É«ÖÐÉ«

É«ÖÐÉ« News Headlines 31-10-2024: Matilde Lorenzi, 19 year old É«ÖÐÉ« junior ski champion, has died following a crash while training in northern Italy --- É«ÖÐÉ« doctors in Turin have saved the sight of a baby in a surgical procedure that used 3D technology in a world first --- É«ÖÐÉ« yacht, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, loses to Ineos Brittania in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Series in Barcelona --- Salvatore (Totò) Schillaci, FIFA World Cup winner in 1990, has died at the age of 59. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 --- Charles Leclerc wins at Monza for Ferrari in É«ÖÐÉ« F1 Grand Prix --- 7 dead as luxury, É«ÖÐÉ«-built superyacht sinks off the north coast of Sicily --- Controversy as tennis no.1, Jannik Sinner, is cleared of doping charges --- 160 earthquakes have hit the Campi Flegrei area of Naples in the last few days, including one measuring 4.4, the strongest to be measured in over 40 years --- The owner of a restaurant in Sorrento, tired of looking for suitable waiters, has bought two robots to serve his customers

The Gondola

Gondola

One of the images most associated with Italy is that of the Venetian Gondola. Originally, the Venetian Lagoon was navigated by over 40 different types of boats including: Batela, Batelon, Bragosso, Caorlina, Cofanop, Gondola, Gondolino, Mascareta, Peata, Puparin, Sandalo, Sanpierota, S'ciopon, Topa, and Topo. Although some of these boats appear in the 'Regata Storica' in Venice each year, it is the Gondola that has outlived them all.

It is thought that the first Gondolas appeared around 1,500 years ago, and by the 17th century, it was estimated that there were 10,000 Gondolas in Venice. The Gondola has undergone a continuous evolution in design throughout its history. During the 13th century, it was rowed by 12 oars; by the 15th century it was smaller but had gained a cabin, called a felze, and by the 16th century, wealthy owners had created such elaborate, garish designs for thier boats that the authorities issued a special law banning ostentation of any kind.

Ever since then, Gondolas have been painted black, and carry only three decorations, the distinctive 'Ferro' on the bow, the decorated Risso at the stern and the 'Forcola', the complicated structure used to support the oar during the various movements necessary to navigate the canals of Venice.

By the 18th century, the recognised design of the Gondola was almost established, although in the paintings of Canaletto, the Gondola is shown with a lower prow and being operated by two oarsmen. The modern day design was created in the 19th century by the boat-builder Tramontin, whose family-run boatyard still produces Gondolas today. Some further modifications were added in the 20th century but then all further modifications were banned by the Venetian city council.

The modern Gondola weighs around 350 kilos and is 10.85 metres long and 1.4 metres wide. Its distinctive, assymetrical shape is created by the left side being 24cm longer than the right. It is made from 280, interlocking pieces, using eight different kinds of wood: Oak, Fir, Cherry, Larch, Linden, Walnut, Elm and Mahogany.

The decorative shape at the bow is called the 'Ferro' and is extremely symbolic. The six prongs facing forwards are said to represent the six districts of Venice, the 'sestieri'. The additional prong facing backwards is said to represent the island of Giudecca, and the broad blade at the top is said to represent the 'Rialto Bridge'.

The 'Risso' at the stern, is highly decorated and based on the shape of a seahorse.

The Gongola is operated by a Gondolier, who stands near the back of the boat and propels and steers the Gondola using a single oar, or 'Rèmo'. This oar is supported in an oar lock or 'Forcola'. The complicated shape of the forcola allows the Gondolier to use the oar in different positions for slow forward rowing, powerful forward rowing, turning, slowing down, rowing backwards, and stopping.

There are now just over 400 Gondolas in Venice, mainly used as taxis or for tourist trips. A Gondolier is a highly skilled job and all Gondoliers have to be licensed by the authorities in Venice. After an extensive period of training and apprenticeship, they must pass an exam which tests their knowledge of Venetian history and landmarks, foreign language skills, and practical skills in handling the gondola, not an easy task in the tortuously narrow labyrinth of the Venetian canals. The first female Gondolier was licensed in 2010.

