Gondolas are strongly associated with Venice. It is hardly impossible to imagine a visit in the city of those in love without a romantic ride on a gondola, controlled by a gondolier singing serenades. However, it is a must to remember that such boats are not a typically Italian invention, nor a Venetian one. The shape and construction of a gondola come from the South Slavic fishing boats that were used for fishing on rivers and coastal waters. Thanks to the asymmetric shape gondolas can be propelled by one oar and driven by only one man, who stands near the stern, whereas the prow is weighted down with iron fitting called “il ferro” in order to balance the boat. The flat bottom of the gondola provides also quite large carrying capacity. It is possible to transport over a ton of cargo on a gondola.
