 | Venice Gondolas, gondoliere, traghetti Reviews | 1 - 10 of 17 |  |
This is what I I had been waiting for! Carol and I had purposefully kept our vacation schedule loose. Aside from hotel reservations we really didn't have to be anywhere at any given time...that is, except for 10:30 AM Tuesday morning in Venice.
I love trip planning and research...what can I say, I've been called the Gray Geek more than once. In the lead up to our trip to Italy I came across a fantastic site (other than VT's of course) called the Venice Blog. Wonderful insights not easily found. It was here I discovered the American Gondola Builder in Venice. In 1996 Thom Price received a Watson Foundation grant to go to Venice and learn how to build gondolas. At the end of his grant he decided to stay in Venice and the rest, as they say, is history.
Turns out that it's not very easy to actually watch a gondola being built as the local boat builders are not quite as welcoming as the local glass blowers. Thom Price on the other hand was willing to open his squero or boat building workshop for occasional tours. Now, I have been a woodworker all my life building furniture, musical instruments and even a spiral staircase, but this was something else. The opportunity to see a gondola in its skeletal form, to observe firsthand techniques developed over centuries by master boat builders and to meet a young man who followed his dream as unlikely as it may have seemed...this was not be missed. Leave a Comment
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Gondolas live on the water. As all things that live on water, gondolas require constant maintenance. Cleaning and buffing are daily cosmetic care to keep the boat appealing to tourists, but that is only good on the surface, what below the surface is much more important in the trade.
The gondola mechanics are the people who give care to all gondolas. During its active life, a gondola needs a yearly scheduled check up for rotten panels and unsafe parts, and an overhaul when the situation arises. When a boat is put out to pasture, all of its components are salvaged for restoration. This is a tight business where nothing goes to waste and everything can be granted a new life.
The gondola garage is worth a visit if you are interested at what goes on behind the scene of one of the most lucrative businesses in Venice. Leave a Comment
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Local legend says that Gondoliers are born with webbed feet which helps them walk on water. Of course, this is part of the mythology of Gondoliers; however, they do have intimate knowledge of the waterway's of Venice which is passed down from father to son.
As in the picture, the traditional dress of the Gondolier is the beribboned straw hat, the striped shirt, and the black trousers.
The Gondolier stands upright and pushes on his oar to row the gondola in the direction that he faces. His passengers sit on beautifully upholstered cushions and on low stools. His gondola is always black in color; (seven layers of black lacquer to give the glossy look); the ferror has metal teeth which symbolizes the six sestieri of Venice as are under the part that is in the shape of the Doge's cap.
The Gondola takes three months to build and costs 10,000 Euro or more. The woods that are used are walnut, oak, mahogany, lime, larch, fir, elm, cherry, and beech. These woods are then handcrafted into more than 280 separate pieces of wood!
So, when we gripe about the price of a ride on the gondola, it is good to know how expensive the boat and how expensive the upkeep of this beautiful, craft which is one of the oldest symbols of Venice.
When I saw this Gondolier, I tried waiting until he turned around, but finally gave up and took the picture from the back...I think I like it best this way..more natural. Leave a Comment Other Contact: Just look around
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Most gondolas have a black colour and are ornated with the so-called ferro in the front of the boat. This ferro is a contra weight for the gondolier, standing at the backside.
The metallic teeth symbolize the six sestieri of Venice. At special occasions the gondola is decorated with flowers. It was such a nice coincidence to see this bridal couple, using the traditional gondola as mean of transport at their wedding day. Leave a Comment
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There are few surving gondola workshops in Venice. The Squero di San Trovaso is one of them. It is not open to the public, but we passed it numerous times and saw gondolas being worked on outside all the time across the canal. Leave a Comment
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A cheap (and more entertaining) alternative to the traditional gondola ride is to hop on a traghetto or traghetti (meaning ferry). For a reasonable amount you can take a cruise across the Grand Canal as the locals do. This is the only place they are used. Leave a Comment
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The Italians get through the city in their gondolas and boats to get to work or by foot.
This is very popular with tourist also to ride the canal by gondolas.
I think gondola rides in the canal is very romantic, maybe next time I go there, I will get that chance. Leave a Comment
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GONDOLA
Official Gondola Site: http://www.gondolavenezia.it/ Leave a Comment
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Riding a gondola is mainly for tourists, most Venetians today have never been in one.
Once there were more than 10,000 in public use, with nobility owning their private fleet. (There are now about 400 in service)
Gondolas hold upto 6 passengers, Prices are negotiable!!!
I haven't ridden in a gondola, but I understand that the official rate is 62 euros for a 50 minute ride, after 20.00hrs the price rises to 77.50 euros. Each extra 25 mins costs a further 31 euros! (Prices are published in the booklet Un Ospite di Venezia, and there should be a copy at the Gondola ranks)
These prices are only the official rates. In High Season, the gondolier may try to negociate a higher price! (They have been known to ask for upto double the official rate) so it's best to have the rate agreed before boarding. For a cheaper ride, it might be best to seek out a gondolier away from the main tourist sights i.e San Marco, Rialto Bridge and near the train station. Try bargaining for a shorter ride, or share with others standing by.
I'm not sure if there is a discount for children/ senior citizens etc.
I'm not sure if it is cheaper if your ride is included in an organised tour.
As I walked around Venice, I spotted many gondolas gliding along the canals. One night, when it was dark, I could hear what I thought was a recorded song coming from the canal, it was on closer inspection a gondolier singing as he rowed along- it was quite atmospheric, as his voice echoed around the narrow canal in the dark. I also heard an accordian being played one night.
Apparently from May - October there are serenaded night trips which operate in a flotilla.
So if You want a romantic gondola ride for 2 , be prepared to pay a premium!
If You want to travel on a gondola cheaply, just for the experience, Gondola Traghetti are retired tourist gondolas, whose 8 routes cross the Grand Canal at set routes. Mainly used by locals, the way to travel is standing- (sitting down is considered wimpish!) Costs about 0.40 euros. Leave a Comment
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This is our friendly Godolier. He doesn't speak English, I wonder if any of them do. But he is such an entertainer. He sings bilssfully (but not the kind you get on your stereo) & to our horror, at one point, he was jumping up and down at the back of the Gondola. But what a ride it was.
We were on a packaged tour, don't know exactly how much it would cost if you approached them directly. I read somewhere it's more than 100 euro? Leave a Comment
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Destinations near Venice- La Giudecca, 0.79 km / 0.49 miles
- San Giorgio Maggiore, 2.50 km / 1.55 miles
- Murano, 2.73 km / 1.70 miles
- Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore, 3.05 km / 1.90 miles
- Isola di Murano, 3.61 km / 2.24 miles
- San Lazzaro, 4.03 km / 2.51 miles
- Lido, 4.67 km / 2.90 miles
- Fusina, 6.39 km / 3.97 miles
- Lido, 6.41 km / 3.98 miles
- Sant Erasmo, 6.99 km / 4.34 miles
» See all locations nearby» Popular Veneto locations» Popular Italy locations
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