Portraits
Venice, Verona, Bologna, Chianti, Roma
12 days/11 nights
Day1 ARRIVAL
22 October 2011
Welcome to Italy! Arrival in VENICE airport and independent transfer to
hotel.
Meeting with Mr. Pietro at hotel in the evening for a welcome cocktail.
Welcome dinner at restaurant.
Overnight at Hotel
Day 2 DISCOVERING VENICE
23 October 2011
After breakfast, meet the local guide and enjoy a fabulous tour of Venice:
The real Venice’s lovers a 4-hour walking tour to discover the classic
Venice as well as new intriguing paths.
You will visit the Cathedral of Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s
palace, fourteenth century building from where the ancient Venetian
republic exerted the control over the city, the famous Bridge of Sighs.
Continue to Castello quarter to discover the hidden secrets of the city,
then explore the Jewish ghetto, one of the most interesting in the world.
Proper attire is required while visiting the Basilica. For security reasons
bags, back-packs, etc. cannot be taken into the Basilica.
The rest of the day will be at leisure
Overnight at hotel
Day 3 CANNAREGIO AND JEWISH GHETTO SAN
GIORGIO MAGGIORE ISLAND AND THE ARMENIAN MONASTERY IN SAN
LAZZARO ISLAND
24 October 2011
Breakfast in hotel. Full day guided tour of the city that include a unique
walk through the popular neighbourhood of Cannaregio in the morning.
This tour includes some monuments, palaces and churches in one of the
ancient but richest area of the town. The famous Jewish Ghetto, the first
in Europe. “Ghetto” is in fact a Venetian word meaning “foundry” because
the Jewish quarter was built replacing a foundry. This name now means
“Jewish District” all over the world. Here you can join a visit of the
Jewish Synagogues with specialized guides.
Lunch at leisure
In the afternoon tour follow with the visit of San Giorgio Maggiore
Looking at the lagoon, from St. Mark’s square, the white shape of a
classical temple appears surrounded by the waters. It is San Giorgio
Maggiore Church, one of the Palladian buildings in Venice, in San Giorgio
island. Also known in the ancient times as the “cypresses island”, it was
first a settlement of a Benedictine community. Far from the crowded St.
Mark’s Square, the island offers a breathtaking sight from the top of the
bell tower, the façade that Venice showed to her visitors coming from the
sea. Then a little jewel of the lagoon, San Lazzaro degli Armeni, this
island, dedicated to San Lazzaro, patron saint of the leprosies, was first a
leper hospital. After a few centuries of decay, at the beginning of the 18th
century, a community of Armenian monks, settled here. They turned the
old buildings in a monastery so that the island became an incredible
cultural centre, important for the collection of books and for the
typography opened in 1789. Overnight at hotel
Day 4 THE VENETIAN VILLAS AND PADOVA
25 October 2011
Breakfast in hotel.
In the morning private transfer to VERONA and en route stop to discover
the Venetian Villas.
This tour is a beautiful opportunity to enter the region that, for many
centuries, belonged to the Republic of Venice. Starting from Venice you
will visit some of the beautiful villas of the noble Venetian families built
along the Brenta Canal, where they enjoyed summertime and also they
got control over their possessions in the mainland. Then the lively Padova,
with the ancient University, the colourful “Piazza delle Erbe” and the
precious “Scrovegni Chapel” with the expressiveness of Giotto frescoes
(this visit has to be reserved in advance). Before arrival to Verona, a last
glance to the bucolic atmosphere in which the great master Palladio, built
classical villas for the pleasure of Venetian nobles.
Dinner at Villa Quaranta
Overnight at Villa Quaranta in Verona
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Day 5 VERONA
26 OCTOBER 2011
Day dedicated to individual visit of the city
Overnight at Villa Quaranta in Verona
Day 6 THE JEWELS OF RENAISSANCE: MANTOVA AND
FERRARA
27 October 2011
In the morning private transfer to Bologna and en route stop in
Mantova and Ferrara Enjoy a walking in MANTOVA, a beautiful, historic
city in northern Italy surrounded on three sides by lakes. It was one of
the greatest Renaissance Courts in Europe and home of the wealthy
Gonzaga family. The town’s center is three spacious and lively piazzas
that join together. In 2008 Mantova became a UNESCO World Heritage
Site based on its Renaissance planning and architecture. Leave
Mantova and move to FERRARA to visit the Estense Castle , originally
fortress and later splendid Renaissance residence of the court; to the
cathedral , un usual and perfect fusion of different styles, Arrival in
Bologna in the evening and accommodation in hotel. Dinner at
Taverna del Postiglione in Bologna. Overnight in Bologna at Majestic
Day 7 BOLOGNA
28 October 2011
Breakfast in hotel. Meet your local guide and start a walking tour of
Bologna and discover why is named: la dotta (the learned) for its
ancient university, la rossa (the red) for the warm color of its roofs
and houses, and la grassa (the fat) for the wonderful food!
Particularly noteworthy is the Piazza Maggiore, which is known for its
vibrancy and charm. Discover the gorgeous Towers and the thousands
of arcades that characterized the city. Afternoon at disposal for
individual visit
Typical dinner at Osteria Broccaindosso in Bologna
Overnight in Bologna at Majestic
“You may have the Universe
if I may have Italy”
Giuseppe Verdi
Day 8 FLORENCE
29 October 2011
Breakfast in hotel and departure to Chianti area with an en
route stop in Florence. Discover why Florence became one of
the greatest art city in the world has ever seen. Immerse in it
and the past and listen medieval stories with a three hour
stroll around Florence’s essential sights. Continue to Chianti
countryside. Dinner in a local farm house Overnight at Borgo
Vescine
Day 9 CHIANTI
30 October 2011
Breakfast in hotel and departure for a special tour to know the
essence of Chianti: Cellars and winery. Discover the art of
winemaking on a private visit to a winery beautifully situated in
the Chianti zone of Tuscany and taste this special product with the
assistant of a sommelier. Dinner at leisure
Overnight in hotel in Chianti at Borgo Vescine
Day 10 SIENA AND SAN GIMIGNANO
31 October 2011
Leave the picturesque Chianti area and move to Rome, with an en
route stop in Siena and San Gimignano and Siena, among Italy’s most
fascinating cities with its typical and splendid gothic Duomo and the
famous “palio”.Overnight in hotel in Regina Baglioni
Day 11 ROME
01 November 2011
Day dedicated to discover Rome on your own
in the evening typical farewell dinner in Trastevere at one of the most
famous historical Restaurant Meo Patacca and enjoy the folkloristic
show
Day 12 DEPARTURE
02 November 2011
Individual transfer to Fiumicino airport
Reservations EMAIL: JESS@FriendsTravel.com
JESS Kalinowsky Professional Travel Consultant
Friends Travel LLP
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