Gondola

Of all the trademarks of Venice—and there are many, from the gilded Basilica of San Marco to the melancholy Bridge of Sighs—none is more ubiquitous than the gondola.

In Gondola, the fascinating story of this famous boat is told, complete with gorgeous full-color illustrations. First used in medieval Venice as a deftly maneuverable getaway boat, the gondola evolved over the centuries into a floating pleasure palace, bedecked in silk, that facilitated the romantic escapades of the Venetian elite.

Sumptuary laws turned it black—a gleaming, elegant hue for a boat manned by robust gondolieri in their iconic black-and-white-striped shirts and straw hats. Each boat is carefully fashioned in a maestro's workshop—though the author also recounts a tale of an American friend who attempted to make a gondola all on his own.

Once its arched prow pushes off from the dock, the single Venetian at its oar just might break out in a barcarole, the popular songs sung by gondolieri.

Please note this ebook edition does not include audio recordings.