Gondola facts - 10 interesting facts about Venetian gondolas Search 10 Interesting Gondola Facts Gondola facts – 8 types of wood and 280 component pieces are used to make one gondola. This is one of the interesting facts about the emblem of Venice. Etymology There are many theories concerning the origin of the word ‘gondola’, but is has never been satisfactorily established. According to the Italian dictionary lo Zingarelli the word ‘gondola’ may derive from the Greek ‘kondoura’ meaning ’small boat’. First Gondolas The gondola is a flat-bottomed rowing boat especially adapted to conditions in the Venetian lagoon. The earliest recorded use of gondolas in Venice dates back to the 11th century. Identical Design Modern gondolas are handmade but highly uniform. They all weigh 700kg, have 280 component pieces and use eight types of wood – ie. oak, elm, lime, larch, fir, cherry, walnut, and mahogany.

Manoeuvring All gondolas have an oar or ‘rèmo’ (made from beech) and a walnut ‘forcola’ or rowlock. The oar and the forcola are designed to allow eight distinct manoeuvres such as slow forward rowing, powerful forward rowing, turning, slowing down, rowing backwards, and stopping. In addition each forcola is carved to suit individual gondoliers. Colouring In previous centuries gondolas could be many different colours, but a law from the 16th century requires gondolas to be painted black. The law stopped a competition for the most flamboyant colours and ornamentation among the nobility. As a result gondola exteriors have just three flourishes – a curly tail, a pair of seahorses and a multi-pronged prow. The Purpose of the Prow The prow is known as the ‘ferro’ (iron), but it can be made from brass, stainless steel, or aluminium. The ferro serves several purposes. It prevents the boat from damage if the gondola collides with other boats or bulwarks, and it serves as a counterweight for the gondolier.

It also has ornamental value with the six prongs that may represent the six administrative districts in Venice. The Boatyards The modern banana-shaped gondola is credited to the 19th century boat-builder Tramontin , whose heirs still run the Tramontin boatyard (Some guided tours include a visit). The constructional development of the gondola continued until the mid-20th century, when the city government prohibited further modifications. Not an Even Keel All gondolas are slightly lopsided and bow out on the left. This asymmetry causes the gondola to resist the tendency to turn toward the left at the forward stroke and compensates for the weight of the gondolier, who stands in the stern and rows only on the right side. Gondolas with Cabins In old films and photographs gondolas are often fitted with a small cabin. Its windows could be closed with louvered shutters—the original ‘venetian blinds’. Later the ‘felze’ was replaced by a ‘tendalin’ summer awning, but they too were given up in the mid-1950s.

How to Become a Gondolier There are just over four hundred gondolas in active service today, virtually all of them used for hire by tourists. In order to become a professional gondolier you need to obtains a license from the guild. Licenses are only granted after periods of training and apprenticeship, and an exam which tests knowledge of Venetian history and landmarks, foreign language skills, and practical skills in manoeuvring the gondola through narrow canals. More on Venice Squero di san Trovaso - Visit and Enjoy Venice Visit and Enjoy Venice Squero di san Trovaso This is a 17th century boatyard located next to the San Trovaso Church, it is one of three remaining gondola repair yards in the city and it is the oldest. The boat builders originated from the Italian Alps and so the style of boats that visitors can see constructed today are Tyrolean. The highly skilled gondola builders have been making the traditional boats here for generations and they are the same boats used today to ferry visitors down the canals of Venice. Today the boatyard is used more for repairs than for construction and it services the 350 gondolas which travel the canals.

The traditional structure of a gondola requires 8 types of wood and according to a 16th century law must be painted black. They take about 45 days to construct. The vessels are asymmetrical with the right side always being lower as the gondolier stands at the back on the left. The Venetian gondolas all have an iron symbol, the ferro, of the city affixed to the bow and a forcole or wooden oarlock. Occasionally the Squero di San Trovaso boatyard does get an order to produce a new boat in accordance with tradition. Unfortunately the boatyard is not open to the public but you can get a peek inside the yard from across the Rio San Trovaso or take a guided tour of one of the other, less photogenic, squero. Book Taxi Venice - Book Taxi Venice Book Taxi Venice Squero di San Trovaso This is a 17th century boatyard located next to the San Trovaso Church, it is one of three remaining gondola repair yards in the city and it is the oldest. The boat builders originated from the Italian Alps and so the style of boats that visitors can see constructed today are Tyrolean.

