Walk around Venetian Shipyards and Traditional Lagoon Boats 1
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Walk around Venetian Shipyards and Traditional Lagoon Boats

(5)
Venice, Italy
Cultural ToursWalking Tours
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About this activity

Step into Venice's working heart at the squeri—centuries-old wooden boatyards hidden away from tourist crowds—where master craftsmen still handcraft and repair gondolas and traditional lagoon boats using ancestral techniques. This intimate 2-hour walking tour brings you face-to-face with the last practitioners of a craft as old as Venice itself, revealing how the city's waterborne culture remains a living, functional reality.

Discover the squeri, the shipyard where traditional lagoon boats are built in the city that has been built to be navigated around.
Enter the world of Venetian squeri, small boatyards where expert craftsmen build and repair wooden boats. These activities are just as ancient as Venice itself, everything is still the way it used to be. Just a few steps away from the usual tourist routes, let’s meet the last master boat builders that pass on the art of building gondolas and all other typical lagoon boats.
A city born on water implies another logical consequence: the use of the "forcola" the venetian oarlock used for rowing in the venetian way.
Be enchanted by the care and patience characterizing these professions carrying on such an ancient tradition.
Walk around discovering lagoon boats moored on canal banks, ending up on a gondola ferry experiencing it is still a useful mean of transportation for local residents of this floating city.

Highlights

  • ✓Visit active squeri (Venetian shipyards) where gondolas are built and repaired by hand
  • ✓Meet master boat builders and watch traditional woodworking techniques in action
  • ✓Learn about the forcola—Venice's distinctive wooden oarlock and its rowing heritage
  • ✓Explore working canals lined with moored lagoon boats away from main tourist zones
  • ✓End with a gondola ferry ride experiencing transportation as locals still use it daily

Insider tips

  • ★Wear comfortable, flat shoes with good grip—you'll navigate narrow, uneven pathways alongside canals where footing can be slippery
  • ★Go early morning or late afternoon to catch craftsmen actively at work; midday is often quieter in the boatyards
  • ★Ask your guide about the forcola variations—each design reflects different rowing styles and boat types unique to Venice

Good to know

  • •Duration is 2 hours; meeting location will be confirmed after booking
  • •Narrow bridges and canal-side walkways mean limited wheelchair accessibility—contact supplier beforehand if mobility assistance needed
  • •Wear weather-appropriate clothing; you'll be outdoors on exposed canal banks with minimal shade
  • •Small groups preferred—boatyard visits are intimate, so numbers may be capped to preserve the experience

Who it's for

Cultural history enthusiasts interested in Venice's maritime heritage and artisanal traditionsTravelers seeking authentic, non-touristy experiences away from San Marco crowdsPhotographers and craft lovers wanting to document traditional boatbuilding techniquesAnyone curious about how Venetians live and move through their city beyond gondola romance

Best time to visit

Visit during spring (April–May) or fall (September–October) when temperatures are mild and craftsmen are most active in the boatyards. Avoid July–August peak summer when heat and crowds reduce the authenticity of the experience.

Frequently asked questions

Available
From€267
per person