Central Coast Gondola is your premiere Wine Country Gondola Service. We serve from Morro Bay.
about us
Stefano rowing through the years...
More about gondolas...
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!