166 - Rowing Class in Venice

Highlights

• Experience one the oldest traditions in Venice, the art of rowing

• Learn to row a rare and traditional wooden Venetian boat, a Batella

• Get insider tips & special rowing techniques from local rowing experts

• Enjoy the quiet side of Venice today, allowing you to row freely

Summary

LivTour’s Rowing Class in Venice is an enticing way to discover one of the city’s more treasured traditions. A city completely surrounded and built on water, boats have long been the central mode of transportation. There are no roads or cars in this city, only canals and boats! This 1.5 hour experience is one that you will never forget as you learn the traditional rowing technique that only Venentian’s know. You will be rowing in one of the city’s rare and traditional wooden boats. This immersive experience allows you to feel like a real local.

LivTours constantly looks for the absolute best way to experience a city like a local so that you can completely immerse yourself in the wonders of where you are. This Venetian Rowing Class will give you the opportunity to learn this unique technique only used by locals. Once you are ready, you will sail out into the canal to put your oar in and give it a try yourself. No experience required and fun for the whole family!

Description

Your adventure starts near the Fondamente Nove Ferry Station located in the northern district of Cannaregio. A quieter district away from the crowds, thus avoiding the busy waterways near the city's most famous landmarks. Quieter waters allow you to truly enjoy this unique experience while you learn to row like a true Venetian!

Your class will teach you the traditional Venetian style of rowing, voga alla veneta, in a hand-crafted wooden boat unique to Venice and referred to locally as a batella with its shrimp-tail like design. These boats, not gondolas, boast unique shapes and features and are now extremely rare, making this an even more exclusive experience. Additionally, these boats are smaller and easier to balance than a gondola, allowing you to master the art of rowing quickly without any experience needed!

Traditional rowing in Venice, voga alla veneta, is done standing up and facing forward while you row gliding through the canals while allowing the captain a clear view of traffic up ahead. This unique technique has been passed down for hundreds of years and many locals are trying to preserve this tradition for future generations.

Your lesson will start with an introduction to these beautiful Venetian boats that were once the most popular boat in the city before motor boats. Before you hit the open waters, you will learn the basic techniques of rowing from a local Venetian rower and you will have a chance to practice while the boat is still moored. Once you feel confident, you will set sail with your expert Venetian rower with you as you take turns rowing and even learn to steer like a professional.

Once your 1.5-hour rowing class is complete, you can enjoy a leisurely ride through the pretty canals back to the drop-off point where you started. You will have truly experienced Venice like a local, standing in a traditional Venetian boat, rowing down one of its canals. An immersive experience to remember forever!