Who controls the gondola? Venetian gondolas: everything you wanted to know about the most romantic transport in the world
- (Italian gondola * a. rail gondola; n. Sattelwagen; f. tombereau; i. ranura) - a gondola car designed for the transportation of bulk and bulk cargo. In mining industry is used for transporting items. from quarries to network-wide railways Mountain encyclopedia
One of the symbols of Venice is the gondola boat. (By the way, the word must be pronounced correctly with an emphasis on the first “o.”) These graceful black boats are everywhere in the city of love; it is simply impossible to imagine the image of Venice without them.
Venice is a city where wheeled vehicles are not allowed. Here you either have to walk or swim. Today there are a lot of boats plying the canals of Venice, but previously the main transport was the gondola.
Nowadays, the gondola in most cases serves as a romantic attraction for tourists. The Venetians themselves do not ride gondolas, primarily because of the very high price. A half-hour walk along the canals costs from 100 euros, depending on the time of day and the number of people wishing to ride. Since there are always plenty of people willing to ride, it is useless to bargain. The gondola can accommodate up to 6 people. The only way to save money is to gather a group of willing people. But, of course, many romantic couples who come to Venice ride together.
If you do without romance, you can ride a gondola for just 50 euro cents, crossing the Grand Canal as if using public transport.
Such special traghetto gondolas run between the banks of the canal, you just need to find a stop; there are plenty of them between the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. There is no catch with the payment; the crossing actually costs 50 cents, but you will only be in the gondola for a couple of minutes.
Throughout Venice there are exits to the water, to which, if necessary, a boat - gondola or other - can moor.
Gondola sites throughout are rows of long wooden poles, called palinas, driven into the bottom of the canal.
The design of the gondola is unique; there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. The asymmetrical boat is 11.05 meters long, 1.4 meters wide, the left side is 24 centimeters higher so that the gondolier can control the boat while standing on the side. The gondola only has 1 oar as it is designed to navigate narrow canals.
When the boat moves, the gondolier applies the same force regardless of whether the gondola is empty or with passengers. The oar should move along a certain path, reminiscent of the letter “J”.
On the nose of the gondola there is a tall massive decoration - ferro (ferro) in the form of a crest of 6 stripes according to the number of districts of the city and one additional stripe, symbolizing the island of Giudecca. The curve at the top depicts the hat of the ruler of Venice, the Doge. Ferro weighs about 30 kilograms and is intended to serve as a counterweight to the gondolier standing at the other end of the gondola. Ferro also helps determine whether the gondola can float under the bridge in height.
Today, gondolas are produced by a small group of artisans who call themselves the San Trovaso shipyard. The cost of manufacturing the gondola is about 45,000 euros.
The first gondoliers in Venice were black slaves who belonged to aristocratic families. Over time, the work became prestigious, citizens of Venice began to engage in it, and a corporation of gondoliers was formed. In the 15-16 centuries in Venice there were, according to various sources, from 15 to 25,000 thousand gondoliers.
Today the association limits the number of gondoliers to 425. There cannot be more under any circumstances. The profession is inherited, the young gondolier takes an exam in driving a gondola, as well as exams in the history and geography of Venice and English. In 2009, the first female gondolier appeared in Venice, emancipation had already reached Venice...
A gondolier's working day lasts up to 15 hours; it is hard work. Mandatory dress code is a striped T-shirt and a straw hat with a blue or red ribbon. It cannot be said that they strictly follow the rules, although there is even provision for deprivation of a license for going to work in different clothes.
Some sources claim that gondoliers also take singing exams. She pestered me with questions and requests to sing to the gondolier during a gondola ride. He categorically denied information about singing exams and refused to sing barcarolle (Italian boat - barca).
Gondolas are traditionally all black. There are several versions of where this tradition came from. According to the first, they became black in 1562, when there was a plague epidemic in Venice, and the corpses of the dead were often transported on gondolas. According to another, bulky decorations were removed from the gondolas simply because some were too carried away and sometimes such boats had difficulty moving. The most romantic version is that gondolas began to be made all the same so as not to stand out. After all, lovers floated on gondolas under the cover of the night to their ladies.
They say that when sailing under the bridges of Venice on a gondola, you need to kiss your loved ones, or at least do it mentally if your other half is not around, in order to find eternal happiness.
Everyone reading these lines has the opportunity to sail with the author of the blog under the bridge on a gondola. Watch the video and kiss!
There are 466 bridges in Venice, but you shouldn't kiss under one of them.
The Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge's Palace with the prison building, so there is no sense of romance in this place, although most gondola rides along the canals start here.
At any time of the day, under the Bridge of Sighs you can see a string of gondolas floating along the Rio del Palazzo canal street.
Today's gondoliers decorate their gondolas with rugs, velvet seat covers, tassels, flowers, bronze candlesticks, but they do so in moderation. In general, the boats look strict.
Gondoliers have a lot of rules that must be followed. Control over compliance with the rules is entrusted to the carabinieri, the fines are considerable. For example, you are supposed to light a lantern at the bow of the gondola at dusk and at night. You cannot go on a gondola into the open lagoon. When turning in the canals, you are supposed to shout something like “OOOOOOEEEE” so as not to collide with another boat that may be turning.
Every city has its own sounds. Perhaps the sounds of Venice are the voices of gondoliers echoing from the walls of the houses. It’s a pity that they don’t sing songs anymore...
P.S. While looking through photos from Venice, I discovered this strange gondola in one of them. Not a gondola at all, however. And the boatman is dressed in a gondolier costume... The price for a ride from ignorant tourists, I wonder what it is?
Encyclopedia "Aviation"
gondola- Rice. 1. Gondola (basket) of a manned free balloon. aircraft gondola 1) the cabin of an aeronautical aircraft to accommodate the crew, equipment, ballast, cargo and power plants. On the first flights... ... Encyclopedia "Aviation"
gondola- Rice. 1. Gondola (basket) of a manned free balloon. aircraft gondola 1) the cabin of an aeronautical aircraft to accommodate the crew, equipment, ballast, cargo and power plants. On the first flights... ... Encyclopedia "Aviation"
gondola- Rice. 1. Gondola (basket) of a manned free balloon. aircraft gondola 1) the cabin of an aeronautical aircraft to accommodate the crew, equipment, ballast, cargo and power plants. On the first flights... ... Encyclopedia "Aviation"
GONDOLA- (Italian gondola, diminutive of gonda). 1) a light rowing boat with a cabin in the middle, used on the Venetian canals. 2) a type of boat or basket tied to a balloon. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N.,... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
gondola- y, w. gondole f., floor gondula, it. gondola. 1. A long, single-oar, flat-bottomed Venetian boat with a raised figured bow and a high stern, having a cabin or a special awning for passengers. BAS 2. Tabarin hired him... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language
gondola- and an outdated gondola. In the literary language of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the accent gondola predominated. For example, from K. Balmont: “They sailed on gondolas under the pale moon” (Bromelia). The accent gondola is found in V. Bryusov, S. Kirsanov, B. Pasternak and others ... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language
Gondola- GONDOLA, room for passengers, instruments, ballast, engine and control devices on balloons. On uncontrolled air tanks, a simple basket made of willow or reeds. prutyev, 4 corner. forms. Side height 1 1.1 m, width. to the manager... ... Military encyclopedia
Gondola- (Venice). GONDOLA (Italian gondola), 1) a single-oared flat-bottomed boat with raised figured ends. 2) Aerostat cabin. 3) A structural element of an aircraft, helicopter, having a streamlined shape, to accommodate an engine, landing gear or... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
GONDOLA- (Gondola, Car or cradle of a balloon) 1. Part of an airship or balloon located outside the shell; attached to it directly or with the help of rigid or non-rigid connections and serves as a room for people, engines, etc. G. are... ... Marine Dictionary
gondola- gondola car, engine nacelle, basket, boat Dictionary of Russian synonyms. gondola noun, number of synonyms: 5 basket (23) boat ... Dictionary of synonyms
Books
- Phantom Gondola, Gianni Rodari. "Ghost Gondola" is a magical journey to 17th century Venice. Thanks to the talent of Gianni Rodari, you will see this fabulous city with your own eyes, sail on a mysterious gondola,…
The world's most famous and romantic watercraft boasts a long history and unique features that make it even more special.
There is not a single traveler in the world who has not fallen victim to their spell: the magic of Venetian gondolas with their characteristic silhouette, whipped up by the wind walking between the canals of the city of love and romance, is undeniable.
These boats are one of the most important elements of all Venetian scenes, a real talk of the town, but do not think that you know much about them. The imperishable symbol of Serenissima has many secrets, which we hasten to tell you about right now.
So, here are the most interesting facts about Venetian gondolas, the most romantic and mesmerizing boats on the planet.
