3. The Ladies Are a Little Late to the Gondolier Game
The first female gondolier – or gondoliera – was licensed in 2010. Giorgia Boscolo, the 24 year old daughter of 40-year gondolier veteran, was the first to pass the requirements and obtain a license. Another woman, Alex Hai from Germany, trained for year but failed to pass the official test several times (she believes due to discrimination) and is privately employed by a hotel as a gondoliera tour guide.
4. Gondolas Are Intentionally Built Lopsided
Each gondola is 35′ 6″ long and 4′ 6″ wide, but the left side is 10 inches longer than the other. This asymmetry helps counterbalance the weight of the gondolier who stands at the back. It also compensates for the tendency of the boat to sway left as the gondolier continually rows on the right. The sleek and stable design of this flat-bottomed boat is well-suited to the shallow conditions of the Venetian lagoon and the occasional mud flats in the canals as it can navigate in only a few inches depth of water.