The highly skilled gondola builders have been making the traditional boats here for generations and they are the same boats used today to ferry visitors down the canals of Venice. Today the boatyard is used more for repairs than for construction and it services the 350 gondolas which travel the canals. The traditional structure of a gondola requires 8 types of wood and according to a 16th century law must be painted black. They take about 45 days to construct. The vessels are asymmetrical with the right side always being lower as the gondolier stands at the back on the left. The Venetian gondolas all have an iron symbol, the ferro, of the city affixed to the bow and a forcole or wooden oarlock. Occasionally the Squero di San Trovaso boatyard does get an order to produce a new boat in accordance with tradition. Unfortunately the boatyard is not open to the public but you can get a peek inside the yard from across the Rio San Trovaso or take a guided tour of one of the other, less photogenic, squero.

Book Taxi Venice - Visit Venice: Squero di San Trovaso Visit Venice This is a 17th century boatyard located next to the San Trovaso Church, it is one of three remaining gondola repair yards in the city and it is the oldest. The boat builders originated from the Italian Alps and so the style of boats that visitors can see constructed today are Tyrolean. The highly skilled gondola builders have been making the traditional boats here for generations and they are the same boats used today to ferry visitors down the canals of Venice. Today the boatyard is used more for repairs than for construction and it services the 350 gondolas which travel the canals. The traditional structure of a gondola requires 8 types of wood and according to a 16th century law must be painted black. They take about 45 days to construct. The vessels are asymmetrical with the right side always being lower as the gondolier stands at the back on the left. The Venetian gondolas all have an iron symbol, the ferro, of the city affixed to the bow and a forcole or wooden oarlock.

Occasionally the Squero di San Trovaso boatyard does get an order to produce a new boat in accordance with tradition. Unfortunately the boatyard is not open to the public but you can get a peek inside the yard from across the Rio San Trovaso or take a guided tour of one of the other, less photogenic, squero. The Gondola Blog: "White Gondola" Round-Up "White Gondola" Round-Up White gondolas are few and far-between. Long ago the Venetian government decreed that passenger gondolas were to remain black. The only white gondolas I know of in Venice are racing gondolas. Each official regata is rowed in a group of identical boats. The only differences being the rowers choices of forcole, remi, and the colors that the boats are painted. Typically there are nine colors and white is one of those colors. You can see a few racing gondolas among the many Commune boats in front of Santa Maria della Salute church. I shot this photo from the vaporetto the day before the 2005 Regata Storica. Somewhere in there you can see a white one.

The unusual "vents" in the tail are unique to racing gondolas. There are rowing clubs in the Veneto who's color schemes may involve white, such as the Cannotieri Treporti, but again, not a passenger vessel taking riders for hire. One of the Cannotieri Treporti club boats. I am not above correction though, so if anyone out there has seen a white gondola taking passengers in Venice, Italy, I would love to hear about it. I'd be surprised though, as that would be a big, highly visible violation of Venetian law. The Venetian Casino in Las Vegas does have one white gondola in their fleet. She is known as the "Wedding Gondola", and while she has the same hull and passenger layout as the other boats there, her deck-accents and other metal accessories are gold plated. Here in Newport Beach, there are a number of white gondolas afloat. Joe Munday's "Crystal Swan" is white, just like many of the other gondolas he built over the last two and a half decades.

Joe Munday on his Crystal Swan Gondola Romance also has three white gondolas which were all built in the early 80's. Interestingly, all of America's white gondolas have been motorized except one - the mysterious white gondola of Venice, California. The only photograph of this boat was on a post card circulated in the very early 1900's. To read more on this vessel, see my post from March 4th of 2002 Venice, California in the first decade of the 20th Century. Here in the US, white boat paint is much easier to come by. Compared to black, it is easier to keep clean too. But a white gondola, in a field of white boats, is another white boat - it tends to blend in. While a black gondola with a background of white boats stands out beautifully, leaving little doubt as to what type of vessel she is. The story of a "very large white gondola" transporting couples from Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore is a new one to me. The presence of a white passenger gondola in Venice would be highly unlikely though.

