How to Become a Gondolier
You have to prove your seriousness, knowledge of boating, willingness to clean the boat, but also your willingness to help tourists to settle and feel confortable.
How to Become a Gondolier
It is not possible to think about Italy, without thinking about its famous Venetian Gondolas. Gondolas are ancient, so ancient that the trace of its official inventor is hard to find. Indeed, this flat-bottom boat is around a thousand years old! There is a first mention of a Gondola in a correspondence from Doge Vitale Falier who was a Duke in Venice in 1094 where he used the word gondulam. Weather it is old or pretty recent, everyone loves a nice gondola ride on the venetian river where you can fill your eyes with wonders and your ears with beautiful and melodic Italian songs. Today, we are taking you to Venice for your first (or second) gondola ride... Enjoy!
What is a gondola?
A gondola is a boat that has a flat bottom and it is about 10,85 metres (34ft.) about 1,40 metres (4.5 ft.) in width. The boat is made with several kinds of wood such as fir, cherry, chestnut, elm, oak, linden tree and many more. It can take up to 2 years to build it, using about 280 wooden pieces, and its weight ranges about 350 kg to 600 kg or about 770 to 1300 pounds. It is not until the 15th Century that we will see the "modern" gondola that we know today. The color black was imposed to refrain an unfair competition with the rich Venetians who would ornate the boat with gold and other treasures. Up until the Second World War, gondolas were guided by 2 gondoliers and they were used by people as a private mode of transportation. Kind of like Uber, without the app!
How to navigate a Gondola
Gondolas are a very interesting kind of boat. It is propelled by a person who stands facing the bow and rows with a forward stroke followed by a backward stroke in order to compensate the movement. Because of its flat bottom, the gondola can also be drifted sideways if it is necessary.
Funny fact, the gondolas were equipped at some point with a little cabin from the passengers to protect them form the weather or people looking at them. It even had windows with blinds (original Venetian blinds!) to offer you the perfect intimate moment. This cabin, or "felze" disappeared in the early 20th Century.
how to become a gondolier
In order for you to become a gondolier you need to get a permit. There would be around 433 Gondoliers with a permit today. There is a limit of permits and Venice reached it. The number of gondolas was estimated to 10,000 in the 16th century and the gondoliers were a separate group in society. The knowledge was passed from one generation to another, from father to son. This system disappeared in 1980 and you can now take the exam. You have to prove your seriousness, knowledge of boating, willingness to clean the gondola, but also your willingness to help tourists to settle and feel confortable. The first women to obtain her permit is now working in the area of Dorsoduro. She passed her exam in 2009. Are you ready for the exam?
We hope you enjoyed reading about How to Become a Gondolier! One thing we must add that is the number one goal for gondoliers is the Regata Storica. It is an annual race that will allow winners to belong to a family (of gondoliers)! Do you have pictures of your recent trip in Venice? Don't forget to add them in the comments' section below. Looking for more Italian language & culture? Check out our Italian Group Classes and Private Lessons at JP Linguistics taught by native instructors. Grazie mille!
10 Amusing Italian Idiomatic Expressions
We were thrown into the lion's den once and we loved it! Would you?
10 Amusing Italian Idiomatic Expressions
Have you ever been to Italy? If so, you may have heard a few phrases during your travels that caught you off guard. You might have been asked to 'get another pair of sleeves,' or to 'get a crab,' or somebody you encountered may have wished to have been eaten by a wolf. These humorous idiomatic expressions are used quite often in Italian and it may have gotten you to question - "What does it mean? And what is this obsession with animals?" Idioms are a reflection of the cultural traditions, values, and customs. In English, something can happen "once in a blue moon", but in Italian, it happens "every time the Pope dies." Italians will be impressed by your language skills if you can use their expressions in the right context. Dive into the world of Italian idiomatic expressions with us and sound more like a native Italian speaker. Divertiti!
1. In bocca al lupo
In the mouth of the wolf. Italians have a funny way of wishing you luck, and that is by inviting you to get eaten by a wolf. The other person must respond ‘Crepi il lupo’ (‘The wolf shall die’). So... Break a leg or get devoured by a wolf ?
2. Un altro paio di maniche:
Another pair of sleeves. This expression is used as a comparison when the second term is greater than the first. For example, 'saying something is easy, doing it is another pair of sleeves’. It is thought that the expression refers to Mediaeval times, when women’s clothing had replaceable sleeves.
3. Prendere lucciole per lanterne:
To mistake fireflies with lanterns. This saying is used to suggest an easily visible mistake or to refer to a person who is not really intuitive. So if you ever hear ‘Luigi mistakes fireflies with lanterns’, you know Luigi is not that quick.
4. A piede libero:
On a free foot. This refers to people who are on bail awaiting sentencing. In fact, this expression was used in Mediaeval times when prisoners were forced to have their feet cuffed. It can also refer to to an escaped prisoner who is now ‘a piede libero’.
5. Essere nella fossa dei leoni:
To be in the ditch with lions. Here is another unhappy expression involving ferocious animals trying to kill men. This expression is used when someone is in a very difficult and inconvenient situation, and dates back to the Roman Empire when punishment could also consist of getting eaten by lions.
6. Prendere un granchio:
To catch a crab. This means that the end result of something is a lot lower than expected. It can also mean that you have made a big mistake. If you are a fisherman and you are hoping to catch a fish, you’ll probably be disappointed to catch a crab!
7. Patti chiari, amicizia lunga:
Clear conditions, long friendship. This expression is used to refer to an open and honest conversation, in which all parties involved can establish an agreement that will keep the friendship/relationship going strong. For example, if you organise a dinner for friends, you could tell them to bring the wine, because..’clear conditions, long friendship!’
8. Rendere pane per focaccia:
To give bread for focaccia. As everyone know Italians are serious about their culinary traditions and they like to mention them in any context. In fact, ‘rendere pane per focaccia’ means that you respond to an offence with an equally or even stronger offence than the one you have received.
9. Ogni morte di papa:
Every time the Pope dies. This saying may sound really strange, but it does make sense. Italians use this expression to refer to something that happens with very little frequency, so if you are in Rome and you are wondering how often roads get redone, the answer is ‘Every time the Pope dies!’
10. Saltare di palo in frasca:
To jump from a post to a pile of branches means to jump from one topic to another without there being any connection between the two. In English you would use the expression of ‘going on a tangent’.
We hope you enjoyed reading 10 Amusing Italian Idiomatic Expressions! These Italian expressions really reflect the true culture of Italians from the past into the present. Have other Italian idioms you want to add to the list? Don't forget to add them in the comments' section below. Looking for more Italian language & culture? Check out our Italian Group Classes and Private Lessons at JP Linguistics taught by native instructors. Grazie mille!