Gondolas and gondoliers have been a part of Venice since anyone can remember. In the 16th century they were the mainstay of trade and transport and about 10,000 gondolas were in daily use; nowadays there are about 500 and their use is limited almost exclusively to the tourist trade.
Gondola prices
If you fancy a gondola ride (and who in Venice doesn't?) then be prepared to dig deep as prices can be steep. Be prepared to queue as well, especially at popular points such as the Piazza San Marco.
There can be huge demand for a gondolier, particularly from Japanese tourists who will queue for hours to get a ride, shelling out whatever is required for the privilege. It can often pay to book your gondola tour well in advance.
Venice City Council's regulation rate is €80 for a 40min ride with a maximum six people per gondola. An extra 20min costs €40. After 7pm the charges are €100 and €50 for an extra 20min.
If you do join the queue be sure to agree the price and the time with the gondolier before entering the boat and don't get caught by the 'route scam' where gondoliers demand extra for changing the normal route.
Gondola history
Though gondolas have been mentioned since 1094, the present day gondola shape didn't emerge until the 16th century. But in those days gondolas were far more decorative.
Then they had gilded prows, ostentatiously ornamented cushions and hulls decked out with elaborate carvings and bright paintwork. This ended with an edict in 1562 which ruled that gondolas be uniformly black, a colour that persists to this day.
See Venezia Gondola for more on gondolas
Gondola making
The modern day gondola is little different from the one that was in daily use in the 17th century. They are uniform in length and width and made from nearly 300 pieces of seasoned mahogany, elm, lime, oak, walnut, larch, cherry and pine.
There are about five boatyards in Venice, each turning out a new gondola every three months, with a price tag of at least €20,000.
The toothed metal nose on the front of every gondola helps to balance the weight of the gondolier, It has six teeth to symbolize the six siestre, or regions, of Venice.
Squero San Trovaso, in the Dorsoduro siestre, has the oldest boatyard in Venice and, although it's not open to the pubic, you can easily see the craftsmen in the yard making and repairing the Venice gondolas.
Canal gondolas
Gondolas quayside
Gondoliers waiting
Gondolas tied up
