Venice and Florence
Not scheduled for 2009 unless there is demand.
Contact us if you are
interested.
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The Grand Canal |
Our Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrive in Venice ... transfer on your own to our ideally located hotel just a short walk from St. Mark’s. Rest and late afternoon private water taxi tour of the glorious Grand Canal with its magnificent palazzos, the Rialto Bridge and secluded canals. We toast this glorious city with a prosecco, the sparkling white wine that is the champagne of the region.
Day 2
Meet Howard, our American guide par excellence who now lives in Venice. Walking tour of Renaissance Art and Architecture. Afternoon visit to one of Venice's great art museums.
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The Glory Of Venice |
Day 3
Morning visit to the Rialto Market with its amazing displays of fresh fish and vegetables. For lunch, we’ll do as the Venetians do: a stand-up lunch at a couple of Venice’s famous wine bars where we’ll sample various chichetti (hearty snacks) with a glass of wine. Late afternoon cooking class with Mirana in her apartment. Dinner will be the food that we’ve learned to cook.
Day 4
A day visiting the islands of the Lagoon: Burano, the lace island; Torcello for a wonderful lunch, our main meal of the day; and Murano where Venice’s incomparable glass is manufactured. A bellini at Harry’s Bar followed by light dinner at a trattoria.
Day 5
Optional day to do as you wish: shop, visit the Palazzo Ducale, or some of the many museums. We also offer several excursions outside of Venice. Most are a full day and cost approximately $200. Here are some of the possibilities:
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Padua to see the Giotto Chapel. Padua is the home to a famous university and is a delightful city to explore. |
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Palladian Villas ... full day bus tour to see several Palladian Villas. This tour is not always available. Depends on the tour company that runs it. |
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Vicenza ... lots of Palladian architecture and the famous Teatro Olympico. Perhaps you saw this incredible building in the movie Ripley’s Game. |
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Friuli ... famous for its wine and regional cuisine based mostly on Austrian occupation of the area. |
Day 6
Morning express train to Florence arriving about 1:30 p.m. Late afternoon guided tour with Virginia. Her lecture on the David in the Galleria dell’ Accademia is inspiring. Other stops include the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, the Medici Chapel, San Lorenzo Market with its vast array of food and wine; outdoors there are dozens of stalls selling leather, knits, pocketbooks, etc.
Day 7
You will visit the Galleria degli Uffizi on your own. A reservation insures that you will not have to wait on line. This 13th century art gallery features masterpieces by Botticelli (The Birth of Venus), Giotto, Uccello, and many others. Afternoon on your own to wander through the tempting Florence shops and stop at one of its famous cafes for an espresso or a hot chocolate.
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Florence Panorama |
Day 8
Morning private walking tour. Visits to the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, Santa Maria Novella, and Santa Croce. Free afternoon. Farewell dinner at Teatro del Sale, a new theatre dinner club, recently opened by the owner of Cibero, one of Florence’s best restaurants. A sumptuous buffet and a theatre performance are the attractions.
Day 9
Depart for home.
Cost
Our hotel in Venice has a limited number of single rooms. Cost of the tour with single rooms $3,200 (USD); if these are booked, the cost of the tour (for double rooms in Venice) is $3,500 (USD). Price includes 7 nights hotel (no single supplement), 2 meals per day (breakfast and a large lunch or dinner according to our schedule), activities, private tours with guides and museum entrances, train to Florence, vaporetto tickets in Venice. Price does not include airfare to and from your home city, airport transfers, wine and alcoholic beverages, personal expenses, your Optional Day expenses (museum entrances, etc.).
Fly to Venice direct via Delta Airlines (from New York), or connect through Rome or Milan on another airline. You can start your journey home from Florence's airport (about 20 minutes from Florence), or arrange a transfer and fly from Rome. The cost of airfare and airport transfers are not included in the price of the tour. |
