A flat-bottomed boat suitable for navigating in shallow waters, used in the salt pans of Cervia until the 1960s to transport salt.

The name comes from Venetian “burchio” with which it shares the flat bottom, the commercial use and, in some situations, towing from the canal bank. Venice has had a great influence on the area of Cervia, especially from the 1300s to the 1500s. It is probable that at this time, the burchiella made its appearance and took its name, but the boat differentiates itself from the Venetian burchio for several things. It is smaller, has no eyes, sails or cabins. The burchiella has always been much basic and with an identical bow and stern, to be more manageable in the narrow canals of the salt pans in which, at times, it was not possible to make the boat turn 360°.

Created to transport salt, the burchiella was also used to transfer other items, such as building material for construction of the new town and corpses in case of funerals.

The first burchielle were made of wood. From 1927 approximately, they were replaced by burchielle in iron, which are more resistant and less subject to maintenance. Since 1959, year of transformation of the salt pan and of the type of production that became mechanised, the burchielle were no longer used and were sold to obtain the iron value.

Once the salt produced during the salt season was loaded, the burchiella moved towards the warehouses with the strength of the arms of one or two salt workers who dragged it from the canal banks while one on board guided it with a long oar. It could transport up to 10 tons of salt.