Esther's photos with the keyword: gondola

Not all that much has changed in Venice, Italy since Canaletto's time. AIMG_4849

Venice, Italy AIMG_4917

Venice, Italy AIMG_4912

Venice, Italy AIMG_4913

Venice, Italy AIMG_4915

Venice, Italy "Not all gondolas have cavalli, but almost all Venice-built ones do, and even some built elsewhere are adorned with these beautiful brass sculptures. Many gondoliers feel that a gondola without cavalli is "naked". Cavalli often take the horse, or "hippocampus" form, but some are cast as angels, sirens, and sea-creatures. They also come in different sizes and levels of detail. Small ones can weigh less than a pound, while the more impressive and showy ones can tip the scale at more than 30 pounds. And while all cavalli are not created equal, they are also not all finished the same either - there are highly polished cavalli, nickel-plated ones, and of course the gold-plated ones." www.gondolagreg.com/2010_03_01_archive.html AIMG_4537

Venice, Italy "The profession of gondolier is controlled by a guild, which issues a limited number of licenses granted after periods of training and apprenticeship, and a major comprehensive exam which tests knowledge of Venetian history and landmarks, foreign language skills, and practical skills in handling the gondola typically necessary in the tight spaces of Venetian canals." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondolier This was an all male profession until August 2010 when Giorgia Boscolo became the first female gondolier in Venice's history. AIMG_4535

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. For centuries gondolas were the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (ferries) over the Grand Canal. They are also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. The gondola is propelled like punting, except an oar is used instead of a pole. Their primary role today, however, is to carry tourists on rides at fixed rates. . . . Gondolas are handmade using 8 different types of wood (fir, oak, cherry, walnut, elm, mahogany, larch and lime) and are composed of 280 pieces. The oars are made of beech wood. The left side of the gondola is made longer than the right side. This asymmetry causes the gondola to resist the tendency to turn toward the left at the forward stroke. It is a common misconception that the gondola is a paddled vessel when the correct term is rowed i.e. "I rowed my gondola to work". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondola AIMG_4510

"San Giorgio Maggiore is a 16th century Benedictine church on the island of the same name in Venice, northern Italy, designed by Andrea Palladio and built between 1566 and 1610. The church is a basilica in the classical renaissance style and its brilliant white marble gleams above the blue water of the lagoon opposite the Piazzetta and forms the focal point of the view from every part of the Riva degli Schiavoni." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_San_Giorgio_Maggiore AIMG_4576

Venice, Italy AIMG_4581

A personal cruise in a gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. AIMG_4485

A typical scene on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. A gondola-like traghetto serves as a ferry to take people across the canal. AIMG_4490