You can’t think of Venice Italy without thinking of a Gondola, they go hand in hand. On my recent visit to Venice, I got to experience their magic first hand. The peacefulness of gliding on the narrow canals between the stones buildings is everything you’d imagine it to be. Smooth. Quiet. Reflective. Tranquil. It’s such a personal experience, especially when traveling with a loved one.
The history of the Gondola is a long and storied one, possibly dating back as early as 700 AD, or at the very least 1094 AD when mentioned in a letter from a Venetian Republic official. As a design geek I was fascinated to learn that the Venetian Blind was derived from blinds that were used on earlier Gondola’s dating back to about 1500 when Gondola’s had cabins. The blinds allowed for privacy during the Age of Decadence, when would be Casanovas enjoyed trysts out on the canals.
During the 14th century, horses were outlawed from the streets of Venice, and the noble class embraced the gondola as a respectable form of transportation. During the 16th century, laws were enacted by the doge to eliminate competition between the nobles, who were competing for the fanciest rig. Some went so far as to include semiprecious stones on brightly colored boats. Now each vessel is covered in 6 coats of black paint and lasts about 15 years, after which, it can be refinished (once) to last another 10 years.
About 200 years ago there were over 10,000 Gondolas in Venice, now there are only about 400 licensed gondoliers. When one dies, the license is passed to his widow. If you’re going to take in the full Gondola experience, it’s about 80 euro during the day, and 100 euro during the evening. If you choose to tip your gondolier, the rate is 5 – 10 percent. FYI, don’t expect all of them to serenade you… as they say, some are lovers, and some are singers.
