The origin of the name of ‘‘ Gondolas’’ can not be known now and maybe originated from Greek ‘‘ kondyle’’ that had the meaning of light and lively boat or ‘‘kondoura’’ that was the name of a kind of boat or maybe originated from Latin ‘‘ cymbula’’ that had the meaning of the tender.

Besides, Gondolas is made by the craftsmen of Venice according to the ancient oral transmission technology and was not completely the same as its present appearance in ancient times. Furthermore, the Gondolas described in the painting of the 15th and 16th century was quite flat at that time and its stern and bow were not so high than its present appearance as well as the edges of this boat were also painted colorful patterns and some boat were also decorated with expensive decorations which were showed by these upper class people.

In 1562, the senate of Venice issued a ban that do not decorate any decorations on the boat and should dismantle these decorations that have been completely installed as well as all the Gondolas should be painted the black color. Moreover, the panel on the bow was the only reserved decoration. Therefore, you can see the black Gondolas and green lake in the lagoon. The middle cabin of the former Gondolas also had a movable awning that was used to keep out the sun and rain for travellers and some boats also had the small window and small sliding door on its upper position as well as this kind of the boat was disappeared.

In the 18th century, this kind of the Gondolas was gradually the same as its present appearance. In the 21th century, this kind of the Gondolas still came and went on the riverway of Venice and its number was only one twentieth of the boat of the 18th century.