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// A touch of Venice

Nina Cuccurullo sent us this photo of her father in a gondola. Nina’s father told her the photo was taken at Wellington Zoo where gondola rides were one of the attractions in the 1950s. Her father did not know how the gondola got there, but Nina has since found out that the gondola was a gift from the Italian government and the “gondoliere” for Sunday outings was Pasquale Moreno, a fisherman of Island Bay. Pasquale learned to guide the gondola from his time as a sea cadet in Venice. Nina says the gondola has long since disappeared and was thought to have sunk to the bottom of the lake, which now no longer exists. The gondola was originally brought to Wellington for an Italian fashion show at Kirkcaldie & Stains department store in Lambton Quay. Pictured are Liberato Vinaccia, left, Pasquale Moreno, Raffaele Esposito, unidentified woman, Mattia Amitrano, Antonio Cuccurullo (Nina’s father), Salvatore Amitrano and Carmine Di Leva. All are from the Island Bay Italian community.

History Corner

en-nz

2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282621741850004

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