Late afternoon
Good to know: The squero is a working boatyard and not open to the public: photographs are taken from the fondamenta across the canal.
In brief
The Squero di San Trovaso is one of the oldest boatyards in Venice still building and repairing gondolas. Its wooden buildings, unusual in Venice, and gondolas pulled up on the slipway make a unique backdrop — photographed from the fondamenta across the Rio di San Trovaso.
Best for a short, characterful stop in a Dorsoduro session, telling the story of the gondola.
Where gondolas are made
The Squero di San Trovaso is one of the oldest boatyards in Venice still building and repairing gondolas. Its wooden buildings look almost alpine, which is unusual in Venice, and they're often linked to the craftsmen from the Dolomites who worked here. With gondolas pulled up on the slipway, it's a rare glimpse of the craft behind the city's symbol.
How to photograph the squero
The squero is a private working yard, not open to the public. We photograph from the fondamenta across the Rio di San Trovaso and never enter. Late-afternoon light falls on the wooden buildings and the boats, which makes it a short, characterful stop that tells the story of the gondola.
Combine it with the Zattere
The squero is a minute from the Zattere, where the session can continue at sunset, and close to the canals of Dorsoduro. The Zattere vaporetto stop is the nearest.
How the squero fits into a session
- Start at the Accademia Bridge.
- Walk along the Rio di San Trovaso to the fondamenta opposite the boatyard.
- A few portraits with the wooden buildings and gondolas behind you.
- Continue to the Zattere for the sunset.
The squero through the seasons
In the late afternoon, the low sun lights the wooden buildings and the slipway, especially in spring and autumn. In summer the canal is lively, with boats and people on the bridges. In winter the scene is quieter, and gondolas waiting for repairs often fill the slipway.
Photo ideas at the boatyard
Stand by the canal with the squero across the water, and include the gondolas on the slipway. A close portrait with the boatyard softly out of focus behind tells the story of where the gondola comes from. Combine it with a gondola ride for a session built around the boat.
Combine it with
The Zattere are a minute away, Dorsoduro offers quiet canals around San Barnaba, and a gondola ride completes the theme.
A short history of the squeri
Venice once had dozens of squeri, small boatyards where gondolas and other traditional boats were built and repaired. San Trovaso is one of the oldest still working, active since the 17th century. Its wooden houses, unusual in a city of stone and brick, recall the mountain origins of many of the craftsmen who worked there.
Getting to the Squero di San Trovaso
The squero is on the Rio di San Trovaso, a minute from the Zattere vaporetto stop. From the Accademia Bridge, it's about five minutes on foot through Dorsoduro.
A gondola-themed session
Start at the squero to see where gondolas are made, then take a gondola ride from a nearby station, and end on the Zattere at sunset. It's a session that tells the story of Venice's most famous boat from start to finish.
If it rains
The squero is best seen in dry weather, but the nearby cafés and the porches of San Trovaso church offer shelter. Rain on the wooden roofs and the canal creates a quiet, atmospheric scene.
What to wear for photos at the squero
The wooden buildings and the dark gondolas suit warm, earthy colours and classic tones: navy, cream, terracotta, burgundy. A white dress stands out beautifully against the dark boats. The fondamenta is flat and easy to walk.
How long to plan for
Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the squero itself. It's best as one stop in a Dorsoduro session that continues to the Zattere and Punta della Dogana, for about an hour and a half in total.
Gondola details worth photographing
If a gondola is on the slipway, look for the details that make it unique: the ferro (the iron prow), the forcola (the carved oarlock) and the asymmetrical hull. They make lovely close-ups to pair with your portraits.
Accessibility and a place to celebrate
The fondamenta opposite the squero is flat, and the Zattere vaporetto stop is a minute away, so it's one of the easiest spots in Dorsoduro to reach. Right next door, one of the city's best-known bacari serves cicchetti and wine to people standing along the canal, with the boatyard in view — a perfect, very Venetian way to end a session.
Tips for a photoshoot at Squero di San Trovaso
- Photograph from the fondamenta opposite the boatyard.
- Combine with the Zattere sunset.
- Never step into the yard — it's a working space.
Squero di San Trovaso: frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Squero di San Trovaso?
It's a working boatyard, not a museum. You can see and photograph it from the fondamenta across the canal.
Where is the Squero di San Trovaso?
In Dorsoduro, on the Rio di San Trovaso near the Zattere.
Are gondolas still made in Venice?
Yes, by hand in a few traditional boatyards like San Trovaso.
How long does it take to build a gondola?
Several weeks of skilled handwork. Each gondola is made to measure and deliberately asymmetrical.
Is the Squero di San Trovaso worth seeing?
Yes. It's a rare glimpse of a traditional craft still practised in Venice, and a beautiful backdrop.
Why are gondolas asymmetrical?
The left side is wider than the right, so the boat stays straight even though the gondolier rows from one side only.
Private working boatyard — view and photograph from across the canal
Dorsoduro, on the Rio di San Trovaso near the Zattere
Wooden workshop, gondolas on the slipway, craft
Moderate
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