Silhouettes of gondolas in Venice

When you think of Venice, you think of beautiful buildings, canals, lots of tourists and of course gondolas. About 400 of the elegant boats are in the Italian city. In comparison, in the seventeenth century there were about ten thousand of them! The current gondola is 11 meters long, 1.40 meters wide, 65 cm high and it takes about two months to build.

In the photo you can see the stern of a gondola on the left with an iron, elegant ornament. This is called the 'risso'. The risso in the photo is quite simple in shape, but they also come in richly decorated versions. The shape is reminiscent of that of a seahorse.
The large, iron arch on the bow of the right gondola is called the 'ferro di prua'. It serves as a counterbalance to the weight of the gondolier and ensures that the boat is stable in the water. The ferrous components are said to each have their own meaning. The six teeth on the front symbolize the six districts (sestieri) of Venice: San Marco, San Polo, Santa Croce, Castello, Dorsoduro and Cannaregio. The tooth that sticks out represents the island of Giudecca. The three ornate sections between the front ridges correspond to the city's three largest and most important islands: Murano, Burano and Torcello. And the semicircular recess above the six teeth should represent the Rialto Bridge.

This artwork is offered by Arja Schrijver Photography

I enjoy taking pictures of nature, from colorful flowers to the vast landscapes of Scotland and Norway. Photos of European cities can also be found in my shop. Whatever photos they are, I create them with the idea that they really add atmosphere to your home or workplace.

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