A gondola is a traditional flat-bottomed rowing boat unique to the canals of Venice, propelled and steered by a single standing gondolier using one oar mounted on the boat's right side, a design that lets the asymmetrically built hull travel in a straight line despite being rowed from only one side. Once a common means of everyday transport for Venetians of all classes, it survives today mainly as a ceremonial and tourist vessel, though it remains closely associated with the city's identity and its canal-based way of life.
Facts
Partially Attested
Year1094 is the year the gondola was first documented by name; the source states the boat type itself existed in Venice from the 11th century, earlier than this first named mention. Manufacturer or BuilderTramontin is documented as developing the modern banana shaped gondola hull in the 19th century, not as the builder of the original medieval gondola. SignificanceFor centuries the gondola was Venice's primary means of transport and remains an iconic symbol of the city, though only a few hundred remain in service today. 1 Sources
1. Gondola, Wikipedia
History section
The gondola has existed in Venice since the 11th century, being first mentioned by name in 1094.
Construction and history section
The banana-shaped modern gondola was developed only in the 19th century by the boat-builder Tramontin, whose heirs still run the Tramontin boatyard.
Overview section
For centuries, the gondola was a major means of transportation and the most common watercraft within Venice.
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