I have seen a photo of another white, crescent-shaped rowing boat in Venice that did take passengers...of a different kind. Back in the days when the only motorized vessels in the city were the original vaporetto boats, everything else was rowed...including ambulances. In one photo of the Grand Canal, which I have but don't know if I can post, there are vessels that look like white traghetti, with felze-like tops, that have red crosses on sides. Were they "ambulance gondolas"? Maybe. The photos I've seen of these vessels have all been monochrome, so I'm only assuming that they were truly white. They could just as easily have been light gray or even bright yellow. I did see a white Venetian gondola with passengers once. It was in a photo from Ingo Stahl in Germany: But I understand that the white on that boat was temporary.

Posted by Venetian - definition, etymology and usage, examples and related words Venetian The morning was truly Venetian, soft and fair as a dream WordNet 3.6 adj Venetian of or relating to or characteristic of Venice or its people "Venetian glass","Venetian canals" n Venetian a resident of Venice *** Venetian galleass. 1571 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary Interesting fact: A Venetian law decrees that all gondolas must be painted black. The only exceptions are gondolas belonging to high public officials. Venetian A native or inhabitant of Venice. Venetian A Venetian blind. a Venetian Of or pertaining to Venice in Italy. *** Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia Interesting fact: In 1769 the British designer Edward Beran enclosed wooden slats in a frame to adjust the amount of light let into a room. These became known as venetian blinds from their early use over Italianate windows. n Venetian A kind of soft woolen cloth with a closely finished face.

Venetian Of or pertaining to the city, province, or former republic of Venice, in northern Italy, on the edge of the Adriatic. n Venetian A native of Venice. n Venetian [lowercase] plural A particular fashion of hose or breeches reaching below the knee, originally brought from Venice: same as galligaskins, 1. n Venetian A Venetian blind. n Venetian plural A heavy kind of tape or braid made for Venetian blinds, to hold the slats in place. n Venetian Same as domino, 2. *** Interesting fact: Venetian blinds were invented in Japan. adj Venetian vē-nē′shan of or belonging to Venice n Venetian a native or inhabitant of Venice: a strong tape for Venetian-blinds: a domino *** Cf. It. Veneziano, L. Venetianus, Usage But the Venetian playing and singing angels are there for something more important still. "Renaissance Fancies and Studies" by Violet Paget (AKA Vernon Lee) But these were not the only motives which influenced the Venetians in the adoption of their method of architecture.

"The Stones of Venice, Volume II (of 3)," by John Ruskin I shall give a rapid view of some of the pictures of this Venetian nobleman's life. "Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 3 (of 3)" by Isaac Disraeli But the French tyrant also sent out a strong force to meet the Spaniards and their allies, the Venetians. "The Life and Times of Ulric Zwingli" by Johann Hottinger The battle was fought in a gale by 10 Venetian against 11 Genoese galleys. "Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2" by Various A Venetian noble adopted you; and as I had nothing to live on, I was obliged to stay on in Venice. "The Serapion Brethren," by Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann It was obvious, from his accent, that he was no Venetian. "Tales from "Blackwood"" by Various The flower of the Venetian army, led by the bravest of the Venetian generals, is sent against Padua.

"Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 20, September, 1877." by Various In 1508 it became Venetian, but in 1597 was claimed by Clement VIII. "Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7" by Various In 1499 it was occupied by Venetians, but in 1512 it came under Massimiliano Sforza. "Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6" by Various The Venetians have an instinct for fine colour. "The Revolt of the Angels" by Anatole France They might have stepped from a canvas of Titian dyed by the sun of a spent Venetian afternoon.

"Carnival" by Compton Mackenzie To hear her sing--with folded eyes, It is, beneath Venetian skies, To hear the gondoliers' refrain, Or troubadours of sunny Spain.-- "To Hear Her Sing" by James Whitcomb Riley Or on such a day to glide With the tide Through the streets that mirror heaven, Crystal paven, In the warm Venetian noon. "Spring Longing" by Emma Lazarus Thy tones are silver melted into sound, And as I dream I see no walls around, But seem to hear Sing sweetly down some slow Venetian stream. "To A Lady Playing The Harp" by Paul Laurence Dunbar Swift o'er the wave the light bark springs, Love's midnight hour draws lingering near: And list!-- his tuneful viol strings The young Venetian Gondolier. Regata Storica di Venezia - Official Website Pupparin A fast, agile boat traditionally used by maritime guards or as a barca da casada (family boat).

