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01:19
Gondolas on Venice's canals is an iconic image and yet they are in danger of running aground with the coronavirus outbreak a blow to an industry already in trouble.
Think of the Italian port city of Venice and Canaletto's famous 18th century paintings of gondolas meandering through the maze of canals comes to mind. But there is now a dwindling market, which has been delivered a hefty blow by the recent lockdown.
Gondolas have not been able to take to the water, with a ban on sailing part of the COVID-19 restrictions.
"Venice without gondolas is dark and meaningless," said Roberto Dei Rossi, one of the few remaining traditional carpenters who build the long black boats.
The 58-year-old crafts between four and five gondolas a year by hand, each one taking 400 hours to make.
"Every time I put a new one into the water, it's like witnessing a birth. It's my creation," he said.
They are made up of 280 pieces of wood from eight different species of tree – oak, larch, walnut, cherry, basswood, cedar, mahogany and fir. The finest gondolas can fetch up to $56,000.
The pristine waters free from boats have captured the imagination during the lockdown, but there is set to be some relief for the beleaguered industry in June when foreign tourists are allowed to return to Italy.
Source(s): AFP
