Venice and the Veneto
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Dear Friends,
Enjoy:
We will lodge two nights in Venice, four nights in Abano and three nights in Treviso. |
Experience a land of canals and artisan crafts. Visit Palladian villas. Luxuriate at a thermal spa resort. Delight in the tastes of Asiago cheese, tiramisu from Treviso and Italian prosecco from Val Dobbiadine. |
A Brief Itinerary
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Day One | Tuesday, May 8
We start our day with a walking tour of Venice. After lunch, we visit the famous Venetian mask shop “La Bottega dei Mascareri” to see how these iconic fantastical masks are made. The rest of the afternoon you are free to explore and dine in Venice |
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Day Two | Wednesday, May 9
Our own private water taxi will take us down the Grand Canal to the island of Murano for a glass blowing demonstration. We then visit the fisherman’s island of Burano famous for its lace making and colorful homes. We will enjoy our last evening in Venice together for dinner. |
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Day Three | Thursday, May 10
We visit the sumptuous Villa Pisani – a mini Versailles - in Stra on the River Brenta. It is where Mussolini met Hitler for the first time. Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel in Padua once visited by Michelangelo, Da Vinci & Raphael for inspiration, is our next stop before we check into our hotel in Abano. |
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Day Four | Friday, May 11
The destination today is Vicenza and Palladio’s famous palaces including the Teatro Olimpico. This World Heritage Site is the first enclosed theatre in the world. After lunch, we head to a “caseificio” – a cheese factory – for a look at how the famous “Grana Padano” is made and for a tasting. |
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Day Five | Saturday, May 12
The medieval hilltop town of Monselice and its castle in the Euganean Hills with their distinctive and extinct volcanic peaks is our destination We will spend the afternoon enjoying the gardens of the Villa Barbarigo in Valsanzibio and walk a labyrinth! |
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Day Six | Sunday, May 13
A day of total R&R in Abano. Take time to enjoy the thermal baths, take a spa treatment or go biking. Hop a bus and explore the local working monastery of Praglia, where monks restore books or go into Padua to walk under its arcades and enjoy an Aperol spritz in one of its squares. |
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Day Seven | Monday, May 14
Prepare yourself for a shopping spree in Nove, a town known for its ceramics for hundreds of years. It supplies companies like Williams Sonoma and Tiffany’s. The afternoon is dedicated to enjoying Bassano del Grappa, set at the foot of the Alps, famous for its Ponte Vecchio by Palladio and its grappa. |
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Day Eight | Tuesday, May 15
Tuesday is for Treviso. where it’s market day. This water city is famous as the home of Benetton fashion, radicchio and tiramisu. The afternoon is spent putting on aprons and learning how to make the specialties of the Veneto. |
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Day Nine | Wednesday, May 16
After a leisurely morning we head for the vineyards of Val Dobbiadene, famous for Italian prosecco. Besides enjoying the beauty of the rolling hills, a light lunch and a tasting await. Our last night will be spent at the Villa reminiscing about the wonderful experiences we’ve share |
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Day Ten | Thursday, May 17
Time to say goodbye and leave with memories of unforgettable experiences shared with new friends. Our van will take you back to Venice where our adventure began. |
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Dates: May 8 - 17, 2018
Cost per person: $3,200 (based on double occupancy) Fee includes lodging, transportation, all admissions & tours, a cheese tasting, a wine tasting, a grappa tasting and a cooking class. All breakfasts, all dinners except for two, and four lunches are included. Not included: airfare, airport transfers and gratuities. The cost is based on a €1/$1.20 exchange rate. Interested in joining? Get in touch to begin the process |