Traditional gondolas on a narrow canal in Venice
Gondolas are the most well-known symbol of the city of Venice, Italy. The Gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed, asymmetrical rowing boat. Today is one of main attractions in Venice, since a Gondola ride offers you the possibility to visit Venice from a different angle.
The size, shape and colour of an official Venetian gondola used for work is fixed. A sumptuary law of Venice required that gondolas should be painted black, and they are customarily so painted now. The gondola business is strictly regulated in Venice. Gondola prices are the same all over the city, determinated by the “comune” of Venice and non-negotiable. A 30-minute gondola ride in Venice costs € 80 during the day and €100 fron 7 pm to 8 am.
In spring or in summer the best time to go on a gondola is in the morning before it becomes too hot. There is no shade on the gondola so you will be in full sun all the time. As another option you can choose to take a Venetian gondola ride in the early evening, at sunset, or even in the dark.However gondoliers will be more tired in the evening. You should also know that after 7 pm rates are higer.
How to best experience Gondola ride?
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Best Gondola ride Tours
Tickets for Venice: Gondola Ride with Live Commentary
/5See Venice the right way – from a gondolier-powered gondola!
As low as
€40.00
on Tiqets.com
Tickets for Venice: 30-Minute Classic Gondola Ride
/5Enjoy a classic gondola ride in picture-perfect Venice
As low as
€33.00
on Tiqets.com
Tickets for Best of Venice: Doge's Palace & Gondola Tour
/5History, grandeur, and breezy gondolas – explore the City of Masks
As low as
€78.00
on Tiqets.com
Doge's Palace + Grand Canal by Gondola
/5Book once and enhance your experience with this convenient combination of must sees
As low as
€65.50
on Tiqets.com
What is a Gondola?
A Gondola is a typical boat of the Venice lagoon. Due to its characteristics of maneuverability and speed it was, until the advent of motorized vehicles, the Venetian boat most suitable for transporting people in a city like Venice, whose waterways have always been the most used for transport.Nowadays, gondolas are mainly used for the entertainment of tourists.
How is a gondola made?
Today’s gondola is up to 11 m long and 1.42 m wide, with a mass of about 400 kg. They are made of 280 hand-made pieces using eight types of wood (lime, oak, mahogany, walnut, cherry, fir, larch and elm). The oar or rèmo is held in an oarlock known as a fórcola. The forcola is of a complicated shape, allowing several positions of the oar for slow forward rowing, powerful forward rowing, turning, slowing down, rowing backwards, and stopping. The ornament on the front of the boat is called the fèrro (meaning iron) and can be made from brass, stainless steel, or aluminium. It serves as decoration and as counterweight for the gondolier standing near the stern.
How far do gondolas go?
Maximum speed is 8.5 m/s (30km/h)
Why do gondoliers wear striped shirt?
Stripes had become a typical shirt worn by men on ships and boats. This was because the French Navy had designated that as a safety precaution so if a man fell overboard he could be spotted easier in the waves of the Sea.
What do gondoliers wear?
The typical gondolier outfit consists of black shoes, black trousers, black and white (sometimes red and white) horizontal striped shirt and a straw hat with black (or red) ribbon.
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