The Origin Story
The actual origin of the gondola is shrouded in mystery. Italy, Turkey, Greece and Malta all claim that the gondola originated in their land.
Historians trace early whispers back to 1094, when Vitale Faliero, the Doge (ruler) of Venice, mentioned a Gondolum in a letter to the people. To prevent a revolt, he ‘gifted’ the people gondola-like boats and said they would help ease their commute within the town.
The first visual depiction of a gondola was brought to the fore during the 1400s by famed artists Carpaccio and Bellini in paintings that have been preserved till date. It was only from the 15th and 16th Century that gondolas were built and used to navigate Venice. During this time period, gondolas looked different from what they are today. Used primarily by the town’s elite class, gondolas were adorned with ostentatious decor. In the 16th Century, the Italian government placed a blanket ban on increasing extravagance and ordered that all private gondolas be painted black, a practice that continues till today to maintain uniformity.
By the 17th Century, towards the end of the Italian Renaissance, around 9,000 gondolas floated around the city, connecting citizens from point A to B. Their design has been optimized over the years to serve better as passenger vehicles -- or water taxis as they’re also referred to -- in a city where ocean water flows not around, but through it. Today, almost all the 400 gondolas in Venice follow a uniform design.