Jump in a gondola and explore Venice with Google’s new Street View update

Ah, the life of a Googler. First the Street View team was hiking the Grand Canyon, then climbing to the top of the world’s tallest building and summiting Mount Fuji. Now they’re floating down canals and traipsing historic streets in Venice.

If you’re wondering why it took so long for Google to put together a decent map of one of Italy’s top tourist destinations, it seems the clue is in the streets: since Venice is criss crossed by canals and narrow walkways, Google couldn’t collect comprehensive images the usual way (via car or trike). So it went on the road with its Trekker tech — the portable Android-operated 40 pound (18 kilogram) backpacks which carry a 15-lens camera system and take photos every 2.5 seconds.

The team walked the cobbled streets and even hit the water in a gondola to capture the panoramic images of Venice. According to Street View operations manager Daniele Rizzetto, they covered around 265 miles (426 km) on foot and 114 miles (183 km) by boat.

Some of the attractions and sights Google captured include St. Marks’ Cathedral, the Synagogue of the first Jewish Ghetto and the popular Piazza San Marco — which seems to be playing host to a giant Samsung ad.

Google has also teamed up with the Museo Correr, Museo del Vetro and Ca’ Pesaro – International Gallery of Modern Art to add their historic and artistic insights to the Google Cultural Institute site, which now allows you to compare modern-day Venice with its counterparts in paint and navigate historical maps.