Gondolas of Canal Grande | Venice, 2013

When it comes to Floating City, Venice is the first place that comes to mind. And the history of its gondola is, in many ways, the history of the city. As it became an important city in world trade in the 16th century and its population increased, the shape of the gondolas took this final form. On this canal tour, I enjoyed the gentle jolts in the iconic, asymmetrical banana-shaped gondola. However, the view was different when you saw other gondolas suddenly appearing in the lagoon. The gondolas on the Canal Grande were equipped with elaborate and ostentatious decorations that appealed to wealthy merchants and dignitaries who wanted to display their wealth and social status. There was even an informal understanding between gondoliers and passengers that "what happens in the gondola, stays in the gondola." Because these small cabins were quickly used for secret meetings and romantic trysts.