Venice is on the hunt for new gondoliers as the city anticipates a record number of tourists.
The role, which involves expertly navigating the city’s narrow canals and showcasing its iconic sights, can be highly lucrative, with earnings reaching up to €150,000 annually.
However, becoming a gondolier is no easy feat. The application process is rigorous, competitive, and costly. Applicants must be over 18, have completed compulsory education until age 16, and possess a swimming certificate.
Prospective gondoliers must first pass a preselection round demonstrating their gondola-handling skills. Successful candidates then enrol in the Arte del Gondoliere courses, which include a 30-hour theory course (€400) covering Venice’s history, art, culture, and waterway regulations, and a 10-hour practical course (€400) under a master gondolier’s guidance which includes how to board and balance a gondola.
Candidates must attend at least 80% of each course and pass a practical exam to qualify as gondoliers.