Wider in the stern (poppa), from which it takes its name, the pupparin is generally 9 or 10 m long and can be rowed by between one and four oarsmen. With its slim, sleek profile and daringly soaring bows the pupparin is a distinctively elegant and refined craft. Mascareta Mascareta A kind of light sandolo boat used for fishing, regattas and general recreation in the lagoon. Its length (usually 6-8 m) depends on the number of rowers (1-4 oars), and its name probably derives from its popularity with masked prostitutes. Caorlina Caorlina This work boat still preserves the original shape you can admire in numerous 16th century prints. Built for fishing (caorlina da seragia) and especially for transporting fresh fruit and vegetables from the islands to the city market, the craft’s main feature is its long, symmetrical, spar-less stern and bows. The boat’s name suggests that it was originally built in the town of Caorle.

Gondolino Gondolino Designed and built exclusively for the Regata Storica, the gondolino was first launched in 1825 with the aim of making the regatta, faster, more competitive and more exciting. Lighter and faster than the gondola from which it takes its shape, today’s craft are 10.50 m long, with a width of 1.10 m and a keel width of 0.65 m. Other traditional boats Gondola Gondola The gondola is, of course, the queen of Venetian boats, but despite this, the origin of the word is still unknown. All Venetian gondolas are now painted black in compliance with a law passed by the “Magistrato alle Pompe” to curb the excessive decoration adopted by Venetian nobles. Gondolas are built according to extremely strict criteria. The right half must be 24 mm narrower than the left half (an asymmetric proportion known as the lai), and the craft must be exactly 10.75 m long with an internal width of 1.38 m. Gondolas are used only for carrying people and regattas.

Balotina Balotina This boat is similar to the gondola, with the only difference being its narrower, rounder hull. Its name derives from the terracotta shot (balote) used both for hunting and by the regatta authorities to clear race courses and keep order. Usually rowed by either four or six oarsmen, today the craft is used for ceremonial purposes only. Sandolo Sandolo This was once the most common craft in the lagoon on account of its immense versatility (for both fishing and carrying people and goods). The term sandolo first appears in a document from 1292, but its origin is unsure, even if it probably derives from sandalium, or sandal, as both are flat-bottomed. The length of the boat varies from 7 to 9 m and its exact name changes according to its use: sandolo barcariol, buranello, sampieroro, da fossina, etc. Disdotona, Dodesona, Quatordesona, ecc.

Italy: Venice, Rome, Tuscany and Campagnia Italy: Venice, Rome, Tuscany and Campagnia Thursday, July 3, 2014 Italy The cradle of European civilization, from the Roman Empire to the Roman Catholic Church. Iconic images, rich culture, natural wonders, and incredible food – what more could a traveler want? We spent most of the month of May 2014 in Italy with Grand Circle Travel, as part of a group of 11 friends. This trip was billed as an ‘extended vacation’ because we stayed in only four places, settling in for up to a week and making day trips to see the surrounding area. We enjoyed the trip immensely - take a look! Viewing notes: 1. Click on any photo to make it larger - and easier to see. 2. This is a long blog - you may need to use the links below to see all the parts. Venice Venice is made of 117 small islands, connected by 177 waterways or canals, and spanned by 465 bridges. Founded in the 5th century as a refuge from barbarians, the city grew to become a major maritime power.

In the middle ages, Venetians served as middlemen for East-West trade and created a great trading empire. By smuggling in the bones of St. Mark (San Marco) in 828 A.D., Venice gained religious importance as well. This car-free city is an architectural masterpiece - even the smallest buildings contain works by some of the world's greatest artists. The old city has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We arrived by air – the airport is on the mainland – and immediately boarded a water-taxi for the transfer to Venice. Boats (and feet) would be our only means of transportation for the next few days! Our hotel was not the fanciest one in town, but the location could not have been better. The Hotel Royal San Marco was just a few feet down a narrow alley from St. Mark’s Square, where we started our exploration of Venice’s neighborhoods. In San Marco: Piazza San Marco – St. Mark’s Square was the heart of Venice in its glory days as a seafaring republic.

