Row a Traditional Venetian Boat with a Local Guide

For centuries, boats were the lifeblood of Venice — carrying food, goods, and people through the city’s winding canals. Among these, the traditional Venetian boats are the most iconic, rowed in the distinctive style known as voga alla veneta. This experience invites you to not just watch, but to step aboard and try this ancient skill for yourself.

Your journey begins inside a boat restoration workshop, where artisans keep alive the knowledge of building and caring for wooden Venetian boats. Here, you’ll learn about the different types of boats once common in the lagoon: from workboats used by fishermen and traders, to elegant gondolas reserved for noble families. Each was designed with purpose, shaped by the shallow waters and narrow canals of the city.

The workshop visit also provides a historical introduction to Venetian rowing. Unlike most rowing styles, voga alla veneta is performed standing up, facing forward, with the oar resting in a specially carved wooden fork called a forcola. This technique gave Venetians visibility and control, making it possible to navigate tight waterways and busy canals — skills essential in a city where streets are made of water.

After this introduction, you will step aboard one of these traditional boats with your instructor. These vessels, flat-bottomed and lightweight, were once used for everything from transporting produce from the islands to carrying goods across the lagoon. Today, they remain symbols of Venetian heritage, crafted with the same care and attention as in the past.

Over the course of 90 minutes, you will take part in a practical rowing lesson. The instructor always stays at the helm, ensuring safety, while you are invited to join in and try the graceful movements of voga alla veneta. The pace is relaxed, like a gentle walk on water, allowing you to focus on technique and enjoy the scenery.

As the boat glides along the quiet canals of a local neighborhood, far from the busiest tourist areas, you will see Venice from a completely new angle. The route also passes through the historic Jewish Ghetto, one of the city’s most atmospheric districts. From the standing position of a Venetian rower, every detail of the city feels closer — the reflections on the water, the rhythm of the oar, the intimate architecture of canal-side life.

This experience is not only about trying something new — it is about stepping into history. For Venetians, rowing was once an everyday necessity, a skill taught from childhood and passed down through families. By learning the basics of this tradition, you connect with the ingenuity that allowed Venice to thrive as a city on water.

By the end, you will understand why voga alla veneta is not just a rowing technique, but a cultural treasure. You’ll carry with you the memory of gliding through hidden canals on a boat crafted by hand, and the feeling of having lived Venice not as a visitor, but as part of its living tradition.