Traditions
Their irresistible charm and the admiration that their sinuous shapes evoke are known throughout the world: every tourist who finds himself in the city dreams of riding a gondola at least once in his life. However, the characteristic appearance of gondolas was not always inherent in them. In fact, Venetian gondolas appeared many centuries ago and their appearance, as evidenced by numerous documentary evidence, has undergone numerous changes over the centuries. Thus, in the paintings of Venetian artists of the 15th-16th centuries, gondolas are depicted as shorter, wider and less elongated boats, and, above all, not asymmetrical.
Gentile Bellini "Miracolo della Croce caduta nel canale di San Lorenzo". This is what gondolas looked like at the beginning of the 16th century. Photo wikipedia.it
Today, the 500 examples that ply the waters of the canals of Venice retain unchanged characteristics familiar to tourists, which appeared in their design about 200 years ago.
It should be noted that even today the symbols of Venice are built using complex technology, which is passed down from generation to generation in “squeri”, ship docks. Gondola construction sites, which take their name from the word "squara" (la squadra, crew), were once numerous and all overlooked the Grand Canal, reflecting the importance of the business.
Today there are only five docks in Venice and they are located in different parts of the city. The interesting thing is that in all of them they still work without drawing up drawings, relying only on personal experience. It is for this reason that the job of a "squerarolo" (gondola constructor) requires a long apprenticeship of at least 36 months and only after passing an exam can the apprentice undertake this delicate activity.
Venetian dock "squero"
Each gondola, in fact, requires several months of construction and about 500 hours of work, and given that the average lifespan of a boat is about twenty years, to maintain the current fleet of 500 elements, craftsmen must build about 20-30 gondolas every year.
Characteristics
Each "Squero" consists of a square with a slope to the water for access by boats, surrounded by a fence on both sides, and a little further away a wooden building called a "tesa", which is used as storage for tools and for protection from the weather. Directly next to the dock used to be the house of the main "squerarolo" or owner of the workshop.
The gondolas produced at Squero are about 11 meters long and weigh about 600 kilograms. Each of the boats has a characteristic asymmetry between the right and left sides (more than 20 centimeters), and a flat bottom, which allows navigation even in very shallow water. The gondola consists of 280 parts and has a black wood body due to treatment with a resin-based waterproofing material. When making gondolas, craftsmen use eight types of wood - oak, spruce, elm, cherry, larch, walnut, linden and mahogany.
This is how a gondola is born
Despite the similarity of the gondolas, each of them is unique, because it is made “for the gondolier” who will control it. In particular, to build a boat, craftsmen take into account not only the height and weight of the gondolier in order to balance the boat, but also whether the gondolier is right-handed or left-handed.
There is also a place for symbolism in the design of gondolas. Thus, the shape of the “ferro”, the iron tip that protects the bow of the boat and serves as a determinant of the height of the bridge and the possibility of the gondola passing under it, contains six protrusions, symbolizing the six districts of the city, sometimes joined by three friezes, symbolizing the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. On the other side, the tip “risso di poppa” is fixed, which symbolizes the island of Giudecca.
The gondola is equipped with only one oar, which was caused by the narrowness of the canals, where wide boats could not pass each other. The single oar is secured in a "forcela", an oar lock that has a very complex shape. Indeed, the "forcola" allows the gondolier to move slowly back and forth, quickly row forward, turn the boat and perform other important maneuvers.
Gondoliers
Historically, being a gondolier has been a priority for men, but in 2009 the first woman in history received a license to operate a gondola. This is a rather difficult profession that requires endurance and great skill. Gondoliers become hereditary: skills are passed on from father to son.
The maximum number of passengers who can travel on a gondola at the same time is six.
However, even if the boat is empty, due to its design, the gondolier essentially applies the same force when rowing.
Where are gondolas built?
If several centuries ago it was full of docks, today only five exist. These are two historical docks: San Trovaso - the oldest - located on the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro quarter, and Tramontin in Ognisanti. They were joined by the relatively recently opened Squero Bonaldi, located next to the Tramontin, Crea and Costantini - De Rossi dock in the Giudecca.
Addresses
To explore the history of shipping and shipbuilding in the beautiful Repubblica Marinara, head to the Arsenale di Venezia, an ancient complex of shipyards and workshops. Today the complex is accessible to visitors in various areas (some free to visit, others on request and with a guided tour) and is owned partly by the city and partly by the Italian Navy.
The Venetian gondola has long been a permanent symbol of this Italian city on the water. You won't find boats this unique in their design anywhere else. Just like the unique Turkish or Arabic ones, Italian gondolas have passed through the centuries, maintaining not only their original design, but also their relevance in the modern world.
