Day 1 - Arrive Venice

Arrive into Venice by air, cruise ship, rail or road. You are privately transferred to your hotel by individual water taxi or group transfer with luggage transferred by separate barge. 

Reception with private check-in and hospitality desk. Gifts and resources provided in-room prior to check-in as required.

This evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner at La Fenice Theatre. The opera house and music theatre, situated in a secluded yet picturesque little square, was inaugurated in 1792 after its predecessor was burnt down in 1774, then again 62 years later in 1836. In 1996 La Fenice burnt down for a third time succumbing to the same fate that befell it 160 years prior. La Fenice is often referred to as a "jewel box of a theatre" and understandably so. Enjoy a performance by Venice’s finest artists before a glittering reception and dinner in the Appollinee room.

Overnight: Hotel Bauer

Meal Plan: D

Day 2 - Venice

There are a number of optional activities:

1) Mask making in Venice
Get creative learning the art of Venetian mask making. The use of masks is first mentioned around 1268 and there are various theories as to their use. Firstly, Venice’s immoral population was given even more liberty to commit revelry under the disguise of masks as the various antics could not be traced back to the perpetrator. Further, with morals so declined public health was an issue and disease widespread. Masks hid bad skin and teeth, whilst ornate wigs disguised heads made bald through ill health. Masks put all levels of society on an equal footing and people could enjoy each other’s company without social footing intervening. Today, masks are still a tradition seen each Carnival season. Your session will include choosing a mask from a variety of shapes and decorating it in your own unique style for your Carnival this evening.

2) Maritime crossroads between East and West
Your tour begins in a little corner of Greece, San Giorgio dei Greci, built in the early 16th to become the oldest and first Greek Orthodox Church in the West. Continue to the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, site of the Dalmatian community, a small gem decorated with canvasses by Carpaccio.

3) A city of merchants and churches
Your tour begins with a stop at the famous Rialto market. Take a brief stroll around this busy local market, look at the stalls of fish, vegetables and fruit, while discovering the ancient edicts aimed at controlling commercial trade. The Rialto market – once the centre of commercial and financial activity - is still a fascinating place full of colour and history. Through a maze of alleyways you reach Campo San Polo, a much quieter and peaceful area of the city. Continue to the Frari Church, the most imposing example of religious Gothic architecure where you can admire Titian’s masterpiece The Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

4) The Dorsoduro district – the gondola builders of Venice
Travel by boat to the Dorsoduro district to visit a lesser known district of Venice. Halfway along the breadth of the Dorsoduro is the Squero di San Trovaso where skilled craftsmen have been building and repairing gondolas for centuries. From here you will be transferred a short distance for a lesson in steering a boat ‘Gondoliere’ style. Your lesson will take place in a ‘sandolo’, a traditional boat commonly found on the Venice lagoon and used for everything from fishing to regattas. The name of the boat, a originates from the ‘sandalium’ a flat shoe once traditionally worn in Venice.

This evening attend a masked ball at Palazzo Pisani Moretta.
The Palazzo Pisani Moretta is one of the most enchanting 15th century palazzi of Venice, situated on the Grand Canal halfway between the Rialto Bridge and the Ca' Foscari vault. The journey to the palazzo will be a once in a lifetime cruise along the Grand Canal by gondola. Once inside, the palace will be lit only by candlelight for a truly authentic experience. The Palazzo Pisani Moretta is unique in being the only venue in Venice which allows music and dancing. Tonight re-enact the elegant masked balls of Venice in a venue that was once playground to Casanova and Caravaggio. Costume hire will be arranged for authenticity and those who have created their own masks may show off their creations.

Overnight: Hotel Bauer

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Depart Venice

Group or individual departure arrangements after breakfast.

Meal Plan: B