Bellisimo Venice Gondolieri Italy Pillows

Abstract acrylic on canvas,colorful Italy

Italian girl

A gondola on Venice's Grand Canal passing the basilica Santa Maria della Salute. These graceful boats form Venice's iconic transport system - the ideal way to explore the city's canals from water level. These black hulled boats are flat-bottomed and are well suited to the shallow waters of the Venetian Lagoon, The Gondoliers or Gondiolieri are controlled by a guild which issues a limited number of licences following training. A digital drawing from my original photograph.

The view standing on the side of the Canale de San Marco, close to St Mark's Square where gondolas sit waiting. Over the water can be seen the island of San Giorgio Maggiore with its landmark Palladian church. This has been the magnet for artists iver the years - including Monet. The graceful gondolas are the backbone of Venice's transport and are the perfect - and romantic - way to explore Venice from its waterways.