Although river navigation may seem secondary to maritime navigation, it has always required great skill and experience.
The barcari were experienced navigators and tireless workers who, from dawn to dusk, plied the canals of the Veneto region for centuries, transporting goods, people, and news, especially to Venice and the Lagoon.
The crew of burci and barges usually consisted of three people: the capobarca or paròn de barca, the sailor (marinèro) and the apprentice, called toso de barca, often belonging to the same family.
The life of the barcarians took place almost entirely on board, away from home for long periods and with rare contact ashore, limited to stops at ports along the route.
With the arrival of railroads and motorboats, this profession gradually disappeared; however, the last barcarians have preserved and passed on the memory of their world, contributing to the creation of the Museum of River Navigation.