Moving To Italy

Living The Dream

Flag of Veneto
Flag of Veneto
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 18,391 km²
      Population: 4.8 million
      Density: 261/km²
      Capital: Venice

      National Parks:
      Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park
Location of Veneto
Location of Veneto
Provinces of Veneto
Provinces of Veneto
  • Comunes of Veneto
    • Belluno
      • Agordo
        Alano di Piave
        Alleghe
        ´¡°ù²õ¾±Ã¨
        Auronzo di Cadore
        Belluno
        Borca di Cadore
        Calalzo di Cadore
        Canale d’Agordo
        Castellavazzo
        Cencenighe Agordino
        Cesiomaggiore
        Chies d’Alpago
        Cibiana di Cadore
        Colle Santa Lucia
        Comelico Superiore
        Cortina d’Ampezzo
        Danta di Cadore
        Domegge di Cadore
        Falcade
        Farra d’Alpago
        Feltre
        Fonzaso
        Forno di Zoldo
        Gosaldo
        La Valle Agordina
        Lamon
        Lentiai
        Limana
        Livinallongo del Col di Lana
        Longarone
        Lorenzago di Cadore
        Lozzo di Cadore
        Mel
        Ospitale di Cadore
        Pedavena
        Perarolo di Cadore
        Pieve d’Alpago
        Pieve di Cadore
        Ponte nelle Alpi
        Puos d’Alpago
        Quero
        Rivamonte Agordino
        Rocca Pietore
        San Gregorio nelle Alpi
        San Nicolò di Comelico
        San Pietro di Cadore
        San Tomaso Agordino
        San Vito di Cadore
        Santa Giustina
        Santo Stefano di Cadore
        Sappada
        Sedico
        Selva di Cadore
        Seren del Grappa
        Sospirolo
        Soverzene
        Sovramonte
        Taibon Agordino
        Tambre
        Trichiana
        Vallada Agordina
        Valle di Cadore
        Vas
        Vigo di Cadore
        Vodo Cadore
        Voltago Agordino
        Zoldo Alto
        Zoppè di Cadore

    • Padova
      • Abano Terme
        Agna
        Albignasego
        Anguillara Veneta
        Arquà Petrarca
        Arre
        Arzergrande
        Bagnoli di Sopra
        Baone
        Barbona
        Battaglia Terme
        Boara Pisani
        Borgoricco
        Bovolenta
        Brugine
        Cadoneghe
        Campo San Martino
        Campodarsego
        Campodoro
        Camposampiero
        Candiana
        Carceri
        Carmignano di Brenta
        Cartura
        Casale di Scodosia
        Casalserugo
        Castelbaldo
        Cervarese Santa Croce
        Cinto Euganeo
        Cittadella
        Codevigo
        Conselve
        Correzzola
        Curtarolo
        Due Carrare
        Este
        Fontaniva
        Galliera Veneta
        Galzignano Terme
        Gazzo
        Grantorto
        Granze
        Legnaro
        Limena
        Loreggia
        Lozzo Atestino
        Maserà di Padova
        Masi
        Massanzago
        Megliadino San Fidenzio
        Megliadino San Vitale
        Merlara
        Mestrino
        Monselice
        Montagnana
        Montegrotto Terme
        Noventa Padovana
        Ospedaletto Euganeo
        Padova
        Pernumia
        Piacenza d’Adige
        Piazzola sul Brenta
        Piombino Dese
        Piove di Sacco
        Polverara
        Ponso
        Ponte San Nicolò
        Pontelongo
        Pozzonovo
        Rovolon
        Rubano
        Saccolongo
        Saletto
        San Giorgio delle Pertiche
        San Giorgio in Bosco
        San Martino di Lupari
        San Pietro in Gu
        San Pietro Viminario
        Santa Giustina in Colle
        Santa Margherita d’Adige
        Sant’Angelo di Piove di Sacco
        ³§²¹²Ô³Ùâ€ÍÖ±ô±ð²Ô²¹
        ³§²¹²Ô³Ù’U°ù²ú²¹²Ô´Ç
        Saonara
        Selvazzano Dentro
        Solesino
        Stanghella
        Teolo
        Terrassa Padovana
        Tombolo
        Torreglia
        Trebaseleghe
        Tribano
        Urbana
        Veggiano
        Vescovana
        Vighizzolo d’Este
        Vigodarzere
        Vigonza
        Villa del Conte
        Villa Estense
        Villafranca Padovana
        Villanova di Camposampiero
        ³Õ´Ç’

    • Rovigo
      • Adria
        Ariano nel Polesine
        Arquà Polesine
        Badia Polesine
        Bagnolo di Po
        Bergantino
        Bosaro
        Calto
        Canaro
        Canda
        Castelguglielmo
        Castelmassa
        Castelnovo Bariano
        Ceneselli
        Ceregnano
        Corbola
        Costa di Rovigo
        Crespino
        Ficarolo
        Fiesso Umbertiano
        Frassinelle Polesine
        Fratta Polesine
        Gaiba
        Gavello
        Giacciano con Baruchella
        Guarda Veneta
        Lendinara
        Loreo
        Lusia
        Melara
        Occhiobello
        Papozze
        Pettorazza Grimani
        Pincara
        Polesella
        Pontecchio Polesine
        Porto Tolle
        Porto Viro
        Rosolina
        Rovigo
        Salara
        San Bellino
        San Martino di Venezze
        Stienta
        Taglio di Po
        Trecenta
        Villadose
        Villamarzana
        Villanova del Ghebbo
        Villanova Marchesana

