Yet many of these men would gladly trade in their relics for modern craft, trading their muscle power for horsepower. Water taxis, the numbers of which have rocketed since the 1960s, make even better money. One more step up finds craft shuttling 100 daytrippers from mainland tourist hotels and campgrounds. Gondoliers are giving way to motor boats. As the transport system must now supply restaurants, hotels and shops one quickly begins to see a traffic overload.
Agitation caused by propellers and waves seems to be undermining building foundations.
Though few argue that some deterioration is inevitable, especially given the precarious nature of the city's environment, the acceleration of damage has become a serious concern for property owners along the waterways. But workers are finding more and larger holes in buildings and quays. In 1996, C'a Foscari University was forced to evacuate its keystone building when engineers became concerned over increasingly widening cracks. The 16th century Gothic structure happens to sit on the corner of the Grand Canal and Rio Nuovo, a junction of two of the city's busiest waterways. Rio Nuovo, created in 1932 as a shortcut, became so popular with transporters that it had to be rebuilt several years ago and its banks again need repair.