The Original & Best Tours
The Original Learn To Be a Gondolier
from € 80.00
A unique and enjoyable way to see Venice by water. Learn to row gondola-style in an exclusive very small group (maximum 6) with a great English-speaking guide in this easy and entertaining gondola class. Glide through Venice's prettiest canals and out into the Venetian lagoon as you learn how to be a Gondolier!
Enjoy seeing fabulous views of Venice from this unique vantage point.
Discover the secrets behind the unique professsion of being a gondolier with our fabulous and easy gondola classes.
You will also hear fascinating stories and exclusive insights about the gondolier profession as well as details on Venice from the water.
This gondola class can be as relaxing and or as educational as you prefer. You can try your hand at being a gondolier or just sit back and soak up the views.
The best value for money gondola experience in Venice including great vistas and an easy, relaxing learning experience with a maximum of six people per group.
Starting with some on-land demonstration to get your balance right, we then give you a gentle start as you enjoy a row along a canal, taking in the spectacular views along the water way to the marina.
Here, you will have room to learn to steer the ancient and rare training vessel, a ‘gondoletto’. Much more stable than a traditional gondola, it was specially-designed to train Gondoliers in this ancient art.
You then return along the canal to the marina for the conclusion of this most unique experience in Venice!
All the while, your expert guide will reveal the fascinating history of this ancient tradition.
The finer details of Learn to be a Gondolier:
Price: Adults - 80 euro per person
Students (13-26 years old) - 80 euro per person
Children (6-12 years old) - 45 euro per person
Children (5 years and under) - N/A
Included in tour price: Gondola training lesson in a specially-designed training vessel, a friendly qualified master instructor, fascinating anecdotes.
Excluded: Optional gratuities
Meeting time and days: 10.00am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.30pm, 4.00pm Monday to Saturday upon request.
Learn to be a Gondolier meeting point: provided upon tour confirmation
Length: 1.5-2 hours
Minimum participants required to run the tour: 1 person
Maximum participants: 10 persons (with up to 6 in any one vessel)
Weather: The class cannot run in bad weather
Please note: Lessons are conducted in English only.
Some suggestions:
You may also be interested in The Original and Best Gondola Tour.
We have a full range of exclusive and small-group Venice Tours to choose from!
Related Blog Entries:
Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’ locations in Venice, Italy
With all the hype about Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’ set in Florence, many are overlooking the Venice locations mentioned in the … Continue reading
DOs, DON’Ts & OH NO, YOU DIDN’T?!s: Etiquette in Italy
Part of the joys of travel to a foreign land is about immersing yourself in a new culture, embracing alternative … Continue reading
In Venice, in Love: Gianni Berengo Gardin
With his exceptional ability to capture images from life in the most poetic of ways, it is no wonder that … Continue reading
Real Italian Dish: Risotto con Zucchine recipe
We were recently invited by Alberto, author of a fabulous home Italian cookery blog, to share his receipes, and with … Continue reading
Venice: Make mine a Spritz (or make it yourself with this Spritz recipe!)
There are many great things to see and do in Venice – from gliding along the canals in a gondola, … Continue reading
The Glass Merchants of Venice: Murano’s Master Glassblowers
With the Venetian sky the most marvellous blue above us, we set of on our private transfer to the … Continue reading
The coolest coffee in Italy!
Italians may not follow road rules, and let’s not even get into discussing Italian politics, but when it comes … Continue reading
Ahoy, this be Venice? Aye!
Think Venice and you imagine gliding along misty canals guided by muscled gondoliers plying Venice’s iridescent waterways. You imagine the … Continue reading
St Mark’s, Venice: hip to be square
After meandering through the labyrinth of narrow streets and winding canals of Venice, stepping into the vast space of St … Continue reading
Com’era, dov’era – the rise and fall (and rise again) of St Mark’s Bell Tower
The Campanile (bell tower) of St Mark’s Piazza in Venice is one of the city’s most iconic symbols. Towering … Continue reading
Klimt: from Vienna to Venice
Many of Gustav Klimt’s most well-known works are said to have been inspired by mosaics in Venice*. As such, it … Continue reading
New Venice Biennale Building for Australia
A new building for the Australian contemporary art exhibit at the Venice Biennale has been announced. Construction of the new … Continue reading
OutrunCancer – charity run around Italy
One man (and his faithful support team) is presently putting a lot of energy into raising awareness and funding for … Continue reading
Book Now
While you're there...