Possibly the world’s most famous square, Napoleon called it ‘the drawing room of Europe.’ The pedestrian-only square is surrounded by magnificent historic buildings that are testament to the power and wealth of the Venetian Empire. St. Mark’s Basilica dominates the square. Just outside the Basilica is the campanile (bell tower). Around the corner is the Doge’s Palace, with its Bridge of Sighs. The Piazza itself is lined with some of the world’s oldest and most overpriced cafés, including Florian’s (1720) and Quadri (1775). Basilica di San Marco – The Basilica of St. Mark is known as the Church of Gold (Chiesa d’Oro). It is one of the world’s greatest and most richly embellished churches – its cavernous candlelit interior is gilded with mosaics added over some 7 centuries. The basilica is a conglomeration of architectural styles, but it looks like it might have been moved intact from Istanbul. It is capped by a dome and its façade features marble slabs and mosaics depicting scenes from the life of Christ and St. Mark.

Spanning the façade is a loggia, topped by replicas of the four famous horses of St. Mark. Inside, the atrium is covered with mosaics illustrating scenes from the Old Testament, and the floor is made of multi-colored mosaics. The high altar contains the alleged sarcophagus of St. Mark, resting under a green marble blanket and held by four alabaster columns. Behind the altar is the rarest treasure of all – the Byzantine-style Pala d’Oro, a golden altar screen measuring 10 X 4 feet. It is set with 300 emeralds, 300 sapphires, 400 garnets, 100 amethysts, 1300 pearls, and assorted rubies and topazes. Upstairs is the Marciano Museum, which is home to the original Triumphal Quadriga, four horses looted from Constantinople by Venetian crusaders when they sacked that city in 1204. This is the only quadriga – a quartet of horses yoked together – to have survived from the Classical era, believed to have been cast in the 4th century.

The Campanile is the bell tower of San Marco, the tallest bell tower in Venice. It was built in the 16th century, collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt 10 years later. The campanile’s straight-lined simplicity is a marked contrast to the riot of decoration on the basilica. The Clock Tower (Torre dell’Orologio) – Built in 1496, the clock tower marks the entrance to the ancient Mercerie, a retail shopping street that zigzags its way to the Rialto Bridge. The two Moors strike the bell atop this Renaissance clock tower every hour. The clock itself not only tells the time, but also matches the signs of the zodiac with the position of the sun. The building to the left of the tower is the Procuratie Vecchie – the Old Law Courts. Palazzo Ducale – This Venetian Gothic palace was the home of the ruling doge (or duke) and the center of power in Venice. Italy’s grandest civic structure, built in 1309, the pinkish-red marble and white Istrian stone gleam in the sunlight.

To the left of the entrance are four porphyry figures which the Venetians called ‘Moors.’ Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) is the covered bridge linking the Doge’s Palace with the Palazzo delle Prigioni, or prison. Prisoners sentenced in the palace crossed here to prison. The ‘sighs’ in the bridge’s name stem from the sad laments of numerous victims forced across to face torture and possible death. The Piazetta San Marco could be called ‘Europe’s antechamber.’ Hemmed in by the Doge’s Palace, Sansovino’s Library, and a side of St. Mark’s, this tiny square faces the Grand Canal. It contains two tall granite columns – one is surmounted by a winged lion representing St. Mark, and the other is topped by a statue of a man taming a dragon – supposedly the dethroned patron saint Theodore. During Venice’s heyday, dozens of people either lost their heads or were strung up here. A few steps from the busy square is the Church of San Moise, founded in the 8-th century and rebuilt numerous times – the present façade dates from 1668.

The courtyard of the church was the site of the first theatre in Venice. Nearby is La Fenice, Venice’s opera house. It was built in 1792 and named “La Fenice” (The Phoenix) in an allusion the opera company’s survival through many hardships before moving here. Nearby is one of the wells that once provided drinking water to city residents. There are many fine palaces in this area, but the Ca’a Contarini del Bovolo - a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic architecture, could not be confused with any other. In the late 15-th century, this home was enlarged by adding a series of loggias, linked together by a round tower with a spiral staircase. This tower caught the imagination of the locals, who nicknamed the palace “Il Bovolo” (The Snail). In Castello: San Zaccaaria – The Church of St. Zacharias supposedly contains the body of Zacharias, the father of St. John the Baptist. The original church here was built in the 9th century. The current structure was built between the years 1444 and 1515.

