When I take friends to Venice for the first time, I'm always struck by their sense of wonder. From a gondola, the city seems to reveal itself at a different pace. Palaces reflect on the water, canals naturally lead from one place to another, and you discover a side of Venice that is difficult to appreciate on foot. I like to imagine that ambassadors of the Venetian Republic felt the same emotion when they first arrived here.

Between the 15th and 18th centuries, Venice was one of Europe's great diplomatic capitals, welcoming ambassadors, princes, cardinals and representatives from the continent's most important courts. Their arrival followed a carefully planned ceremony: before any official meeting took place, the city itself greeted its guests from the water. The gondola became Venice's first calling card, a symbol of elegance, order and prestige.

For the most important occasions, specially prepared gondolas were used, featuring elegant interiors and gondoliers chosen for their experience and discretion. Many were fitted with the felze, the traditional covered cabin that protected passengers from the weather while ensuring privacy during conversations. In a city where diplomacy played such an important role, even a short journey between two palaces could become part of the official ceremony.



Today's gondolas are simpler, yet they retain the same graceful lines that have made them famous for centuries. Stepping aboard offers the chance to see Venice from the same perspective that once welcomed distinguished visitors from across Europe. It is a unique way to experience the city, following the very routes that once led ambassadors into the heart of the Serenissima.