9 Reasons for the High Prices of a Gondola Ride (Now Not Only Venetians Know Them)

Venice’s gondoliers are not just boatmen, they are also an elite caste. And the gondola, being a regular means of transport, has become the main tourist attraction. Travelers are willing to pay for a romantic and expensive tour of Venice’s famous canals.

O awesome.club decided to find out what life and work is like for gondoliers and also why traveling on a Venetian boat is a very expensive pleasure.

Venetian children start attending school at the age of 6. From 14 to 19 years old, when choosing a specialty, they continue their studies in high school. Specialties that teach how to handle gondolas and shipping are very popular. Studying in these schools is very prestigious, so it’s not cheap: around 4,000 euros (18,000 reais) a year. In addition to the usual subjects, they have many physical education classes. Most of them are practical, as students train directly in the narrow canals of Venice.

It is not uncommon for girls to attend schools for future gondoliers. But few people manage to pass the exams and work in this specialty. In the gondolier association, they are sure it is not a job for women. There are only three female gondoliers. In 2009, for the first time in 900 years, Giorgia Boscolo became a certified female boatwoman. The love for this craft was transmitted to the shutter by her gondolier father.

The most famous female gondolier is the German Alexandra Hai. For a long time, she worked without a license and only through justice did she get the right to work.

The income of gondoliers was one of the reasons why interest in the profession grew. They practically earn the best salaries in the entire city, on average 12,500 euros (56,375 reais) per month. To compare: a water taxi driver earns around 3,500 euros (15,785 reais), a plumber 1,500 euros (6,765 reais), a policeman 2,500 euros (11,275 reais), the owner of a coffee shop 4,000 euros (18,000 reais).

The locals are not very fond of gondoliers and consider them very brazen. Possibly, it is a banal addiction to this well-paid job.

Official price per service: 30 minutes cost 80 euros (360 reais), 30 minutes after 19:00 are worth 100 euros (450 reais). When renting in Rialto and San Marco, a 5 or 7 minute trip will cost the same price.

The workday is per shift: from 72 hours to 72 hours, from 9:00 am until the last customer. By the way, the gondolier, as the sole owner, can work less, for example, in winter, when there are few tourists.

Net income is approximately 25% of income. The rest is spent on boat maintenance and taxes.

There is an opinion that in Venice there are only 425 gondoliers. In fact, the numbers can change and it is difficult to know the exact data. In total, there are more than 430 licensed gondoliers, who have their own gondola. In addition, there are 150 licensed boatmen, who can change in case of illness.

Another myth is that the profession is passed down only by the father. Anyone can study and work, there are no laws that prohibit and limit the service. The main difficulty is enduring the exam, which can take many years to pass. It is much easier for descendent gondoliers to pass the exam, as many of them, from childhood, learn to row.

Many tourists recognize the gondoliers from afar by their striped shirt and straw hat. But not everything is so simple, the uniform is strictly regulated. For example, the stripes should be just blue or red and a width of just 2.5 centimeters. Pants should be classic black. Until recently, only black shoes were allowed, but now it is possible to choose the color.

But the gondolier has a choice: to wear a hat or not. Due to discomfort, many ignore flashy hats. In the winter season, the Gondoliers Association allows you to wear black coats and scarves with stripes.

The island of Venice has approximately 50,000 inhabitants. In relation to the huge tourist stream, life has become expensive for Venetians and it is uncomfortable to live in your own city. Gondoliers are no exception. That is why it is not surprising that, outside of work, they are not seen on their shelves.

Just 50 years ago, Venice was not so popular with tourists and the profession of gondolier was not considered prestigious. At that time, boatmen had a tradition: on Sundays, they went on canal tours with the whole family.

It is an expensive pleasure to have your own gondola. The average price is from 30 to 90 thousand euros (from 135 to 406 thousand reais). The carpenter can make a boat in few months according to strict size and physical appearance. This “thing” can serve 20 years or more.

As with a car, you can save money and buy a second-hand one. But the price includes service and additional expenses. For example, parking for one year will cost approximately 700 euros (3,157 reais).

Some gondoliers use the wall of a house to push with their feet and pass through a narrow place. It might be easier, but it’s forbidden according to the rules. If a student makes such a mistake, he will not pass the exam. A professional must solve the situation with the paddle and without touching anything at the same time.

There are also other rules for water circulation. For example, when it gets dark, you have to light a torch at the stern, if you forget, you will have to pay a fine of 150 euros (676 reais). The main prohibition is to go out to sea. At all channel crossings there are traffic lights, but professionals do not trust them and prefer to shout out loud to inform them of their approach.

And you, have you ever been on a gondola in Venice? Share your impressions in the comments.