Itinerary
INTRODUCTION
With its huge variety of cultural influences from Southern Italy, Northern Europe and from the East, Venice was designed by its citizens to be a place of exceptional vibrancy and beauty. Its music, art and architecture are exceptionally vibrant and beautiful too, and this tour with its many exclusive visits to locations off the beaten track, private organ recitals, and carefully constructed itinerary, explores one of the richest moments in the history of European culture.
Day 1
Our tour begins with a morning flight with British Airways from London Heathrow to Venice (Manchester flights available at a supplement - enquire for details). On arrival in Venice we meet Peter Medhurst and Viviana Marchesin, our local guide who will accompany us on all transfers and excursions. We transfer by water taxi to the centrally located 4* All'Angelo Art Hotel, located in an ancient 17th century palazzo right in the heart of the city for a four night stay. After a little time to freshen up we take a stroll with Peter around the immediate environs of the hotel, viewing La Fenice, St Mark’s Square, the astronomical clock of the Torre dell' Orologio, the Doges Palace, and enjoy the views across St Mark’s Basin to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. This evening we enjoy an included dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 2
We enjoy a day exploring the connections of Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) with Venice. We visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to explore some of the highlights from its wonderful collection of Venetian art. We then take the Vaporetto to the Arsenale area where you have free time to take lunch in one of the many restaurants. Then it’s on to the Vivaldi Museum at the Ospedale della Pietà, a convent and music school for orphaned girls where Vivaldi was employed on and off between 1703 and 1739. After we have explored the museum and chapel, Peter will give an organ recital, drawing on music by Vivaldi and other composers who worked at this foundation in the early 18th century. Our final visit of the day is to La Fenice, the famous Venetian opera house, includes a guided tour of the theatre, dating back to 1789. The evening is then free to dine out.
Day 3
We then enjoy a full day private boat trip to some of the neighbouring islands of Venice. We visit Torcello, an island barely inhabited (only 10 official residents) and walk to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in 639, to view its mosaics and its atmospheric interior. We then make our way to the island of Burano which, because of its brightly decorated houses lining the waterways, is the most colourful of the islands. We enjoy an included light lunch in one of the local restaurants. We conclude our explorations of the islands with a visit to Murano, famous since 1291 for its glass factories. Here we enjoy a tour of the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato, and listen to a recital by Peter on the small, but very beautiful sounding historic organ. This evening we return to the Basilica of St Mark’s for a private viewing of the magnificent mosaics at night. Covering the domes, walls and floors of the Basilica are over 4,000 square metres of gleaming golden mosaics (the earliest, dating from the 12th century) and in the artificial light the glass gleams magnificently. The evening is free to dine out.
Day 4
Today we go to explore the Rialto which was established in the 9th century and is therefore one of the oldest quarters of Venice. Over the years it became the financial and commercial heart of the city (‘Signor Antonio, many a time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me about my moneys and my usances’). We stroll around the area, taking in the famous bridge, the churches of San Giovanni Elemosinario, San Giacomo di Rialto and the market. After time for lunch, and by way of contrast, we spend the afternoon in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection which is among the most important museums in Italy for European and American art of the first half of the 20th century. The rest of the day is free at leisure. This evening there will be an optional farewell dinner at a carefully selected restaurant.
Day 5
This morning we visit the Doges Palace. Located at the entrance to St Mark’s Square, the palace is from where the Venetian Republic was once ruled. In the afternoon, we transfer by private water taxi to Venice Airport for our British Airways flight back home.
Tour Features
Private organ recitals by Peter in Venetian churches
Viviana Marchesin, professional guide, on all transfers & excursions
All excursions, entrance fees & guided tours included
Centrally located 4* hotel
Welcome dinner included
British Airways flights from London Heathrow to Venice (Manchester flights available at a supplement - enquire for details)
Return water taxi transfers in Venice between the airport & hotel
Included Vaporetta ticket for the whole tour
Listening headsets
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Church & museum of the Ospedale della Pietà
La Fenice - guided tour
Islands of the Venetian Lagoon - private boat trip
Private evening viewing of the mosaics at St Mark’s Basilica
Tour of the Rialto - Rialto bridge, the churches of San Giovanni Elemosinario & San Giacomo di Rialto & the market
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Doges Palace
Farewell dinner
Hotel
We stay for four nights at the 4* All'Angelo Art Hotel (www.allangelo.it) located in an ancient 17th century palazzo, just 50 metres from St Mark’s Square and the Doges Palace. All rooms are en suite. Dinner is included at a local restaurant on the first evening. The remaining three nights are on bed and breakfast basis.
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Click Here to download the Brochure and Booking Form and then post the completed Booking Form with your deposit payment as instructed on the Booking Form. Please note that you cannot book this holiday online. Once you receive a Confirmation & Invoice from us as confirmation of your booking, you can pay the final balance by following the instructions set out in your Confirmation & Invoice.
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Tailor make your group tour
If you are a Group Organiser and think you can get a group of 15 or more, we can tailor make your own tour exclusively for your group.
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020 7064 4970
to tailor make the perfect tour
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