Erla Zwingle
Erla Zwingle has written for dozens of magazines over the past 30 years, primarily National Geographic, to which she has contributed 25 articles as well as writing its Guide to Venice. “I didn’t study journalism,” Zwingle says. “I studied art history, which was the best thing because you get to learn about all sorts of things—just like journalism.” Her idea of a great assignment, she says, is “one in which I discover that all the things I thought I knew when I started turn out to be wrong.” Zwingle took up residence in Venice, Italy, 20-plus years ago after falling in love with a Venetian, who is now her husband. “He taught me to row in the Venetian way,” she says, “and our happy place is anywhere in the lagoon, preferably at low tide. Because of the clams.”
Feature Stories by Erla
- Venice, Gondolas, and Black Magic (writer)
- The Soul of the Italian Shoe (writer & photographer/videographer)
- Women Who Embroider the Air (writer)
- Venice and the High Art of the Mask (writer & photographer/videographer)
- The World’s Greatest Goldbeater (writer)
- The Secrets of an Italian Gelato Master (writer & photographer/videographer)
Sidebars by Erla
- The History of Gold Leaf (writer)
- The Value of Handmade Gold Leaf (writer)
- Gold as a Rejuvenator: Myths and Facts (writer)
- The Life Story of Gold (writer)
- The World of Masks (writer)
- The cordwainer hall of fame (writer)
- How handmade shoes are really made (writer)
- The Quest for Cool (writer)
- The global headquarters of luxury footwear (writer)
- The Hidden Powers of The Forcola (writer)
- The Evolution of Burano Lace (writer)
- The Art of Lace: A Resource Guide (writer)
Galleries by Erla
- View “Building a Gondola” (photographer & writer)
- View “Shoe Fantasies Made Real” (photographer & writer)
- View “Steps to Perfection” (photographer & writer)
- View “How Carlo Setti Makes a Traditional Leather Mask” (writer)
Videos by Erla
Podcasts by Erla
- Listen to “The Secrets of an Italian Gelato Master” (writer)
- Listen to “The Soul of the Italian Shoe” (writer)
- Listen to “The World’s Greatest Goldbeater” (writer)
- Listen to “Women Who Embroider the Air” (writer)
Field Notes by Erla
- Crafting a More Human Future (writer)