Gondoliers at Daybreak

• Photographer
  Robert Monteleone

At dawn when the Gondoliers start work, there is a unique loud but jovial atmosphere created from frantic organising of the day's trips - always spoken in traditional Venetian dialect! The profession of gondolier is controlled by a guild, which issues a limited number of licenses granted after periods of training and apprenticeship, and a major comprehensive exam which tests knowledge of Venetian history and landmarks, foreign language skills, and practical skills in handling the gondola typically necessary in the tight spaces of Venetian canals.