Venetian Gondola

The asymmetric black boat that glides through Venice's canals/Transportation

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed rowing boat unique to Venice, Italy. It is asymmetric: the left side is wider than the right by 24 cm, compensating for the gondolier rowing on one side. A gondola is exactly 10.85 m long and 1.40 m wide at its widest point, made from 280 pieces of eight types of wood, and weighs about 350 kg. The distinctive six-pronged ferro (prow ornament) represents Venice's six sestieri (districts), while the curved top represents the Doge's cap. Only about 400 gondolas remain in active service.