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Venice to rebuild it's Golden Barge
A golden barge that once symbolised Venice's maritime power, is to be rebuilt 200 years after it was destroyed by Napoleon.
The Bucintoro of Venice, features in a Canaletto painting in its 18th century glory currently hangs in the Bowes Museum, County Durham
More than 200 shipbuilders, woodcarvers and jewellers will start work in the city's historic Arsenale shipyard in March on rebuilding the historic barge.
The Bucintoro, the name probably derives from "burcio" a type of Venetian barge and "d'oro", meaning golden, was first built around 1300. As Venice grew rich new versions were built culminating in a extraordinary 35 metre long barge that was constructed in 1728 and powered by 168 oarsmen and 40 sailors.
The Bucintoro was used on Ascension Day, when the Doge would cast a gold ring from its deck into the Adriatic to renew the "marriage" between Venice and the sea.
When Napoleon conquered the city in 1798, he ordered the Bucintoro to be destroyed, to symbolise his victory. The ship burned for three days and it took 400 mules to carry away the gold inside it.
This article was written for TravelSavvy Europe by Val Adams. For more information see: Venice - Gondolas. If you know of an interesting European travel related news story, please get in contact.
