Private Escorted Tours - Venice and Veneto ULIT04

Personal Highlights:

• Standing in the Piazza San Marco and realizing that you are finally in Venice
• Dinner on the verandah of your hotel, a 15th Century palazzo, right on the Grand Canal
• A gondola ride through the back canals of Venice
• Privately guided explorations of Padua and Verona including “ Juliet’s Balcony”
• Admiring the Palladian architecture in Vicenza, Palladio’s birthplace
• Savoring Valpolicella, Bardolino and Amerone on the wine road of the Veneto

Day 1 Depart USA

You board your flight for the overnight journey to Venice where your exploration of the lifestyle of Venice and the Veneto begins.

Day 2 Welcome to Venice

You arrive in Venice in the morning where your guide  is waiting to escort you to your private boat which will take you across the lagoon to the city of Venice. When you arrive in Venice your guide will provide an introductory tour of Venice's waterways, concentrating on the Grand Canal. You will see the former palazzos and homes of the merchant princes before being dropped off at your hotel which is, itself, a former palazzo and located right on the Grand Canal. You disembark and the rest of the day is at leisure to begin your own exploration of Venice or just to relax. This evening have dinner at the hotel on a verandah right on the Grand Canal.

Day 3 Discovering Classical Venice

After breakfast your guide meets you for the start of your walking tour in Venice. You will start in St. Mark's Square. Your first stop will be the Doges Palace where you will learn about the history, art and culture of the Venetian Republic. This former seat of government is richly decorated by some of the most important artists of the 16th Century and this is especially so in the Doge's private apartments which you will also visit. You cross the Bridge of Sighs to see the old prison of the republic before returning to St Mark's square where you enter Saint Mark's Church. This was originally the Doge's private chapel but is now the Venetian cathedral and is a rare example of Byzantine Art with its golden mosaics and the "Pala d'Oro" (Golden Altar), rich in enamels, precious stones and jewels. After lunch near St. Mark's square the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to allow you the chance to explore on your own This evening be our guest for dinner at a charming restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.

Day 4 The Islands of the Venetian Lagoon

You have a leisurely breakfast before your guide  arrives with your own boat to take you out to three of the most notable outlying islands in the Venetian Lagoon . Your first stop will be the island of Murano famous for its magnificent blown glass. You will visit the glass museum and also the old church of San Donato with its fantastic mosaics. Re-boarding your boat you head for the quaint and colorful island of Burano with its multi-colored houses and narrow streets. You will have lunch at a typical restaurant saving room for "bussola" typical biscuits of the island. Your final stop will be Torcello where you visit the oldest church in the area, Santa Maria Assunta and its unique Byzantine mosaics.

Day 5 Exploring the Grand Canal... the Venetian Way

Today your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to the nearby Ca d'Oro Vaporetti stop for a native's way to see the Grand Canal. The vaporetti or (singular) vaporetto is a water bus that provides public transportation around Venice with the number 1 route covering thr Grand Canal. Along with your guide you will take the vaporetto in the direction of the Lido, stopping at several points along the way to inspect the various sestiere or districts of Venice. It is a great way to view the city and meet the locals. After your ride the rest of the day is open. In the early evening, you will board a gondola for a trip through some of the back canals accompanied by a musiciian and a singer. It is a bit touristy but hearing Santa Lucia from the seat of a gondola makes Venice come alive. After the ride we have left this evening open for you to explore the many dining oprions Venice has to offer.

Day 6 Vicenza and the Lagacy of Palladio

After breakfast your guide will pick you up to take you to the mainland where your guide waits to take you into the Veneto. Your eventual destination is an 18th Century country mansion set in a park of formal gardens, rolling hills and cypress trees. Before getting there however you will stop in the town of Vicenza the birthplace of Andrea Palladio and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the buildings in the town are Palladian design including The Rotunda which has inspired buildings as far away as London and Delhi. After enjoying lunch you will also see the Basilica, the Loggia del Capitano and the Teatro Olimpico, Europe's oldest indoor theatre. You will then make the short trip to the Village of Arcugnano where your hotel is located.

Day 7 A Day in Padua and Verona

This morning you will depart for Padua, an ancient Roman city and the site of Italy's second oldest university which, in 1678 graduated Elena Picopia, the first woman graduate in the world. You will have a walking tour visiting Scrovegni chapel decorated by Giotto. You then head to Verona another Roman town particularly famous for two things. First the Arena, an amphitheatre built by the Romans, and still used for outdoor concerts throughout the summer months. The second is Via Capello 27 which was once owned by the Del Cappello or the Capulet family. According to legend, Juliet stood on the balcony as Romeo pledged her eternal love. Whether true or not the city certainly inspired Shakespeare since he also wrote " Two Gentlemen of Verona" about the city. You will have lunch and a walking tour of the city before returning to the hotel.

Day 8 La Strada del Vino

While not as robust as the wines of Tuscany, the wines of the Veneto make up in volume that which they may lack in body. These are wines meant to be drunk young and the world apparently agrees since names such as Soave, Valpolicella, Bardolino and Amerone make this area one of the biggest exporters in Italy. You will follow the "wine road" to enjoy the countryside and visit some of the wineries along the way. Lunch in a country town adds to the pleasure. This evening you toast goodbye to the Veneto with some wines of the region.

Day 9 Return to USA

After breakfast your guide is waiting to take you to the airport for the return flight to the USA arriving back that same afternoon.

Services Included

• 1st Class rail travel as indicated on the itinerary
• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport or rail station at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary
• Baggage handling at all hotels
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)
• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round