Up until now, a veil of mystery has always surrounded the gondola not only regarding her origins, but also the origins of her name.

Many theories have been passed down by those who already posed the problem in the sixteenth century, but it does not seem that any of there theories have really been accepted, because there has always been one particular similarity that stands out: that which likens here to a specific type of boat used in Ancient Egypt.

It is not possible even determine the exact period in which the gondola appeared for the first time in Venice, but it is a fact that over the centuries, the gondola underwent many changes and modifications; perhaps she was already present during the era of Cassiodoro, the celebrated chronicler of the Giustinian period who, in his descriptions of the various lagoon settlements says: The rich and the poor live next to each other and keep their boats tied to the sides of their house, just as animals are tied.

But without going too far back in time, the modifications made to the gondola between the Renaissance and today have been quite significant. To understand this, you only have to observe attentively the paintings of the past.

The gondola is made using a unique construction method, incorporating various types of wood and assembling 280 pieces. Her final dimensions are 11 metres in length and 1.40 metres wide, with a total weight of approximately 500kgs.