Day 1 - Malcesine

Scheduled flight to Milan - transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 3* Hotel Antonella at Malcesine on the eastern shore of Lake Garda.

Day 2 - Lake Garda

Tour of Lake Garda combining both coach and boat and a lovely way to see the real beauty of the Lake and its villages including Sirmione, home to Maria Callas, Limone and Gardone Riviera.

Day 3 - Verona & San Zeno Maggiore

Guided tour of Romanesque Verona, Italy’s fourth classical city, home to the Arena dating from the 1st century BC and Shakespeare’s inspiration for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ - visit the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, built between 1123 and 1135 to house the shrine of Verona’s patron saint and regarded as the finest Romanesque church in northern Italy.

Day 4 - Venice & Gallerie dell’Accademia

Pre-booked boat transfer into Venice along the Giudecca Canal - guided tour of the Gallerie dell’Accademia to introduce us to the wonderful collection of Venetian art from the 14th to 18th century including works by Titian, Carpaccio, Tintoretto and Veronese - rest of the day is free to explore Venice and you may choose to visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal or your tour manager can organise an optional gondola ride.

Day 5 - Vicenza & Palazzo Leoni Montanari

Guided tour concentrating on the architecture of Andrea Palladio and beginning with an outside viewing of the domed and porticoed Villa Rotunda, the most famous of Palladio’s buildings - continue to the great Palladian city of Vicenza for a tour of a number of his palaces and civic buildings including the Teatro Olimpico, Europe’s oldest surviving indoor theatre designed by Palladio in 1579, and the Basilica Palladiana - guided tour of the Palazzo Leoni Montanari, home to a wonderful collection of Russian icons and paintings.

Day 6 - Padova & Cappella degli Scrovegni

Guided tour of Padova, one of Italy's oldest university towns, taking in the Basilica di Sant’Antonio and Donatello’s magnificent reliefs on the miracles of St Anthony, the Café Pedrocchi, a famous intellectual meeting place dating from 1831, the Piazza delle Erbe and the Jewish Quarter - prepaid visit to the Cappella degli Scrovegni to see Giotto’s beautiful frescoes depicting the life of Christ which became a powerful influence on the development of European art - rest of the day at leisure.

Day 7 - Milan

Free time at leisure in Milan to explore the magnificent Gothic Doumo, stroll up to La Scala and view its museum or just enjoy the shopping - travel to Milan Airport for our scheduled flight home.

Six nights on half board basis at the 3* Hotel Antonella at Malcesine on the eastern shore of Lake Garda. Located a five minute walk from the town centre and just 250 metres from the Lake, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, garden and a sun terrace.

Single room supplement £79

Insurance

Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65’s)

Gratuities

Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:

• stay at a 4* hotel
• on bed & breakfast basis
• with fewer or different excursions - you may prefer a day to relax on the Lake
• for more (or fewer) days
• bring your own specialist lecturer
• include all entrance fees & gratuities