Venice set for first woman gondolier

Venice is on its way to having its first official female gondolier. City Hall said today that mother-of-two Giorgia Boscolo had passed the practical exam to become a gondolier. She is the first woman to pass this test, considered the most difficult of...

Venice is on its way to having its first official female gondolier.

City Hall said today that mother-of-two Giorgia Boscolo had passed the practical exam to become a gondolier. She is the first woman to pass this test, considered the most difficult of those required to pilot a boat on Venice's canals.

Mrs Boscolo, 24, must pass one further test, a written, multiple-choice exam, in order to join the guild of official gondoliers.

Deputy Mayor Sandro Simionato said her success breaks "900 years of male dominance" in the profession.

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