Central Coast Gondola

Central Coast Gondola is your premiere Wine Country Gondola Service. We serve from Morro Bay.

about us

Our Venetian boats: "Gianna" the wedding gondola

Launched by Central Coast Gondola in June 2023

Built in 1961. Hand-carved by Venetian artist, Il Santo.
Seats up to 6 guests

Timeless. Classic. The beautiful, well-known outline and single oar of a Venetian gondola perfectly encapsulates all one's imaginings of Venice, and for good reason: gondolas have been used by boatmen in Venice for a thousand years! All gondolas are handcrafted works of love by master craftsmen, but a Wedding gondola is quite literally an exceptional work of art. Set apart from a standard gondola which is usually smooth with occasional flourishes, a wedding gondola's wooden deck is entirely hand-carved and usually features more elaborate "cavalli" (the brass statuettes along each side of the gondola). Our Wedding gondola, Gianna, was carved by the famous Venetian artist, Il Santo, who beautifully adorned the vessel with filigree and scenes of mermaids riding seahorses. There are currently only five (known) authentic Venetian wedding gondolas in the United States.

Gianna was brought to the United States by investors, believing that they could sell her to The Venetian in Las Vegas. This was impossible, however as the hotel's canals were not designed to take boats the length of an authentic Venetian gondola (36 feet). She was given to Bride's magazine, who decided to auction the gondola online.

She was purchased by Gondola Adventures in Newport Beach, and she was launched there in the early 2000s. Stefano fell in love with the Wedding gondola while rowing for the company, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to acquire her for Central Coast Gondola Service in 2023. Now, Gianna is an integral, historical part of our Venetian boat fleet.

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Our Venetian Boats: "Contessa" the Pupparin

Currently being refurbished

Seats up to 4 guests.

Agile and light, the pupparin is a sleek racing boat that can have up to 4 oarsmen. Shorter, lighter, and narrower than a gondola, Contessa has a smaller profile that makes her fast and maneuverable. Contessa's varnished wood and shining brass "cavalli" makes her a jewel in our fleet.

Contessa was built in the Veneto region of Italy. Her builder is unknown at this point. She was originally brought to the US by Angelino Sandri - who was setting up an operation in Oakland, California. She was the second pupparin to come to the US (and there have been no others introduced to American waters).

Contessa was brought to Southern California and eventually reached Newport Gondola Adventures in 2013.

In 2023, Stefano was able to acquire the elegant Contessa for the Central Coast Gondola fleet.

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stephen "stefano" anastasia

owner / lead gondolier

Stefano Anastasia grew up on the Central Coast, a third generation native whose Great-Grandfather built many houses in Cayucos in the 1920's. 25 years ago he moved to Long Beach to go to College and found a job he loved rowing Gondolas. Although he has done other things (Opera Singer, Recording Artist, Music Professor, Pastor, Business Owner, etc...) he has always been drawn back to water. He has been rowing Gondolas in Southern California waters for three different companies for over 23 years. In 2013, he won the Solo Distance race at the US Gondola Nationals, a grueling 2.5 mile sprint through the canals of Huntington Harbor, Sunset Beach. Now, he is ecstatic to bring his love and passion for Italian culture, Venetian Boats, and Romance back to his home on the Central Coast!

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Stefano rowing through the years...

More about gondolas...

Gondola asymmetry — A view of the Gondola's graceful asymmetry

HISTORY OF THE GONDOLA

Venezia, la Serenissima, known as "Venice" in English, is the birthplace of the Gondola. It is built on a series of over 100 islands in a lagoon at the far northern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Because it is built on islands, Venice has canals instead of streets, with over 400 bridges connecting it together. Therefore, transport, especially of groups of people and goods, happens via boats, due to the fact that almost all of the bridges are stepped rather than smooth, making wheeled vehicles unusable. The gondola, whose design comes from its use in the canals and Italian stylistic sensibilities, has become one of the most recognized symbols of Venice.

ABOUT THE ONE-OARED VENETIAN BOATS

The traditional Venetian style of rowing is called "voga veneta". The gondolier rows the boat standing on one side, resting the single oar in the open oarlock called a "forcola". The asymmetrical design of Venetian boats is intentional. The left side is wider than the right side (in a gondola, by 24 centimeters) and is countered by the single oar. This allows the standing Gondolier to perfectly balance as he rows and keeps the gondola gliding forward. This style of boat rowing is incredibly efficient and maneuverable.

WHY DO GONDOLIERS WEAR STRIPED SHIRTS?

Historically, most gondoliers (or Gondoliere) wore black to match the Gondola. However, the French Navy designated that men on ships would wear striped shirts and after WWII, stripes became associated with sailors. Legend has it that the famous Alberto Sordi wore a red & white striped shirt in the movie, Venezia, la Luna e Tu, and was such a success that the Gondoliere adopted the uniform.

Ask your Gondolier to share more fascinating history - he's an expert!

Book here now — To purchase a GIFT CERTIFICATE, Call our office 805-363-4363