Home to an amazing collection of artwork by some of Italy's best artists, the most famous painting inside the church is Bellini's Madonna Enthroned, painted in 1505. Chiesa Santi Giovanni e Paolo (the Church of St. John and St. Paul) is the pantheon of Venice – it houses the tombs of many doges and patricians. It was built in Gothic style during the 13th and 14th centuries; it is one of Venice’s largest churches and contains works by many noted Venetian painters. Arsenale – The Nuovo Arsenale was built in 1320 and was much more spacious than the original Byzantine-style structure. During its heyday, this was the largest shipyard in the world, with 16,000 employees. The most impressive architectural feature of the Arsenale is the Porta Magna or main gate, which was added to the facility in 1460. Riva degli Schiavone – a lovely and lively promenade located between the Doge's Palace and the Arsenale.

It was built in the 9th century, with market stalls added in the 15th century for selling meat and dried fish. Today the stalls are crowded with snacks, pastries, confections, and souvenirs. The walk passes beautiful old buildings and churches, as well as a statue of Vittorio Emmanuelle, the first president of unified Italy. Here, too, are the best views of San Giorgio Maggiore, or the Church of St. George Major. The church, which sits on a little island of the same name, was designed by the Renaissance architect Palladio in the mid-1500s. In Cannaregio: The Jewish Ghetto is the area where Venice’s Jewish population once lived, segregated from their non-Jewish neighbors. Set aside as the Jewish quarter in 1516, the world’s original ghetto became extremely crowded and expanded in the only possible direction – upward. The pale-pink six-story ‘skyscrapers’ are reminders of the tremendous population density of this area. The iron bridge here was once a drawbridge, opened at night to prevent traffic in and out of the ghetto.

Our word “ghetto” comes from geto, the former copper foundry located here. In San Polo: Across the Grand Canal, in the very center of Venice is the Rialto – one of Venice’s oldest settlements, named for the upper bank of the canal, where the land was higher than elsewhere – and less prone to flooding. Historically, this has been the heart of the business district and today it is still a hive of commercial activity. The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal. It was designed by Antonio la Ponte, a local architect whose plan was selected over those submitted by Palladio and Michelangelo. Today it is covered with shops, including one filled with items needed by gondoliers and another specializing in masks for celebrating Carnival. At one end of the bridge is the city market, where the locals shop daily for the freshest fish, meat and vegetables. Even tourists find good things to eat here. Walking from the bridge along the Grand Canal, narrow streets wind along between piazzas, each with its own church. Here are three in a row: Santa Maria del Gloriosa dei Frari, San Salvador, and San Silvestre.

In Dorsoduro: Across the mouth of the Grand Canal is the island of Dorsoduro. Here there is a nice promenade along the waterfront with a spectacular view of St. Mark's Square. Chiesa Santa Maria della Salute (the Church of St. Mary of Salvation) represents the pinnacle of the baroque movement in Venice. One of Venice’s most historic churches, La Salute was built in the 17th century as an offering to the Virgin for delivering the city from the Plague. Here also is the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, known for its collection of modern art, and the Galleria dell Accademia, a repository of Venetian art over the ages. Dorsoduro has a quieter feel about it, more like an island and distinctly less touristy than the busy area around St. Marks. It’s a good place to wander. On the islands: Murano, Burano, and Torcello The island of Murano is famous for glass-blowing since 13-th century, when factories were removed from the city as a fire hazard. We visited one of the factories to see how this art is practiced today.

The island is also known for the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato, with its twelfth century Byzantine mosaic pavement. The church contains relics of Saint Donatus of Arezzo as well as some large bones said to belong to a dragon slain by the saint. Murano’s main street is a canal lined with Renaissance houses. Of course, there are plenty of sidewalk cafes for relaxing and people-watching. The island of Burano is famous for lace-making, a craft that reached its pinnacle in the 18th century. Today it is a charming fishing village far removed in spirit from the grandeur of Venice. Houses are painted in varied colors – sienna, cobalt blue, barn red, butterscotch and grass green. Here’s Julia – our guide during our stay in Venice. She’s a Brit who has been living here for 30+ years – she claimed that she posed for this statue located on the waterfront on Burano. The island of Torcello was the birthplace of Venice, the first area of the lagoon settled in the 5th century. Today it is best known for the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Venice’s oldest building, founded in 639 AD.

