In Venice, there are places where traditional craftsmanship still follows its ancient rhythm. One of these is the squero, the boatyard where gondolas have been built and repaired for centuries.

The first time I entered a squero, what struck me most was the smell of wood. I expected to see finished gondolas ready for the water. Instead, I found planks leaning against the walls, tools worn smooth by years of use, and craftsmen focused on measurements and details that seemed almost invisible to me.

A Mosaic of Different Woods

A gondola is created by bringing together many different components, each with a specific purpose.

Several types of wood are used in its construction, including oak, larch, limewood, walnut, cherry, and fir. Some provide strength, others flexibility, and others lightness. Each material is carefully selected according to the part of the boat it will form.

By the end of the process, a modern gondola consists of more than 280 pieces, all crafted and assembled by hand.

The Squero: A Workshop on the Water

Gondolas are still built today in the squeri, traditional boatyards recognizable by the sloping ramp leading down to the canal, designed to allow boats to be worked on and launched into the water.

For centuries these yards have produced not only gondolas but also sandoli, mascarete, caorline, and many other boats used throughout the Venetian lagoon.

A Shape Refined in Every Detail

From a distance, a gondola appears perfectly balanced. Up close, however, it reveals a curious characteristic: it is not completely symmetrical.

The left side is slightly wider than the right. This difference compensates for the force applied by the gondolier, who rows from only one side of the boat. It is a solution refined over centuries, allowing the gondola to travel smoothly with a single oar.

Behind its elegance lies a long history of adaptation and technical refinement.

The Final Elements

Once the hull is complete, the final components are added.

Among them is the iron prow piece, which contributes not only to the gondola’s distinctive appearance but also to its balance. The forcola, the oar, the seats, and all the other elements necessary for navigation are then installed.

At that point, the boat begins to take on the form that everyone recognizes.

A Craft That Spans the Centuries

Building a gondola usually requires several months of work.

Each one is made entirely by hand and adapted to the characteristics of the gondolier who will use it. For this reason, no two gondolas are exactly alike.

Even today, Venice’s boatbuilders preserve a body of knowledge that has survived the centuries of the Serenissima, the arrival of motorboats, and the transformation of the modern city.

When a new gondola is launched, it is not simply another boat entering service. It is the continuation of a tradition passed down through generations, built from wood, patience, and craftsmanship.

The next time you see a gondola gliding through a canal, you may wonder how many hands, how many years of experience, and how much history lie behind that unmistakable silhouette. The answer is just a few steps from St. Mark’s Square.

At the Gondola Gallery in Campo San Gallo, an immersive virtual reality experience takes you on a journey through the centuries, showing how the gondola evolved and how Venetian craftsmen still build it today in ways remarkably similar to those of their predecessors. A different way to discover the gondola—not only as a symbol of Venice, but as one of the city’s most enduring traditions.