    • Treviso
      • Altivole
        Arcade
        Asolo
        Borso del Grappa
        Breda di Piave
        Caerano di San Marco
        Cappella Maggiore
        Carbonera
        Casale sul Sile
        Casier
        Castelcucco
        Castelfranco Veneto
        Castello di Godego
        Cavaso del Tomba
        Cessalto
        Chiarano
        Cimadolmo
        Cison di Valmarino
        °ä´Ç»å´Ç²µ²Ôè
        Colle Umberto
        Conegliano
        Cordignano
        Cornuda
        Crespano del Grappa
        Crocetta del Montello
        Farra di Soligo
        Follina
        Fontanelle
        Fonte
        Fregona
        Gaiarine
        Giavera del Montello
        Godega di ³§²¹²Ô³Ù’U°ù²ú²¹²Ô´Ç
        Gorgo al Monticano
        Istrana
        Loria
        ²Ñ²¹²Ô²õ³Üè
        Mareno di Piave
        Maser
        Maserada sul Piave
        Meduna di Livenza
        Miane
        Mogliano Veneto
        Monastier di Treviso
        Monfumo
        Montebelluna
        Morgano
        Moriago della Battaglia
        Motta di Livenza
        Nervesa della Battaglia
        Oderzo
        Ormelle
        Orsago
        Paderno del Grappa
        Paese
        Pederobba
        Pieve di Soligo
        Ponte di Piave
        Ponzano Veneto
        ±Ê´Ç°ù³Ù´Ç²ú³Ü´Ú´Ú´Ç±ôè
        Possagno
        Povegliano
        Preganziol
        Quinto di Treviso
        Refrontolo
        Resana
        Revine Lago
        Riese Pio X
        Roncade
        Salgareda
        San Biagio di Callalta
        San Fior
        San Pietro di Feletto
        San Polo di Piave
        San Vendemiano
        San Zenone degli Ezzelini
        Santa Lucia di Piave
        Sarmede
        Segusino
        Sernaglia della Battaglia
        Silea
        Spresiano
        Susegana
        Tarzo
        Trevignano
        Treviso
        Valdobbiadene
        Vazzola
        Vedelago
        Vidor
        Villorba
        Vittorio Veneto
        Volpago del Montello
        Zenson di Piave
        Zero Branco

    • Venezia
      • Annone Veneto
        Campagna Lupia
        Campolongo Maggiore
        Camponogara
        Caorle
        Cavallino-Treporti
        Cavarzere
        Ceggia
        Chioggia
        Cinto Caomaggiore
        Cona
        Concordia Sagittaria
        Dolo
        Eraclea
        Fiesso d’Artico
        Fossalta di Piave
        Fossalta di Portogruaro
        ¹ó´Ç²õ²õò
        Gruaro
        Jesolo
        Marcon
        Martellago
        Meolo
        Mira
        Mirano
        Musile di Piave
        Noale
        Noventa di Piave
        Pianiga
        Portogruaro
        Pramaggiore
        Quarto d’Altino
        Salzano
        San Donà di Piave
        San Michele al Tagliamento
        Santa Maria di Sala
        Santo Stino di Livenza
        ³§³¦´Ç°ù³úè
        Spinea
        Stra
        Teglio Veneto
        Torre di Mosto
        Venezia
        Vigonovo

    • Verona
      • Affi
        Albaredo d’Adige
        Angiari
        Arcole
        Badia Calavena
        Bardolino
        Belfiore
        Bevilacqua
        Bonavigo
        Boschi Sant’Anna
        Bosco Chiesanuova
        Bovolone
        Brentino Belluno
        Brenzone
        Bussolengo
        Buttapietra
        Caldiero
        Caprino Veronese
        Casaleone
        Castagnaro
        Castel d’Azzano
        Castelnuovo del Garda
        Cavaion Veronese
        Cazzano di Tramigna
        Cerea
        Cerro Veronese
        Cologna Veneta
        Colognola ai Colli
        Concamarise
        Costermano
        ¶Ù´Ç±ô³¦Ã¨
        ·¡°ù²úè
        Erbezzo
        Ferrara di Monte Baldo
        Fumane
        Garda
        Gazzo Veronese
        Grezzana
        Illasi
        Isola della Scala
        Isola Rizza
        Lavagno
        Lazise
        Legnago
        Malcesine
        Marano di Valpolicella
        Mezzane di Sotto
        Minerbe
        Montecchia di Crosara
        Monteforte d’Alpone
        Mozzecane
        Negrar
        Nogara
        Nogarole Rocca
        Oppeano
        ±Ê²¹±ôù
        Pastrengo
        Pescantina
        Peschiera del Garda
        Povegliano Veronese
        Pressana
        Rivoli Veronese
        ¸é´Ç²Ô³¦Ã 
        Ronco all’Adige
        Roverchiara
        Roverè Veronese
        Roveredo di Guà
        Salizzole
        San Bonifacio
        San Giovanni Ilarione
        San Giovanni Lupatoto
        San Martino Buon Albergo
        San Mauro di Saline
        San Pietro di Morubio
        San Pietro in Cariano
        San Zeno di Montagna
        Sanguinetto
        Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella
        Sant’Anna d’Alfaedo
        Selva di Progno
        Soave
        Sommacampagna
        Sona
        ³§´Ç°ù²µÃ 
        Terrazzo
        Torri del Benaco
        Tregnago
        Trevenzuolo
        Valeggio sul Mincio
        Velo Veronese
        Verona
        Veronella
        Vestenanova
        Vigasio
        Villa Bartolomea
        Villafranca di Verona
        Zevio
        Zimella

