Go on a gondola with 2 euros
The ferry service to cross the Grand Canal by gondola.
There are only three bridges on the Grand Canal. Scalzi, Rialto and Accademia.
If you want to cross it, it is always possible to take a Line 1 boat, but for foreigners it is expensive and it does not cross the canal perpendicularly. It not only leads to the other side, but also elsewhere.
This need for fast crossings has always been deeply felt by Venetians. Contrary to what many people think, Venetians are always in a hurry and walk very quickly. The “Venetian walk” is difficult for a visitor to sustain for long, even if he is well trained.
The different speed depends on the fact that locals usually travel for work. This is where it comes from the need for ferries from Parada (they are wider and more stable gondolas than the rental ones).
It’s about a service that allows you to quickly cross the Grand Canal by rowing. Basically the Venetian who is in a hurry gets on the parade gondola without even thinking about it, absorbed in his thoughts, and stays standing because in reality he is not interrupting his walk. He doesn’t even realize he’s boarded a gondola.
in winter, and I assure you that those were really hard winters, not being able to work with gloves, our hands became numb and frozen, to warm them and reactivate the circulation, we put them in the water like fishermen do.” (testimony of a gondolier)
At the end of 1700 there were about a hundred ferries. A very precise list than that of Guglielmo Zanelli “I Traghetti Veneziani”, Cicero Editore (2004). A list of him can also be found online here.
https://www.conoscerevenezia.it/?p=4830
Now there are many fewer active ferries. The decline in population and scheduled service have
reduced to necessity. However, they remain highly appreciated by the Venetians, who would like more.
A strong point of ferries is that they are very cheap.
Only 70 cents for Venetians and 2 euros for tourists.
So if you take a ferry you can take a short, but satisfying, gondola trip for just two euros. If you then look frowny, don’t open your mouth and stand, maybe they’ll charge you 70 cents.
ACTIVE FERRY (effective from 06.07.2021)
For times and costs see here
traghetto DOGANA
traghetto SANTA MARIA DEL GIGLIO
traghetto SAN TOMA’
traghetto CARBON
traghetto SANTA SOFIA
traghetto SAN SAMUELE: CHIUSO
traghetto SAN MARCUOLA: CHIUSO