Perhaps no two places capture the Italian spirit as well as Venice and Verona. The former has served as a hallmark of culture and art, known as the spiritual home of the Opera itself, where artists like Vivaldi and Wagner debuted their most treasured works. From its famed courtesans to the dreamy gondolas floating along the canals, Venice is an icon of Italian sensibilities where you’ll explore famous landmarks by day and also experience lush private gardens, mysterious medieval crypts, and ornate cathedrals after dark, when other tourists are not allowed inside. Verona is that fair place where William Shakespeare set the scene for Romeo and Juliet to meet their destiny and their doom. An ancient city, well loved by its many inhabitants and invaders, has become a living memory book with its long and varied history present around every cobbled turn on each vine-covered lane. Explore the famous stories and uncover the hidden mysteries of Italy as you tour these two cities, and if you’re so inclined, finish off with Florence on the optional extension.
Degree of Difficulty –
Your journey begins as you board your overnight flight to Venice where you will be transferred to the hotel by private water taxi. Enjoy a guided tour of classic Venice this afternoon, including St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and enjoy a gondola tour. Tonight, gather in the city center for a wine and food tasting in an osteria with the inn keeper. HOTEL GIORGIONE.
(Meals Aloft; D)
Spend the first half of the day visiting some of the major landmarks in Venice, including the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, and the famous Fenice Theatre, twice risen from the ashes like its namesake the Phoenix. This landmark theater was the preferred opera debut venue for such legendary composers as Wagner and Verdi. In the afternoon, head out to Giudecca Island, an enclave of horticulture where local monks cultivate a variety of produce, including olive trees, kiwi, and grapes. Back in Venice, visit the Palazzo Zenobio before returning to the hotel to refresh yourself before tonight’s once-in-a-lifetime excursion. Enter St. Mark’s Basilica after closing time to the public, without lines or crowds and into areas usually forbidden from the public, including the crypt where the bones of St. Mark himself are said to be kept. Tonight, enjoy a performance at the Fenice Theatre. HOTEL GIORGIONE.
(B, L)
This morning will be devoted to the legendary composer Richard Wagner, who considered Venice a second home. See the palace where Wagner died in 1883; here, a museum has been established in his honor housing a collection of priceless artifacts, including letters, paintings, musical scores, and family heirlooms. Cross the Scalzi Bridge, where Wagner caught his first sight of Venice. Enjoy a private tour by the owner of Palazzo Zeno and its spectacular garden before lunch, which will feature an authentic Bacaro Tour: taste Venetian cicchetti and tapas with a glass of wine in hand! After lunch, tour the medieval Scuola Grande di San Marco, a place of artistic and historical significance. Return to your hotel to rest and refresh before drinks at the Sky Bar of Hotel Hilton Molino Stucky, which provides an incredible aerial view of Venice, and then dinner in a restaurant at Giudecca Island with beautiful views of the Venice Lagoon. HOTEL GIORGIONE.
(B, L, D)
Today is devoted to Vivaldi, yet another iconic composer who lived and worked in Venice. You will visit the Pieta Institute and Church, once a convent orphanage where Vivaldi taught the orphans violin and served in various capacities at the school for almost 40 years. After lunch, head on to the Church of Derelitti, a 500-yearold former hospital and worshiping grounds with a staggering collection of artwork, including its ornate golden organ. HOTEL GIORGIONE.
(B,L)
After breakfast, travel to Padua for a half day guided walking tour of the city. Enjoy the magnificent frescoes hiding within an unassuming façade at the Scrovegni Chapel, painted by Giotto and his followers, a founding figure in the Renaissance movement. These tableaux, painted on the interior of the church, are the first instance in Western painting of blue skies. Also visit the second oldest university in Italy, Bo Palace, where greats such as Galileo, Dante, and Petrarch studied. Your walking tour will continue through several famed cafes and plazas as you make your way toward the Botanical Gardens of Padua, the world’s first botanical garden and a place of great beauty and scientific value still today. After lunch, proceed to Verona, the city where Romeo and Juliet fell in love. Tour the 14th century Castelvecchio Museum, with contributions from the many rulers of the city of Verona over the centuries. Tonight, enjoy a performance at the Arena di Verona. HOTEL ROSEO LEON D’ORO.
(B, L)
Start your morning with a walk through the streets of Verona, a city that has stood for over a thousand years. See the legacy of the Romans, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and beyond in the bricks and columns of the city. In the afternoon, take a private coach to Valpolicella, a region of winelands that have produced high quality vino since the days of Ancient Rome. You will visit a winery and experience a tasting before exploring the Roman Ruins nearby. En route back to Verona, stop by the Oil Museum to enjoy a presentation on the culture and cultivation of olive oil. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner in a typical restaurant and reminisce about your adventure. HOTEL ROSEO LEON D’ORO.
(B, L, D)
Bid farewell to Verona as you head back to Venice to catch your flight home. While you may leave behind the delights you encountered here in Italy, the experience will remain with you forever.
(B, Meals Aloft)
Prices vary by season and package. Please inquire by phone at (800) 627-1244 or email info@classicescapes.com for more information and a pricing estimate.
Note: Opera season for this program is only in July, however this program can be offered year-round for groups
or individuals who are interested in this itinerary, but not necessarily on the opera element. Contact us for pricing
during other times of the year.
YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES:
- All ground transfers and excursions in private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach.
- Continental breakfast daily, a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner and other meals as per itinerary. (B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)
- Superior accommodations throughout as indicated or similar.
- All museum and attraction entry fees indicated on itinerary.
- Two performances – one at the Fenice Theatre in Venice and the other at the Arena di Verona.
- Porterage for baggage handling
- Complimentary baggage tags and passport wallet.
- Complimentary emergency evacuation insurance.
With so many Italian offerings, you must wonder when is a good time to travel. Here’s a synopsis.
- On our National Parks program, the parks are only accessible because of weather conditions during the summer months with best time being mid-July through September, which is also quite sunny, hot and gorgeous for water activities. Our program does include opportunities to experience the great outdoors and beautiful grottoes, from the mountains of central Italy to Rome and
Naples. - The Umbria Jazz Festival takes place every year in July and also in December. The program can be offered year-round as it covers a picturesque part of Italy, but if music is your passion, then it needs to be in July or December.
- The Verdi festival is in October and Puccini in September. Here, too, you can offer the programs year-round, but Italy, in general, is best visited in April-June and September/October, in order to avoid heat and also crowds.
- Similarly, the Venice & Verona program features Opera; the Verona Music Festival takes place from end of June through the end of August and some performances will also take place at the renowned Fenice Theatre in Venice. The program can be offered year-round if music is not the main feature.
- The South of Italy and the archaeological sites can be visited at any time, although best months would be April-June and September-October to avoid the heat of the summer. The temperatures during this time would be in the 70’s ideal weather for viewing the temples, or visiting the beach, or hiking. The summer months could see temperatures in triple digit, and the winter months would be in the 50’s.
- The rest of our programs are best in April-June and September/October for the reasons stated above, particularly avoiding the heat, especially if the program includes hiking.
