gondola

A traditional passenger-carrying boat of Venice, Italy. It is often steered by a single person standing on the rear deck, with the oar resting on an oarlock. Gondolas with multiple rowers also exist, an example being the traghetto or ferry gondola.

Gondole can be differentiated from other boats by being asymmetrical, with one side being slightly longer than the other, and by the presence of a ferro, a stylized S-shaped bow ornament made of metal whose design represents elements of Venice and whose weight counterbalances that of the gondolier.

Gondolas figure prominently in Amano Kozue's anime and manga series Aria.

Examples

See also

• rowboat
• ship