Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Oars and oarlocks (
remi
e
fórcole
)
Makers of oars (
remi
) and oarlocks (
fórcole
) were integral partners to the gondola makers,
as steering a gondola in tight, crowded canals without the characteristic oarlock would
be nearly impossible. Originally a simple wooden fork, the Venetian
fórcola
evolved over
the centuries into a complex, high-precision instrument that allows the gondolier to man-
euver the single oar into countless different positions without removing the oar from the
water, thus easily navigating narrow, crowded canals by rowing from a single side of the
boat.
Fórcola
makers, or
remeri
, developed as specialized craftspeople apart from the other
trades.
Its elegant sculptural form is deceiving, for the oarlock is pure function. There are five
main positions for the oar; they help the rower start, stop, accelerate, turn right or left, and
slow the gondola. Rowing is considered a specialized skill in the Veneto, and many heated
competitions take place each year, awarding prizes to competitive rowers.
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