The making of the gondola
From my book, published in 2009: A masterpiece of nautical engineering, an extravagant design that laughs in the face of logic and rules: the gondola
The workshop of a chaplain in Venice
Baretèri
They are the chaplains who make the gondolier summer hats and winter caps. Historically in Venice...
Brass horses for the gondola
brass workers and melters
In Venice the brass workers are called “Ottonai” and they work on some specific parts of the...
The gold feaf
craftsmen of gold leaves
From the eastern lands, and from ancient civilizations the “Battiloro” handicraft was transmitted to Egyptians and....
The blacksmith working on the front part of a gondola
Blacksmiths
One of the symbols of the gondola and of Venice itself is for sure the metal piece that you can see at...
A shoe with a gondola’s shape
shoemakers
In Venice the special shoes for the gondoliers are made by shoemakers called“Caleghéri”. The “gondoliers’ shoe” has…
The gilder in his workshop
gilders
The gilders (the "Indoradòri" in Venice) are the craftsmen who apply the gold leaves made by the...