THE gondoliers of Venice have been told to strip their craft of “kitsch and glitz” and restore their original elegantly austere and predominantly black 16th-century look.

The Venetian Gondoliers’ Association, backed by the city council, has issued guidelines telling its members to remove plush multicoloured cushions, garish rugs, phosphorescent paint, fairy lights and other “tacky and tasteless” decoration and ornamentation.

Roberto Luppi, the head of the association, said that most of his members agreed that efforts to attract tourists had gone too far.

“I’m glad tradition has prevailed,” he said. “It shows that gondoliers are serious about keeping up the high standards of our calling. Clients often prefer a flamboyant craft but the gondola has a history and characteristics that must be upheld.”

He added: “At one time it would not have been necessary to issue such rules; they were implicitly obeyed. It was a question of culture. But times change.

“We have to remind everyone that this is Venice, not Las Vegas.”

Under the new rules, the gold leaf that has increasingly tended to cover seat backs and other fittings will be stripped off. Gondola interiors will go back to being black, dark blue or bordeaux, and seat cushions will have to be made of plain leather.

The only exceptions will be for a small number of special “ceremonial boats” used for occasions such as weddings, which have ornate wooden cabins to ensure privacy.

The 425 gondoliers of Venice can continue to wear straw boaters with a red or blue ribbon and a red or blue striped mariner’s shirt.

Those who violated the guidelines would lose their licence, Michele Vianello, the deputy mayor, said.

He added that the council had agreed to take action to reduce motorised traffic on the canals, which created waves that damage both canalside palazzos and gondolas.

The city is also starting six-month apprenticeships for aspiring gondoliers “to make sure new generations are not just skilled boatsmen, but also know their culture”.

The course includes Venetian art and history as well as boating skills.

Traditionalists have also intervened over the singers who sometimes serenade couples riding in gondolas with romantic songs as they glide under the bridges.

The association has urged the singers to offer customers traditional Venetian songs rather than O Sole Mio, which is not Venetian at all but Neapolitan.

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