La Gondola, Providence

Recognized by their signature striped shirts, straw hats, and long sculling oars, the gondolieri of Venice paint an indelible picture of the canal city's romantic charms. However, their reach extends far beyond Italy and all the way to Providence, where Marcello and his boatmen at La Gondola pilot the same flat-bottomed boats found in Italy's most famous waterways. Each of his Venice-built gondolas gleams with intricately-wrought ornaments and solid brass trim, and at 36 feet, they comfortably ferry the gondolier and his guests on trips along Providence's riverfront.

Like their traditional Italian cousins, the gondolieri at La Gondola are well-versed in the songs and stories that made these boat rides an institution in the first place, and always tailor their trip details to meet passengers' dreams and desires. In addition to putting these special touches on every trip, Marcello and his boatmen also help passengers take a close-up glimpse of one of the riverfront's most talked-about events: WaterFire, the evening flame festival that illuminates the waterways with the cheery glow of bonfires, torch-lit vessels, and braziers set along the shore.