Local Expert
Bradley Harden
Living the Sweet Life in a Fantasy Land
I was born in Missouri, but grew up in Minnesota where I was exposed to true winter and the health benefits of shoveling A LOT of snow. After graduating from…
Living the Sweet Life in a Fantasy Land
I was born in Missouri, but grew up in Minnesota where I was exposed to true winter and the health benefits of shoveling A LOT of snow. After graduating from high school I attended Northwest Missouri State University for 2 years and then transferred to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music and earned a degree in Music Business and Management. After deciding that a desk job simply wasn't my thing at this point in my life, I set out to see what the world had to offer. I found a wonderful little town a few miles southwest of Venice called Padova. This small, university town truly captures all of the ideas, visions, sights, and sounds of what you think Italy should be...except the gondolas, that is left for Venice.
I enjoy a lot of different things. Travel is obvious. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe in the years since arriving, trying to see as much as I can. This, of course, includes a vast amount of Italy. I have had a wonderful time experiencing the culture with real Italians that have taken me to the places that you can not find in any guidebook and that are not on any map. During the spring and summer I work as a liaison for travelers; helping them find their way from the airport or train station to their hotels and helping them navigate through Venice or surrounding area to see things that are off the beaten path. Of course, if it’s your first time you need to see the important historical things, but if you’ve been before perhaps a day of ‘live like a local’ is more your thing. I always find a huge amount of pleasure and satisfaction from seeing a city that I know very well through the eyes of someone who is experiencing it for the first time. When this happens I, too, see the city for the first time and I realize that the magic never left.
In addition to all of this, I also enjoy movies, most types of music, going out for a “spritz” in the piazzas during the evenings with friends, and since I’m living in Italy eating AMAZING food and drinking a GREAT glass of wine come almost automatically. This is the definition of "Having your cake and eating it too."
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Mommy, Where do Gondolas come from?
It's an old question, one that ranks up there with, "should we have chicken or fish for dinner?" It is definitely something that I never considered, where do gondolas actually come from? Part of me knew that there must be a factory somewhere, but I didn't think that I'd actually discover the answer.
However, while I was walking through the Dorsoduro area of Venice the other day I came across the birthplace of every gondola on the Grand Canal. Well, not actually EVERY one, but in my estimation probably a majority. It's quietly tucked away on the Rio San Trovaso, just off to the south side of San Trovaso church. This is one of the very very few surviving gondola workshops in Venice and the craftsmanship of these vessels is a testament to the pride that each craftsman puts into his trade.
At any given time, there appears to be a number of gondolas (usually about 4) in line for service or being built. If you're lucky you'll be able to see one of these elegant boats turned upside down, exposing the extensive flat bottom that makes them so versatile and stable on the waters in the canals.
After visiting the Gondola factory, I suggest continuing up the side of the canal and visiting the church at the end of the road. Movie buffs will know this church from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!
If you would like to contact me directly about this, or any other event in Venice or northern Italy, visit me HERE.