5. Their Weight Might Surprise You
Each 35 foot gondola weighs a whopping 1,100 pounds, which is about as much as a grand piano and more than the average horse. In spite of its considerable heft it is quite easy for one trained person to propel and steer it using a single oar.
6. They’re all Black Thanks to Strict Laws
You’ll notice that all gondolas are painted black – at least 6 glossy coats’ worth. It’s actually the law. Back in the 16th-century when the canals were chock full of 10,000 gondolas, various noblemen tried to one-up each other with fancy designs and bright colors. All that egotistical extravagance started to look a bit garish. So the city passed a law decreeing that all gondolas must be standardized and painted black. No more bells and whistles beyond a curly tail, a pair of seahorses and a fancy ferro at the front. You do see the odd gondola with a little more bling from time to time. Some choose to decorate the interior with golden details, velvet upholstery, carpets or plastic flowers – especially those used for weddings or special occasions. But other than that, they’re all basic black.