MOSE (MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico, Experimental Electromechanical Module) is a massive construction project intended to protect the city of Venice and the Venetian Lagoon from flooding. When (if) completed, a system of gates will temporarily isolate the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea during high tides. Flooding is historically a problem here, and most low-lying areas are equipped with portable walkways for use in high water. Many residents hope that MOSE will turn the tide as the city sinks and water levels rise with global warming. Others are more cynical, doubting both the science and commitment of government officials. Note that the name hold a dual meaning, alluding to the biblical character Moses ("Mosè" in Italian), who is remembered for the parting of the Red Sea. Linkages: Canals, bridges and gondolas Venice’s neighborhoods and islands are fascinating places to visit, but the city’s most distinctive features are its canals, bridges and gondolas. No place else in the world can compare! The Grand Canal is the largest of the 177 waterways that intersect and connect Venice.

It is almost two miles long and is easily the finest street in the world – outshining the Champs-Elysees in Paris or New York’s famous Broadway – if only by sheer uniqueness. Lined with Venetian Gothic palazzo, this great road of water is filled with vaporetti, motorboats, and gondola. The boat moorings look like peppermint sticks. The Grand Canal is lined with magnificent buildings; the 15th century Ca’d’Oro (House of Gold) is one of the most beautiful. In all, there are over 200 palaces, the patrician residences of great old families whose names were written in the Golden Book of the Republic. There are only four bridges crossing the Grand Canal. The precursor of the present Rialto Bridge was built in 1180; the final stone bridge in use today was finished in 1591. A single marble arch of 90 feet span, the Rialto remained the only Grand Canal overpass until 1854.

The Grand Canal and its bridges are indeed grand, but the charm of Venice is in its back roads – small canals, waterways, bridges and alleys that crisscross, intersect and somehow connect all the parts and pieces into one magical city. There are 465 bridges in Venice, essential structures in a world of islands and canals. Getting around in Venice is mostly a matter of walking, with occasional breaks for a vaporetto or water bus for longer distances. What about the gondolas, inseparable from a mental picture of Venice. Most gondola passengers these days are tourists, but there also are police gondolas, trash-collecting gondolas, fire-service gondolas, even funeral gondolas. We took an obligatory gondola ride – complete with serenade – it may be touristy, but it was an experience we’ll never forget. We also visited Squero di San Trovaso, the oldest of the three remaining boatyards that build and repair Venetian gondolas. This tiny shop was established in the 17th century. Its wooden structures are Tyrolean in style since workers came originally from the Dolomites, an Italian section of the Alps.

The gondoliers wear distinctive sailors’ jumpers and straw hats; the job of gondolier is a coveted profession, passed down from father to son over the centuries. They are easy to spot around town, always ready to give your feet a rest. There are about 350 gondolas today in Venice, and they are built according to an exact science that has been around for hundreds of years. New gondolas are fashioned from eight different kinds of wood - mahogany, cherry, fir, walnut, oak, elm, larch and lime - as tradition dictates. Since the 16th century, all gondolas must be painted black in accordance with a law that was imposed because the gaudiness of the decorations on the gondolas was getting out of hand. Today, only an iron symbol of the city is affixed to the bow and a small wood carving secures the oar, making the boats quite simple and plain. Gondolas contain no modern equipment to propel them through the water. A single gondolier stands in the back left-hand side of the boat and propels it with a single oar.

Venice is no doubt one the world’s most beautiful cities, but today it is in peril. Its population is shrinking: the current population of 58,000 is half the number that lived there 30 years ago. The city is sinking at the rate of about 2.5 inches per decade; at the same time, the damp climate, mold and pollution are causing further deterioration. Thankfully, it lasted long enough for us to visit. Posted by

Question: According to a 16th-century law, what colour must all Venetian gondolas be painted ?
Answer: BLACK