Venice, Italy Attractions

Gondola

Dating back to the 10th century, gondolas were designed to handle the shallow waters and mud flats of Venetian canals. Early gondolas were equipped with 12 oars, which were soon reduced in size with the addition of a cabin, or “feize”. In the 16th century, gondolas were banned for their extravagant ornamentation, establishing standards of decor as they stand today to include a curly tail, a pair of seahorses, and a multi-pronged prow.
Gondolas were once considered the only method of transportation through the canals of Venice; however, today they are used for sightseeing. Though a bit costly, many hire them for a romantic journey, while others purely for the opportunity to say they rode on one of these historic vessels.