# Row Venice

School en Venice

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/companies/row-venice

## Who they are

Row Venice is a group of Venetian rowing instructors, all women, who teach visitors to row like the Venetians: standing up and facing forward, the technique known here as voga alla veneta. It presents itself as a non-profit organisation, and its legal form is that of an amateur sports company (Srl Sportiva Dilettantistica). What is paid for the lessons is used to sponsor its instructors in the traditional regatta season and in national competitions, and to give visibility to women in a sport that is part of the city's life.

The instructors are club rowers, regatta competitors and some champions, and all are recognised by CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee, or are on the way to certification.

## Boats and lessons

The lessons are given in batelas, traditional hand-built wooden boats, stable and comfortable for someone who has never rowed, with room for four or five people. There are three formats:

the classic lesson, of 80 minutes: introduction to the boat, the basic stroke, turns and, if you wish, steering, with a circuit of secondary canals;

the Cicchetto Row, of 2 hours and a quarter, which adds stops at two bàcari, the Venetian taverns, to have cicchetti with wine or spritz, and soft drinks and ice cream for children;

the Grand Canal Row, of 80 minutes, which leaves the small canals for the Grand Canal to row in front of the palaces, the market and the Rialto bridge, also in the late afternoon and evening.

To order, they also do an outing with a half-hour visit to a squero, one of the historic gondola boatyards. Prices are calculated per boat, depending on how many people there are, whether they row or not: for example, the classic lesson costs €100 for two people and €150 for four, and the Cicchetto Row runs from €225 for one person to €375 for four.

## Where it meets and who can go

All lessons start and finish in the same place: the fondamenta of Cannaregio, beside the basin of the Sacca de la Misericordia, in the north of the city (Cannaregio 3541, Fondamenta Gasparo Contarini). The instructor waits 30 minutes; if you arrive late, the lesson is shortened because they follow one another. You row all year, from January to December. There is no minimum age: children can row alone, with their parents or with the instructor; three children aged 9 or under count as two people and under-4s go free.

## Bookings, cancellation and languages

You book and pay online, at least 24 hours ahead; they do not accept bookings by email or payment in cash. Groups of ten or more have a per-person rate and register beforehand. If you cancel more than 48 hours ahead, they refund the amount minus €25 handling per boat; with less than 48 hours, or if you do not show up, there is no refund. You can change the date yourself at no cost up to 24 hours before. If the weather forces a cancellation, they try to find another date during your stay and, if that is not possible, refund the amount minus €5. They answer by chat, WhatsApp (+39 344 7900 576) and at info@rowvenice.org. The website is in English and Italian.

## What they run

- [Venetian standing rowing lesson in Cannaregio](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/veneto/venice/things-to-do/venetian-rowing-lesson), in Venice. Classic voga alla veneta lesson. Desde 100 € two people, weekdays. 1 h 20. You learn the stroke in the moored boat and row in turns along quiet canals. €130 three people and €150 four; public holidays, €160. Private lessons, departing from the Sacca della Misericordia. Cicchetto Row: rowing and two bàcari. Desde 225 € one person. 2 h 15. You row and stop at two wine bars to have cicchetti; ice cream for children and soft drinks. €265 two people, €375 four. Rowing on the Grand Canal below Rialto. Desde 160 € the boat, for 1 to 4 people. 1 h 20. Through side canals to the Grand Canal, passing the market and under the Rialto bridge. €180 in the afternoon

Independent companies: you book with them, on their terms. Prices are as they publish them and may change.

## Practical details

- Phone: +39 344 7900 576

## Contact

- Web: https://rowvenice.org/
- Coordenadas: 45.445, 12.333