For over a thousand years they have taken passengers food and other wares through the canals. Traditionally made from eight sorts of wood: larch, lime, oak, elm, pine, cherry, walnut and tannen. The bow is decorated with the iron ‘Ferro’, symbolizing the Doge and the six
districts of Venice. They used to be colourful and decorated, but since 1562 the law has required them to be black. Steering a gondola demands great skill. A ten year apprenticeship with a padrone is required before a gondolier gets a licence. Only native born Venetians can apply and the number of issued licences is limited, to keep the price at a healthty 120000-150000 Lire per hour (Your hotel might get you a better deal).
On seven locations the Canal Grande can be crossed in a traghetti, a special gondola, for about 500 Lire.
Ponte di Rialto
Rialto Bridge, from Rivo Alto, high river bank. Rialto used to be the name of the city, now it is the area around this bridge. Built 1588-1592 by Antonio da Ponte after many wooden bridges on this place had collapsed. The 7.5 metre high and 48 metre wide water gate was designed to allow an armed galley to pass under it. Until the Accademia bridge was opened in 1854 this was the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot.
