030206ItalyTripMP1380

SHOT 3/7/2006 - Venice is one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities, built on the water in a lagoon. Venice has many magnificent churches and palaces, lively squares, and interesting shops. It is one of the biggest travel destinations in Italy. Venice is also home of one of the biggest Carnevale celebrations in Italy. The 150 canals of Venice are its streets - roads for land passenger vehicles are nonexistent. Everyone must travel by foot or boat, tourists and locals alike. A gòndola is a traditional Venetian rowing boat. Gondolas were for centuries the chief means of transportation within Venice and still have a role in public transport, serving as traghètti (ferries) over major canals. The gondola is propelled by an oarsman (the gondolier) who stands facing the bow and pushes, rather than pulls, a single oar. Contrary to popular belief the gondola is never poled, as the waters of Venice are too deep. A gondola for passengers may have a small open cabin, for their protection against sun or rain. A sumptuary law of Venice required that gondolas should be painted black, and they are customarily so painted now. It is also worth noting that a gondolier, under Venetian law, must have been born in Venice to practice the profession. It is estimated that there were several thousand gondolas during the 18th century. There are a few hundred nowadays, most of which are for hire by tourists, while a few serve as traghetti or are in private ownership and use..(MARC PISCOTTY/ © 2006)

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Filename: 030606ItalyTrip1380.jpg
Copyright: © 2007 Marc Piscotty
Image Size: 3504x2235 / 2.8MB; transportation transport water transportation watercraft boats boat gondolas gondola
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SHOT 3/7/2006 - Venice is one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities, built on the water in a lagoon. Venice has many magnificent churches and palaces, lively squares, and interesting shops. It is one of the biggest travel destinations in Italy. Venice is also home of one of the biggest Carnevale celebrations in Italy. The 150 canals of Venice are its streets - roads for land passenger vehicles are nonexistent. Everyone must travel by foot or boat, tourists and locals alike. A gòndola is a traditional Venetian rowing boat. Gondolas were for centuries the chief means of transportation within Venice and still have a role in public transport, serving as traghètti (ferries) over major canals. The gondola is propelled by an oarsman (the gondolier) who stands facing the bow and pushes, rather than pulls, a single oar. Contrary to popular belief the gondola is never poled, as the waters of Venice are too deep. A gondola for passengers may have a small open cabin, for their protection against sun or rain. A sumptuary law of Venice required that gondolas should be painted black, and they are customarily so painted now. It is also worth noting that a gondolier, under Venetian law, must have been born in Venice to practice the profession. It is estimated that there were several thousand gondolas during the 18th century. There are a few hundred nowadays, most of which are for hire by tourists, while a few serve as traghetti or are in private ownership and use..(MARC PISCOTTY/ © 2006)