Gondola of Venice Italy - Creative Commons by gnuckx

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon. For centuries gondolas were once the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in the city, serving as ferries over the Grand Canal. They are also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. Their main role, however, is to carry tourists on rides throughout the canals. Gondolas are hand made using 8 different types of wood (fir, oak, cherry, walnut, elm, mahogany, larch and lime) and are composed of 280 pieces. The oars are made of beech wood. The left side of the gondola is longer than the right side. This asymmetry causes the gondola to resist the tendency to turn toward the left at the forward stroke.