Discover Italy: Venice Escape 2024

Description

Day 1 – Saturday, 12 October

Morning train from Milan central station to Venice. Sack lunch. Transfer to hotel for check-in and free time. We will begin our Venice Escape with an after hours tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace (dinner break included). The ornate gold mosaics lining the walls and ceilings of St. Mark’s Basilica will come alive in the soft glow, revealing intricate details and vivid colors. The custodian will unlock doors to reveal hidden gems for us, such as the crypt—where the bones of St. Mark himself are said to lie—and other exclusive sections like the Pala d’Oro, a Byzantine altarpiece adorned with over 1,900 gems. We will also wander through the lavish apartments and grand court halls of the Doge’s Palace and descend into the depths of the infamous palace dungeons. Finally, we will step inside the Bridge of Sighs, connecting the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison. Legend has it that prisoners would sigh as they caught their last glimpse of Venice through its small windows before being led to their cells. The group will retire to the hotel for a nightcap and a good night’s sleep.

Day 2 – Sunday, 13 October

Breakfast at the hotel. Lazy morning with optional church visit. Afternoon walking tour of Dorsoduro district, known for its laid back atmosphere, local craft shops, and noteworthy art. Lunch on the go. Our tour starts at the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, one of the most famous picture postcard sights of Venice. We will pass by the haunted house Ca’ Dario and the waterside Peggy Guggenheim Collection of modern art, then proceed to the Zattere, a waterside street with breathtaking views of the island of Giudecca. We will pass by the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario on our way to visit the Accademia Galleries Museum, which contains the world’s largest collection of venetian masterpieces, including Veronese’s hugely popular Feast in the House of Levi, Bellini’s St. Job Altarpiece, and Tintorello’s Miracle of the Slave. Following the museum visit we will pass by one of the last boatyards left in the city. Our tour ends with wine tasting and refreshments at an authentic Venetian wine bar. Group dinner to end the night.

Day 3 – Monday, 14 October

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning free. Mid-day group excursion to explore the northern islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, crossing the lagoon comfortably seated in a panoramic boat. The first stop will be Murano, known throughout the world for its glass manufacturing industry. We will stop to visit a glass factory and glassblowing demonstration done by a local artist creating a unique glass item as we watch. The second stop will be on the picturesque island of Burano, famous not only for its lace factories but also for its fishermen’s houses painted in bright colors, a perfect setting for beautiful pictures! Lunch on Burano at a typical fish restaurant for a quick lunch. Our last stop will be the quiet and sparsely populated island of Torcello (only 13 inhabitants), the first center of civilization in the lagoon. Here we will admire the oldest churches and discover how Venice was born. We will return by boat enjoying panoramic views of the Grand Canal. Farewell banquet near the hotel.

Day 4 – Tuesday, 15 October

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time for additional sightseeing on your own or last minute souvenir shopping before transfer to the airport for departures home, taking with you fond memories of your Venice Escape.

Useful Tips about the Venice Escape

The Venice Eascape offered here is an add-on trip to our Voices of the Church 2024 tour.