The Squero di San Trovaso is the oldest and best-known of the three shipyards in Venice that still produce and repair gondolas. One can see from the other side of the canal what kind of work is still being carried out. The makers of of gondolas are called squerarioli.
Squero di San Trovaso Venice
Address and Opening Hours
The Squero di San Trovaso is located along the Rio San Trovaso. It is not possible to visit the shipyard and so one can only try to get an idea of the work from the other side of this canal.
History and description
The Squero di San Trovaso is located next to the San Trovaso Church (near the Ponte dell’Accademia) and has existed since the 17th century. Originally, the workers who worked there came from the area around Cadore, in the Dolomites. It is because of this that the building where they work looks a bit like a mountain hut.
Nowadays the shipyard is almost exclusively used for repairs and it is rare that new boats are manufactured.
According to tradition, no fewer than eight different types of wood are used to make a gondola and exactly 280 parts are required. A gondola is normally about 11 metres long and weighs 600 kilos.
Nowadays there are only about 350 gondolas in use in Venice, so there is not much work left for the squerarioli.