    • Vicenza
      • Agugliaro
        Albettone
        Alonte
        Altavilla Vicentina
        Altissimo
        Arcugnano
        Arsiero
        Arzignano
        Asiago
        Asigliano Veneto
        Barbarano Vicentino
        Bassano del Grappa
        Bolzano Vicentino
        Breganze
        Brendola
        Bressanvido
        Brogliano
        Caldogno
        Caltrano
        Calvene
        Camisano Vicentino
        Campiglia dei Berici
        Campolongo sul Brenta
        °ä²¹°ù°ùè
        Cartigliano
        Cassola
        Castegnero
        Castelgomberto
        Chiampo
        Chiuppano
        Cismon del Grappa
        Cogollo del Cengio
        Conco
        Cornedo Vicentino
        Costabissara
        Creazzo
        Crespadoro
        Dueville
        Enego
        Fara Vicentino
        Foza
        Gallio
        Gambellara
        Gambugliano
        Grancona
        Grisignano di Zocco
        Grumolo delle Abbadesse
        Isola Vicentina
        Laghi
        Lastebasse
        Longare
        Lonigo
        Lugo di Vicenza
        Lusiana
        Malo
        Marano Vicentino
        Marostica
        Mason Vicentino
        Molvena
        Monte di Malo
        Montebello Vicentino
        Montecchio Maggiore
        Montecchio Precalcino
        Montegalda
        Montegaldella
        Monteviale
        Monticello Conte Otto
        Montorso Vicentino
        Mossano
        Mussolente
        Nanto
        Nogarole Vicentino
        Nove
        Noventa Vicentina
        Orgiano
        Pedemonte
        Pianezze
        Piovene Rocchette
        Pojana Maggiore
        Posina
        Pove del Grappa
        Pozzoleone
        Quinto Vicentino
        Recoaro Terme
        Roana
        Romano d’Ezzelino
        ¸é´Ç²õà
        Rossano Veneto
        Rotzo
        Salcedo
        San Germano dei Berici
        San Nazario
        San Pietro Mussolino
        San Vito di Leguzzano
        Sandrigo
        Santorso
        Sarcedo
        Sarego
        Schiavon
        Schio
        Solagna
        Sossano
        Sovizzo
        Tezze sul Brenta
        Thiene
        Tonezza del Cimone
        Torrebelvicino
        Torri di Quartesolo
        Trissino
        Valdagno
        Valdastico
        Valli del Pasubio
        Valstagna
        Velo d’Astico
        Vicenza
        Villaga
        Villaverla
        ´Ü²¹²Ôè
        Zermeghedo
        Zovencedo
        Zugliano

Veneto Airports
Airports of Veneto
Hotels in Veneto
Veneto Climate (Venice)
Ìý High Low Sun Rain
Jan 9 2 3 55
Feb 11 3 4 53
Mar 13 4 5 63
Apr 17 7 6 55
May 21 11 8 35
Jun 25 15 9 44
Jul 28 17 10 34
Aug 28 17 9 54
Sep 25 14 7 61
Oct 20 11 6 74
Nov 15 8 4 71
Dec 12 3 3 77
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
Other pages you might like
Newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive our free newsletter, 'I Love Italy'. It provides a captivating glimpse into the allure of 'The Bel Paese', containing extracts from our most recent articles, a window on É«ÖÐÉ« news, fashion, music and culture, useful information for visiting and living in Italy as well as our latest, delicious É«ÖÐÉ« recipes.

Subscribers are also entitled to a 10% discount on purchases from our sister-site, Italy Gifts Direct.

We will not use your email address for any other purpose or pass it on to any other organisation and you can unsubscribe from this service at any time.