
Pupparin, Mascareta, Caorlina, Gondolino!
Fast boats used exclusively for the Historical Regatta, or traditional work boats, which retain their original shapes.
The Regatta has also been held… Away from home. On June 22, 1884, in fact, on the occasion of the Italian general exhibition in Turin, the Regatta was held on the River Po with the presence of 4 bissone (type of boat) and with a race of 9 gondolini in which the champions of the time took part (Zatta, Zanellato, Valesin, Corradini)
Beautiful boat, very rich in carvings, gilding, velvets, which the Republic used on solemn occasions of public appearances. There is mention of them at the time of the Doge Pietro Tradonico. From the year 1311, the Bucintoro was moved by towing and then by rowing.
The last one was launched on January 12, 1728. It was 34.800 metres long, 7.308 metres wide and 8.352 metres high. The height was divided by a deck into two floors. As the upper part was higher than the immersed one, the boat was not used except when the sea and the sky were still and calm.
It had 42 oars moved by 168 rowers chosen by the Arsenale. The golden parts of this historic ship were barbarously and foolishly burned in 1798 by the French occupiers. The Bucintoro was armed with 4 large cannons to defend the lagoon and then became a prison for the crews and its name changed to ‘IDRA’.
It is uncertain whether ‘Bucintoro’ derives from ‘Bucio’ or ‘Buzo’, a particular boat which once enriched with golden sculptures may have taken the name of ‘Bucio d’oro’ and hence ‘Bucindoro’ and then ‘Bucintoro’; others derive it from the Latin’ ducentorum’ or rather from a ship suitable for two hundred men, a term then transformed into ‘bucentorum’”.