Gondolas

There is a station just north of the Bridge of Sighs behind the San Marco Basilica off Calle de la Canonica.

Thank you! We will look for that. Although we seem to get lost easily in Venice. 😊

While not specific to the location, my DH and I did a gondola ride very late one evening after dinner 10 or 11, I'd say. We stopped by a dock of a bar and picked up a bottle of prosecco. It was very quiet and fairly empty on the canals. We REALLY enjoyed this option.

There are usually three gondolas parked along Fondamenta de la Canonica, which is the narrow street that runs briefly along Rio de Palazzo o de Canonica, the canal that runs under the Bridge of Sighs. You can reach the fondamenta from Calle de la Canonica. Facing the front of Basilica San Marco, walk to the immediate left of the church without leaving Piazza San Marco. Eventually, the street narrows and turns into Calle de la Canonica that sort of ends at the fondamenta and a small bridge. The gondolas are parked near this bridge. If they are not there, it usually means they are out being used.

The Rio de la Paglia, the canal that passes under the Bridge of Sighs discharges into the bottom end of the Grand Canal. So exploring the smaller canals and passing under the Bridge of Sighs is something of a contradiction, as you will enter the Grand Canal for sure.

Gondolas are spread out all over the place in Venice. If you tell us where you're staying, you'll probably get a good suggestion.

Peter's knowledge of Venice is not of the average tourist, therefore, I don't enjoy correcting him. However, there is enough confusion on travel boards.

The canal that passes under the Bridge of Sighs is Rio de Palazzo o de Canonica. The bridge where everyone stands to photograph the Bridge of Sighs is called Ponte de la Paglia. To my knowledge, there is no Rio de la Paglia in Venice.

Oh. My Hallwag 1:5500 map, which calls the canal in question the Rio d. Palazzo o d. Paglia must be incorrect. Ditto for my Rough Guide Map 1:4500, which styles it simply as the Rio de la Paglia.

"I never ever tell a lie, but the truth, not to everyone." Paolo Sarpi, Venetian statesman, 1552 - 1623.

And to complete the exercise in cartography, the Moleskine Venice City Notebook has it as Rio di Palazzo della Paglia.

No matter how said canal is named, it discharges into the Grand Canal (sort of), aka the Bacini di San Marco, aka the Canal di San Marco.

Navigation in Venice is never simple, and carrying a paper map is well advised.

Since Moleskin is the only Italian company mentioned, one would think their cartography would be accurate. However, Venice is famous for calli having multiple names. Some older maps (which are in my collection), formerly published in the Veneto, use Venetian dialect when naming streets. I'm sure that applies to a few canals, as well.

Ponte de la Paglia is a famous bridge (although most tourists standing on it while taking i-Phone photos don't know its name), so it makes perfect sense why many people/maps would name the water that runs beneath it after the bridge.

At nearly any hour with good light, that canal will be mobbed with gondolas. Just something to consider.

At nearly any hour with good light, that canal will be mobbed with
gondolas. Just something to consider.

My thoughts exactly. Whatever you choose to call that canal, I've seen veritable traffic jams of gondolas at times. I'd much prefer a ride somewhere much less heavily travelled or clichéd.

On the other hand, if Instagram infamy may be your goal, or you wonder what a bulb-flashing, Red Carpet experience might be like, take a gondola down Rio de Palazzo o de Canonica towards Bacino San Marco, and get a first-hand experience of international celebrity appeal. Be sure to wear sungasses to protect your eyes.

Indeed, when the weather's nice this Skyline webcam usually shows a veritable train of gondolas on the rio in question.

Or, for about €7.50 per person, taking an evening vaporetto can be quite romantic.

Agree about the vaporetto. We didn't do a gondola ride, but we got the vaporetti pass and were able to go all over at our leisure. Rick Steves has an audio tour through the canals via vaporetti and we really enjoyed it.

You could also just try a traghetto. Much less romantic, but much less expensive :-)

Wow. I didn't expect all these responses; thank you! We went out in the early morning to see the Basilica so I only saw the first. We did go to the station at Calle de la Canonica. Yes it was like being at Disney with lines of gondolas and people getting on and off. But we met a couple of nice ladies who were looking to share a gondola and wanted to just do the smaller canals and go under the Bridge of Sighs. It was very quiet and peaceful in the morning so we were happy. The gondolier did not say one word so no tip for him! At least I got my gondola ride.

Hooray! Success!

The gondolier did not say one word so no tip for him! At least I got my gondola ride.

Did you say anything to him? Conversation goes two ways, no?