You may also like...
What people say about us:
Michael Palin
Actor/Presenter (Monty Python and a list of fabulous films too long to list here)
Lou Reed
Rockstar
Richard Kind
Actor (Mad about You, Spin City)
Alex Rodriguez
Baseball Star (In December of 2000 Rodriguez became the best-paid ballplayer of all time when he signed a $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers)
Mike Munro
One of Australia's finest investigative journalists and well known media personalities.
Bill Kurtis
Acclaimed documentary host and producer, network news anchor and multimedia production company .
Nat Young
World Surfing Champion
As recommended by:
Customers Reviews
On
2013/06/10
vanessa said:
On
2013/06/10
David said:
Excellent, highly knowledgeable and professional
I am currently in Italy and last week was in Florence where I used their services for four tours: First Original Florence Walk, then Masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery, Original David Academia Tour and last Best of Tuscany with Volterra. I cannot say enough good things about them. The guides were native English speakers, they were highly knowledgeable and experienced about their subject, and all were very pleasant and helpful. None of the groups I was in last week were very big the largest about 13 or 14. When there was a larger group they split it in half and brought in another guide. They used a radio type communication device in all but one of these groups which worked extremely well for me, since I have a hearing problem and wear hearing aides. The "Best of Tuscanny with Volterra" tour had only three participants even though the minimum states at leasts four. It was the best tour of their offerings and all were great. This is the best company I have used in all my traveling.
On
2013/06/01
Fred & Cinda Armstrong said:
Two tours with Klaus - David and the walking tour of Florence, one with Helen - Uffizi, and a day in Tuscany with Stephan were all absolutely superb. They were totally knowledgeable, attentive, and timely. We had heard of your company from a colleague. Her recommendation of excellence was totally accurate, and we will be more than happy to pass your name to others whenever possible.
On
2013/05/29
Cindy said:
Big waste of time and money
The description of the tour is not what we got. We booked a tour for a Wednesday and were informed at the start of the tour that we would not be seeing St Peter's because the Pope holds audience on Wednesday's and the Bascilica is closed. This was a big waste of money; we are very disappointed!
On
2013/05/19
Tanya Harrison said:
Fantastic
My boyfriend and I took the original Florence walking tour, and I have to say it was the best tour of our week stay in Italy. This tour was fantastic because we had Brenda as our tour guide. When someone loves their job so much it really shines through their work and made us enjoy so much more than what there was to see and know about Florence. Brenda was very knowledgeable, funny and well spoken. We also enjoyed her running commentaries on the various happenings around the streets such as watching a woman parking her Vespa on the street or a van moving in a tight space. Very enjoyable and thank you Brenda for a great time!
On
2013/03/23
Elaine Lam said:
I took the Florence tour of Florence Artisans. It was amazing. It was the best tour !!!! Our Guide, Helen was fantastic. She took us to places we'd NEVER have been able to find on our own. She was friendly and very informative. In fact, local people were greeting us with such a warm reception which I can only attribute to the fact that she is a well known and liked friend to the city.
On
2013/03/22
JT said:
I took two tours with Art Viva, and multiple tours with Aventurra Bellisima. Art Viva outperforms hands down. Their tour guides (Elizabeta and Klaus) were fantastic-- knowledgable, engaging, entertaining, and particularly Klaus on art-- he is a superstar art and history teacher. Also, the tour sizes were small <8. (Regrettably only one of Aventurra guides spoke English with sufficient facility to make the tour comprehensible and tour sizes were large 10-20). If I could do it again, I would have chosen Art Viva for all the tours.
On
2013/03/21
Robert Waters said:
Fantastic
We recently did 3 tours in Florence with Artviva and these were the most informative tours I have been on. In addition to the excellent information, you could tell that the guides LOVED their job. It was a pleasure to be on tours that were so interesting and with such enthusiastic and pleasant guides. I recommend this to anyone wanting to really learn about Florence , its art and its history and meaning.
On
2013/02/24
Ingrid Rebelson said:
On
2013/01/22
Helen Campbell said:
Excellent
Nice size for a tour group – not too big. Excellent coverage of the main issues in Renaissance history. Wonderful details – really enjoyed it. Thanks so much.
Live Tweets
Artviva is guaranteed by:
