Squero di San Trovaso Attraction

The Squero di San Trovaso, a 17th-century shipyard still active

On the banks of the rio di San Trovaso, in the Dorsoduro sestiere, the Squero di San Trovaso is one of the last traditional shipyards still operating in Venice. A squero is a yard used for building, maintaining, and dry-docking Venetian boats. With its ramp sloping down to the water and its wooden buildings resembling Alpine houses, the San Trovaso yard forms a particularly unusual ensemble in a city dominated by brick and stone.

A shipyard inherited from the 17th century

The squero dates back at least to the 17th century, and some sources attribute it an even more ancient origin. At a time when boats were essential for transport and daily activities, Venice had dozens of shipyards of this type, particularly in Dorsoduro, Castello, and on Giudecca. There, not only gondolas but also sandoli, pupparini, and other rowing boats suited to the canals and lagoon were built and repaired. Today, the Squero di San Trovaso is one of the few still-active testimonies to this ancient craftsmanship.

The expertise of gondola builders

The work remains largely artisanal. A new gondola takes several months to build and traditionally uses eight types of wood, chosen according to the constraints of each element: rigidity, flexibility, lightness, or resistance to moisture. The hull itself is asymmetrical, an essential feature that offsets the thrust exerted by the gondolier when he rows alone from the right side of the boat.

The construction of new gondolas today represents only a part of the squero's activity. The hulls, constantly exposed to water, impacts, and weather, require regular repairs and maintenance: replacing damaged parts, sanding, caulking, painting, and restoration occupy a large part of the artisans' work. The handling of boats also maintains traditional methods, as the hulls are brought onto the slipway to be taken out of the water.

How to observe the squero

The shipyard is above all a place of work and cannot be visited freely. However, it can be observed very well from the Fondamenta Nani, on the opposite bank of the rio, from where one can see the ramp, the workshops, and the gondolas being repaired. During the week, it is often possible to glimpse the artisans at work, though their activity cannot naturally be guaranteed at fixed times.

Guided tours by appointment can also be organized inside the squero. They offer a better understanding of the various stages of gondola construction and the tools used by the squeraroli, while discovering a shipyard that remains fully operational.

Sources and further information

Comune di Venezia — Campo San Trovaso ; Google Arts & Culture / Italian National Commission for UNESCO — The squero and the gondola ; Squero di San Trovaso — Visits.