Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 - Abano Terme
Scheduled flight from your preferred airport to Italy – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Terme Roma Hotel at Abano Terme near Padova.
Day 2 – Villa La Rotunda, 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 La 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 exterior of the Basilica Palladiana to see one of the first examples of the Palladian window – the Palazzo Leoni Montanari is home to a wonderful collection of Russian icons and paintings.
Day 3 – 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 – pre-paid 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 4 – Mantova - Palazzo Ducale & Palazzo Te
Travel to Mantova – guided tour of the Palazzo Ducale, once one of Europe’s largest palaces and now housing a wonderful art collection including the frescoes in the ‘Camera degli Sposi’ by Mantegna – visit to the magnificent Palazzo Te and Giulio Romano’s ‘Room of Giants’.
Day 5 – Villa La Malcontenta, Villa Barbaro & Asolo
Guided tour of one of Palladio’s loveliest villas, La Malcontenta, beside the Brenta Canal and decorated with magnificent frescoes by Zelotti – visit Villa Barbaro at Maser designed by Palladio in collaboration with Veronese whose wonderful frescoes adorn the walls – Asolo is arguably one of the most beautiful hill towns in Italy and a town Robert Browning liked so much he named a volume of poems after it.
Day 6 – Abano Terme
Morning free in Abano Terme with time to relax and shop – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
Tour Features
4* hotel
Half board accommodation
All excursions & guided tours included
Professional tour manager
Scheduled flights to Italy
Executive coach in Italy
One free place per 10 paying passengers
Villa La Rotonda
Vicenza - Teatro Olimpico & Basilica Palladiana
Palazzo Leoni Montanari
Padova - guided tour
Giotto’s frescoes at Cappella degli Scrovegni
Mantova - Palazzo Ducale & Palazzo Te
Villa La Malcontenta - guided tour
Villa Barbaro at Maser
Asolo
Spa town of Abano Terme
Hotel
Five nights on half board basis at the 4* Terme Roma Hotel in the charming spa town of Abano Terme near Padova. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
Tailor-make this tour
Your tailor made tour
Here are some more suggested places of interest you might like to include:
- Venice - see The Art & Islands of Venice for details
- Ferrara - one of the region’s greatest walled towns with many attractive streets and medieval houses, a 12th century cathedral and the palaces of the d’Este dynasty
- Palazzo dei Diamante, Ferrara - named after the diamond motifs on its façade, and home to the Pinacoteca Nazionale housing paintings from the Ferrara school from the Middle Ages up to the 18th century
- Verona & The Arena - this beautiful Romanesque city and Shakespeare’s inspiration for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is home to the Arena dating from 1BC and the ornate Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore
Tour Reviews
Reviews for The Art & Palladian Villas of Veneto
I have now had more time to assess our trip to Northern Italy and received comments from my group which were all complimentary: some days were long but manageable with the weather - from a new member the hotel was fine - I echo this as the staff, rooms, food etc, were all first class. Omar the driver was excellent. Lara was excellent too and must have been shattered at the end. So wonderful that Lara had the ability to share her culture with us. Overall everyone had a super time and thanked me profusely at my organising to which I explained how much I work with you guys at TT. Many thanks for all your help over recent months.
RT, Bishop’s Stortford May 2024
We had a great tour of Veneto earlier this month. Another triumph for TT!
DH, Stratford-Upon-Avon October 2023
All back safe and sound from our tour to Northern Italy. Very good trip. Many thanks for all your hard work. The hotel did us proud, food excellent. Welcome drinks and food!!!! Extremely impressive, held in the gardens. Also I had got spare money for extra wine at the dinner in Venice, but our tor manager had money from you which was a very nice touch, much appreciated. The set menu was excellent too. The concert was also excellent. Very pleased but exhausted!
FM, Tarporley September 2019
This is just a quick note to say thank you for all your efforts and those of everyone in Tailored Travel regarding the tour. We had a wonderful time, and are now full up with culture for the foreseeable future. At the end of the trip everyone thanked me for my hard work and organisation, and I was able to sit back receiving the praise, knowing all the time it was nothing to do with me but rather all down to your and Tailored Travel's hard work. Also, if you get the chance to talk to our guide, please convey our thanks to her. She was such a knowledgeable guide, and was so helpful not only in reacting to problems but in foreseeing them so that they would not become an issue. Thank you once again.
SD, Sheffield July 2018
Click here to read a detailed review by the Organiser of the tour by her group of 26 to the Palladian Villas in May 2013.
PH, Radlett May 2013
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor this tour
for your group
Tailor make your group tour
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 3* hotel
- on bed & breakfast basis
- for more (or fewer) days
- include different excursions – see ‘Tailor-make this tour’ tab for suggestions
- include UK airport coach transfers
- bring a specialist lecturer
- include all entrance fees & gratuities
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor make the perfect tour
for your group
