Located on over 100 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges, Venice has always been renowned for its aquatic beauty. However, living within this marine setting comes with its own set of inconveniences—specifically, getting around town while dealing with the strong reflection of the sun’s rays off the water surface. To combat this issue, two unique forms of eye protection were born in Venice in the 18th century: the Goldoni and Gondola glasses. Known as “Goldoni’s Glasses” because they coincided during the time of famous Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni, these spectacles were the first in the city with temple sides. The example shown at right was made of horn and featured green glass lenses and silky side protectors (like brocade), providing excellent protection against the sun and wind during navigation. Meanwhile, shaped like a mirror, Gondola Glass was mounted to the gondola (shown above) and contained dark green lenses that protected eyes from the strong reflection off the water surface—a benefit for both the gondoliers and passengers.
