Although there were other types of boats in use, the gondola is the quintessential Venetian boat. The earliest references to this type of taxi was in 1094 in a letterfrom the Doge Vitale Falier to the people of Loreo. He refered to a "gondolum". We don't really know what this looked like or how it was constructed, but since some many other aspects of Venetian life were conservative and static, it is likely that this early gondolum were very similar to the gondolas depicted in paintings of Carpaccio, Mansueti, and Bellini in the late 1400 and early 1500's. Although similar to the modern gondola, they were more steeply bowed, with more of their bottom submerged. They also did not have the distinctive ironwork at either ends of the end. However the Carpaccio painting, "The Miracle of the Relic of the Cross" (1494) seems to depict the rowing to be similar to today's styles.

During the 16^th the ferro and feltze began to be more ornate. This continued until the Doge in 17^th c. handed down a decree that the boats must all be painted black (except for dignitaries and foreign diplomats).

Also in the 16^th c. the rocker bottom changed it's shape some and the stern became wider so that the gondolier could stand higher for easier maneuverability and visibility.

The ferro, axe shaped and made of iron, weighed around 45 lbs. There is some mythology surrounding the current shape and what is represents.

The forcola is also and interesting unique part of the gondola. The craftsmen (remeri) have been a separate branch of art since at least the 13^th c. It provides 5 places to pivot the oar. 1) motion 2)power stokes 3)turning left 4) turning right and 5) going backward

An 18^th c. gondola was presented to a N. Euro. Court in Stockholm, where it was measured and detailed scaled drawings done. It confirms some of the assumptions from the pictures. At this point in time the gondola was perfectly symmetrical. (Unlike modern with are skewed to the right since end of 19^thc. ).