There is a version that the inhabitants of Venice appeared long before the emergence of the city on the water, back in the 4th century, and its first creators were the ancient Romans. The name, which translated means “boat,” also came from the ancient Roman civilization.
This boat had a lot of advantages, thanks to which it easily “took root” on the canals of Venice. Lightweight, comfortable, roomy, characterized by good maneuverability on turns and decent speed of movement - the Roman “fundola” was loved by the residents of Venice and became an integral part of their lives.
However, the Venetians themselves like to tell a different story about the origin of the gondola - more romantic, in the spirit of their hometown. According to this legend, once upon a time a couple in love could not find a place where they could retire, and then the moon took pity on them, descended onto the water and became a gilded boat - a gondola, on which the lovers spent the whole night.
Design features of gondolas
Many people mistakenly believe that all Venetian gondolas are the same, but in reality there are only a number of nuances that, when building such traditional boats, are unchangeable rules and are determined by the city authorities. In general, the creators of gondolas are not limited in creating an original boat according to the wishes of the customer.
The length of modern gondolas is within 11 m, and this despite the fact that the width of such a Venetian boat is only 1.4 m. Such a traditional Venetian boat is created from 280 parts, which are cut from eight types of wood. The standard gondola has an elongated shape with a high stern, a slightly raised shaped bow and a flat bottom. This design allows for the fastest and most convenient movement along the narrow canals of Venice. Controlled only by the gondolier's oar, the gondola is capable of moving at speeds of up to 4 km/h, and this despite the fact that even such an empty boat weighs at least 400 kg.
A distinctive feature of the gondola design is the ferro - an elegant knob on the bow of the boat, which many take for decoration. In fact, it has several practical functions. Ferro serves as a counterweight to the gondolier and protects against collisions, and also with its help determines the possibility of the boat passing under bridges.
Gondola design as a tribute to history
Historical sources claim that the first gondolas were painted in various colors, and only over time acquired their standard, strict dark color.
The usual dark color of gondolas, for which they are poetically called “black swans,” is explained by various legends. According to one of them, the city hall issued an official decree on the use of exclusively strict dark colors for painting boats in order to stop the struggle of the local aristocracy, who wanted to demonstrate their superiority with all kinds of decorations.
According to another version, the colorful colors disappeared as a sign of mourning for those who died at a time when the plague reigned in Europe, which claimed the lives of many Venetians. Another legend says that a lover secretly visited the wife of the ruler of Venice on a black gondola, and then, trying to hide such a shame, the Doge passed a law in which everyone had to repaint the boats black.
Prestigious profession - gondolier
Gondoliers usually work exclusively on their own boats. The cost of a gondola is rather large and can range from 25 to 75 thousand euros. However, the profession of a gondolier in Venice is inherited.
In any case, only beginners (without taking into account family traditions) are required to complete a 9-month course in the art of operating a gondola and, as a result, pass a difficult aptitude exam. In addition, everyone who wants to carry tourists along the canals of Venice must also confirm their successful fluency in English.
As a rule, this profession is purely male, but there are cases when women also received the right to drive a gondola. In 2010, young Georgia Boscolo, the daughter of a gondolier, continued her father's legacy, becoming the first woman in modern history to pilot this traditional Venetian boat.
Modern gondolas
The process of making a gondola is not easy, so only up to 20 of these boats are created per year, each of which is made exclusively to order. Gondolas are usually made in small boatyards in Italy. The price of one such boat can be up to 40-75 thousand euros.
One of the most prestigious such manufacturers in Venice is the Squero San Trovaso shipyard. Excursions are often organized here, which allows you to admire with your own eyes how new gondolas are created and old gondolas are restored. On this site, gondolas are still created by hand, exclusively using ancient technologies and using tools from those times. It takes up to 4 months of work to create one such boat. At another shipyard in the city, Roberto Tramotina, they use modern tools and methods when creating gondolas, which allows them to speed up the process of creating a gondola, reducing the time to 2 months.
It seems that there are countless gondolas in Venice, but in fact there are now just under 450 such boats, although during the time of the Venetian Republic there were more than 7 thousand. You can admire the numerous gondolas in Venice in all their grandeur at the beginning of September. On the first Saturday of the month, a grand parade of gondolas and gondoliers takes place, combined with the traditional regatta of such boats - Regata Storica, which covers a route of 7 km.
