Venice’s first female gondolier
29th June 2009
Venice has its first female gondolier, nine centuries after gondolas were introduced to the Italian city.
23-year-old Giorgia Boscolo passed a six-month course that included 400 hours of instruction on steering, navigation and the city’s history to claim her place on the water.
The gondolier course was introduced by the city council in 2007. Prior to that, the practice was passed down from father to son.
Two other women, who took the course at the same time as Giorgia, failed to pass.
Giorgia’s father, Dante – also a gondolier – said he had some reservations about her taking to the water. “I still think being a gondolier is a man's job, but I am sure that with experience Giorgia will be able to do it easily,” he said.
Giorgia will now complete her training by carrying her first paying passengers on the city’s canals.