| |
Hidden Venice
Venice still has a thriving local community despite the presence
of 12 million visitors a year. The majority of Venetian people
use the narrow walkways next to the canals as they go about their
daily business. Alternatively, they can use the Gondolas which
for centuries has been a the way to get around among the island
communities of Venice's lagoon. The Gondolas are flat to allow
them to navigate over countless shifting sand bars and the captains
stood up to see. Today's gondolas still come with a captain standing
up and a flat bottom with no keel or rudder. Single oars were
used both to propel and to steer the boats which are built curved
a bit so an oar thrusting from the side sends it in a straight
line.
|
