After nine centuries of keeping women on dry land, Venice broke with tradition today by approving its first female gondolier.

Giorgia Boscolo, 23, a mother of two, came through a gruelling course, which included 400 hours of instruction, to enter an all-male club that has resisted admitting women. "I am immensely happy and proud, but today my day starts like every other, taking the children to school," she said. "I've always loved gondolas and unlike my three sisters I preferred to row with my father instead of going out with my friends."

She denied that she would not have the physical strength to manoeuvre ­gondolas, saying: "Childbirth is much more difficult."

Venice introduced a gondoliering course in 2007 after centuries during which the trade was handed down from father to son.

Boscolo's father Dante, also a gondolier, said he still had reservations about his daughter ferrying tourists up the grand canal. "I still think being a gondolier is a man's job, but I am sure that with experience Giorgia will be able to do it easily," he said.

During the six-month course, students learn how to steer their gondolas and must show a perfect knowledge of Venice's canals.

Another woman taking the course, German-American Alexandra Hai, did not pass muster, despite having spent the last 12 years trying to become a gondolier.

Even before the launch of the official course, she took the gondoliers' test four times, blaming examiners for being "overly strict" when she failed. Hai, 42, won a court battle to be able to ferry hotel guests, despite having no official licence, and was employed by a hotel in Venice.