Our gondolier, dressed in the traditional striped shirt and flat, straw hat, smiled at us as he paddled the gondola away from the dock.
If this image conjures up a gondola trip on one of the ubiquitous canals in Italy, you would be completely wrong.
We were enjoying our lovely gondola experience on the Providence River in Providence, Rhode Island.
Yep. Rhode Island.
La Gondola, although located in the most unlikely place for a gondola tour, provides a wonderful introduction to the city as you are paddled along the lovely Providence River.
In the morning, ready for our unique adventure, we trekked down to the river and the La Gondola dock.
The river walk near the dock.
Where to catch your gondola tour.
The gondola was just returning from a cruise. We really had no idea what to expect when we booked the tour, but the gondola was beautiful and the cruise looked so peaceful, we were more than ready to hop on!
Our first view of our gondola.
Pulling into the dock.
The gorgeous gondola we used is one of three in their fleet, all of which are paddled by experienced gondoliers who have been extensively trained in the art of paddling the river using long, thin paddles to propel the gondolas. Our gondola had been extensively restored in 2010, after being constructed in Venice by Tramontin, the foremost gondola builder in the city, approximately 35 years ago.
It was built as a wedding gondola, and brought to America over 30 years ago. It had been previously used by an event coordinator for Italian-themed events, and cut into three pieces to make it easier to get into and out of banquet facilities, although there was no evidence that it has ever been in more than one piece! The gondolas has beautiful, hand-sculpted ornaments and steel trim, giving it silver accents. The bow and stern are carved with mythological deities and sea creatures, and it also bears two plates with a Venetian expression: “Cocai in laguna, burasca in mar; dove no se crede, l’aqua rompe,” (translation: safety in the lagoon, stormy in the sea; where one does not believe, the water breaks [him.])
The gondolas are all 36 feet in length and about 5 feet across at their widest points. They weigh approximately 1,800 pounds and seat up to six passengers. Each is powered by one man, the gondolier, and a 14 foot oar.
Beautiful, carved ornaments.
We were welcomed and helped aboard by Marcello, who is the owner of La Gondola. Friendly and personable, Marcello made our tour a perfectly lovely experience. We stepped into the roomy and comfortable gondola which was complete with comfy seats, a carpet for steady footing, along with fresh-baked cookies and iced bottles of water, which were perfect for the warm summer afternoon.
View from our seats.
Enjoying our first gondola cruise.
Marcello grew up canoeing with his family on the lakes and ponds of northwestern Rhode Island, graduated from Ponaganset High School and moved on to study history and biology at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. At Lehigh he joined the crew (rowing) team and started work as a gondolier in early June, 1999, the summer after his junior year of college.
Becoming a teacher after college allowed Marcello to keep rowing each summer, and after 8 seasons of working for his former employers, “Marco” and Cynthia, he purchased two of their gondolas and La Gondola Providence was born. He has been even more of a mainstay on the river ever since, training an excellent set of new gondoliers along the way, singing at every opportunity, and both marveling at and showing off the amazing renaissance undergone by the city of Providence. Marcello says “I am not a businessman. I’m a gondolier. I bought this company simply so I’d be able to row forever, and it’s been worth every penny.”
He seems to honestly love his job and was especially thrilled when we visited because he and his wife were expecting a new baby any minute!
After we were settled and acquainted, Marcello paddled us out onto the river were we literally glided along on top of the water for one of gentlest and most peaceful cruises we have ever taken.
Marcello visits before we set out.
Marcello narrated our tour, explain the history of Providence and some of what we were seeing. Seeing Providence from the gondola was an amazing experience. Noises of the city were so muted, they were not even noticeable and we skimmed along the river, enjoying the sights.
We slipped past the walk along the river, office buildings and restaurants, and people strolling along the river.
Heading down the river.
Flowers beside the river.
We passed under several bridges and one of the first had big piles of firewood under it. We couldn’t imagine what it was for until Marcello told us about WaterFire, an art installation created by artist Barnaby Evans which consists of dozens of braziers that are floating in the middle of Providence’s three rivers which are filled with wood and lit on fire. The fires are lit around dusk, and the braziers are fed by a small army of volunteers and staff over the course of the evening, utilizing the piles of firewood we saw under the bridges. Music plays, people stroll the river walk, and the entire experience must be wonderful.
Firewood for WaterFire
Marcello surprised us as he paddled under one of the bridges and broke out into a beautiful Italian song. It echoed under the bridge with a haunting melody that provided the perfect accompaniment to our first gondola experience.
Marcello preparing to surprise us with a song.
Slipping under the bridges.
We were a little sad to head back to the dock when our gondola tour ended but agreed that it was one of the most interesting and enjoyable experiences we have ever had. Marcello and La Gondola offer group tours, and weddings, in addition to their regular tours. Marcello is licensed to perform marriages so you can get married on one of the gondolas! Their season runs from April – November and you can make reservations online or just give them a call. Which I strongly recommend you do.
Because, seriously? A gondola tour in Rhode Island? You know you have to try this!
Full disclosure: Our tour was provided by La Gondola but as always, we will share our honest opinions about any travel experiences we have.
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