:15 PM); the evening tour with serenade is available from April to October at 6:30 PM.
A gondola ride in Venice offers an iconic and deeply romantic experience. Here are several special gondola tours to enhance this memorable occasion:
- Romantic Gondola Ride for Two
Embark on a private gondola ride designed for couples, providing a moment of serene intimacy. With a gondolier dressed in traditional attire and the enchanting addition of a musical serenade, you'll glide through Venice's lesser-known canals, enveloped in a truly magical atmosphere.
- Gondola Proposal
Make your marriage proposal truly unforgettable with a sunset gondola ride. Choose from options such as scattering rose petals, savoring champagne, and capturing the moment with a professional photographer. This picturesque and romantic setting is ideal for creating cherished memories.
- Combined Walking Tour and Gondola Ride
Immerse yourself fully in Venice's rich history and charm by combining a guided walking tour of its historic districts with a gondola ride. Discover iconic landmarks like St. Mark's Square during the walking portion, then transition to a tranquil canal journey aboard a gondola. This comprehensive experience offers a complete perspective of the city's beauty and allure.
Artisanal workshops Venice
After experiencing the magic of a gondola ride in Venice, exploring traditional workshops like squeri and forcole unveils the secrets of craftsmanship and culture behind these iconic symbols.
Squeri, where gondolas are built and maintained, offer a glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship involved in everything from hull design to the application of their distinctive black paint.
Forcole, essential rowlocks crafted by skilled artisans, are tailored to the unique demands of navigating Venice's canals, enabling gondoliers to maneuver with grace.
These visits not only showcase the technical aspects of gondola construction but also highlight the cultural significance of these timeless symbols that continue to captivate through the centuries.
- Child Friendly
- Private Experience
- Sustainable
- Child Friendly
- Private Experience
- Sustainable
The Gondola of Venice Throughout History
The gondola is the symbol of Venice. The history of the city and its most famous symbol intertwines since the 15th century, perhaps even earlier, but it is from the 1400s that we have certain evidence in many paintings. Essentially, this elegant rowing boat was the equivalent of a carriage and was used by nobles and the wealthy for their official movements. As an integral part of Venetian life, the gondola has always been more than just a mode of transportation; it is a reflection of the city's culture and artistic heritage.
Notably, gondolas were topped with a "felze," a sort of movable cabin that served to protect their passengers from the weather (and prying eyes). This feature provided both privacy and comfort, making gondolas a preferred choice for the affluent. Like luxury cars today, gondolas followed the fashion of the time; or at least, this was the case until 1609 when a decree by the Senate imposed strict limits on the use of fabrics, gold inlays, and other precious decorations. This decree aimed to curb excessive displays of wealth and promote a more austere aesthetic across the city.
And that's where their black color originates from! The restrictions led to the standardization of the gondola's appearance, resulting in the iconic black hue that we associate with them today. This color choice was not just a matter of regulation but also a symbol of elegance and simplicity, qualities that have endured through centuries.
What is a gondola ? How is it build ?
Now that we've debunked some common misconceptions, let's explore what makes this rowing boat so special compared to others.
The first phase of building a gondola in Venice begins with the selection and initial cutting of wood from 8 different types. These planks are then left to season for an entire year before the master builder begins the actual work.
The actual construction of the gondola starts with the skeleton of the boat, followed by the sides, called "serci." After completing all other structural elements (such as thwarts, risers, forcole, and rudder pins), the waterproofing process begins.
Finally, six coats of paint!
To be honest, it's not quite finished yet: once the main body is completed, there's still the "parecio," which includes all the embellishments that distinguish one gondola from another, making each one unique and original.
In total, several highly skilled artisans work on the construction of a gondola, including squerarioli (builders), carvers, gilders, upholsterers, blacksmiths, and rowers. All of them, along with others who handle the gondoliers' appearance, are part of the El Felze association, which is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the construction of the Venetian gondola.
Where are gondolas built? A tour into the Squero of Venice
The squero in Venice is the shipyard for small rowing boats of Venetian tradition: mascarete, sandoli, caorline, and of course, the most famous gondolas.
Today, there are only 5 active squeri on the island, but in the past, there were many more! From the outside, a squero is easily recognizable:
- It is characterized by the presence of wood, recalling the relationship with the mountains from which the construction materials come.
- It has a covered area and is open only on the side facing the water, called "tesa," where boats are built and repaired.
- The open side of the tesa ends with a sloping ramp towards the water, necessary for hauling boats out of or launching them into the water using only a cart (electric overhead cranes have only recently begun assisting with this process).
Visiting a squero is truly exciting, like stepping back in time; the master builder (called squerarol) will tell you many stories and share construction techniques that have remained almost unchanged over time.
Who is the Remer of Venice?
Here's the third crucial figure in the life of a gondola: the "remer" of Venice. The remer is the craftsman who creates the movable parts of non-motorized boats, namely the oars and the forcole (rowlock). It's no coincidence we use the term "create": the hands of the remer passionately mold, following ancient traditions, a piece of wood until it is reborn as an oar or forcola.
It might sound simple at first glance: after all, isn't an oar just a long wooden paddle? Well, it's not that simple at all! First of all, the oar isn't a single piece of wood:
- The main body consists of a long, round shaft that ends at the grip (called "giron"), and on the opposite side, it widens into a flat, broad part (called "pala") that actually strokes and moves the water.
- The "coltelli" are two small lateral inserts near the pala, with one usually longer than the other.
Oars vary in size and characteristics depending on the type of boat and the rower they're intended for. The remer's work requires a nearly surgical precision! Take some time to observe the remer's hands as they craft an oar for a pope boat or a forcola for a test boat... they can tell you this love story like no other!
Gondolier of Venice: the custodian of the city's secrets
The image of the Venetian gondolier that comes to mind is often this: a striped shirt, black pants, and a straw hat. However, did you know that this "uniform" is relatively recent and is linked to the fame of the movie "Venice, the Moon and You," in which the great Alberto Sordi plays a charming gondolier?
The profession of a gondolier is ancient and requires extensive preparation. To become a gondolier, one must attend a special school and pass a difficult final exam. Lessons include studying foreign languages and the history of Venice. Did you know there are over 600 gondoliers?
These are just a few facts about Venetian gondoliers, but there's much more to tell! Although the profession of the gondolier has evolved over time, they remain the custodians of the secrets of our fascinating city as they navigate the canals of Venice.
What is the price of a venetian gondola ride ?
There has been a lot of negative publicity about the price of gondolas in Venice, and perhaps in the past, not always without reason. However, times have changed, and for years now, you will find prices clearly displayed at every gondola station, which are consistent throughout the city.
Our advice is to book your gondola ride in advance: the surcharge for early booking is not very high and will guarantee your spot on the gondola without wasting time in lines. Additionally, you can calmly choose your itinerary and departure time. Besides private tours, you might also consider booking a 30-minute ride on a shared gondola with other people; in this case, the price can be quite affordable.
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