Nicholas Carey
07-27-2006, 04:09 PM
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2287352,00.html
The Venetian gondoliers association has told the gondoliers to clean up their act and lose the kitsch. Also to ditch O Sole Mio for Venetian songs. O Sole Mio is Neapolitan.
Gondoliers told to cut the kitsch – and drop that song
From Richard Owen in Rome
The gondoliers of Venice have been told to strip their craft of "kitsch and glitz" and restore their original elegantly austere and predominantly black 16th-century look.
The Venetian Gondoliers’ Association, backed by the city council, has issued guidelines telling its members to remove plush multicoloured cushions, garish rugs, phosphorescent paint, fairy lights and other "tacky and tasteless" decoration and ornamentation.
Roberto Luppi, the head of the association, said that most of his members agreed that efforts to attract tourists had gone too far.
"I’m glad tradition has prevailed," he said. "It shows that gondoliers are serious about keeping up the high standards of our calling. Clients often prefer a flamboyant craft but the gondola has a history and characteristics that must be upheld."
He added: "At one time it would not have been necessary to issue such rules; they were implicitly obeyed. It was a question of culture. But times change."
"We have to remind everyone that this is Venice, not Las Vegas."
Under the new rules, the gold leaf that has increasingly tended to cover seat backs and other fittings will be stripped off. Gondola interiors will go back to being black, dark blue or bordeaux, and seat cushions will have to be made of plain leather.
[full story (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2287352,00.html)]
The Venetian gondoliers association has told the gondoliers to clean up their act and lose the kitsch. Also to ditch O Sole Mio for Venetian songs. O Sole Mio is Neapolitan.
Gondoliers told to cut the kitsch – and drop that song
From Richard Owen in Rome
The gondoliers of Venice have been told to strip their craft of "kitsch and glitz" and restore their original elegantly austere and predominantly black 16th-century look.
The Venetian Gondoliers’ Association, backed by the city council, has issued guidelines telling its members to remove plush multicoloured cushions, garish rugs, phosphorescent paint, fairy lights and other "tacky and tasteless" decoration and ornamentation.
Roberto Luppi, the head of the association, said that most of his members agreed that efforts to attract tourists had gone too far.
"I’m glad tradition has prevailed," he said. "It shows that gondoliers are serious about keeping up the high standards of our calling. Clients often prefer a flamboyant craft but the gondola has a history and characteristics that must be upheld."
He added: "At one time it would not have been necessary to issue such rules; they were implicitly obeyed. It was a question of culture. But times change."
"We have to remind everyone that this is Venice, not Las Vegas."
Under the new rules, the gold leaf that has increasingly tended to cover seat backs and other fittings will be stripped off. Gondola interiors will go back to being black, dark blue or bordeaux, and seat cushions will have to be made of plain leather.
[full story (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2287352,00.html)]