Opulence of Venetian Republic: A Luxurious Vacation in Veneto Region

Verona is a city that lives up to its legendary reputation for being full of history and beauty. Romans settled the province as a center for trade in the 3rd-century BC. In the Middle Ages, Verona flourished under a ruling family eager to fill the city with wealth and art before Venice took control in the 15th-century, followed by Napoleon in the late 18th-century. The variety of ruling parties has each left their mark on the city through architecture, art, cuisine, and culture. Your flight will land at Verona Villafranca Airport where your private transfer will await your arrival. You will then venture into the historical heart of town with a stop at San Fermo Maggiore for a panorama of the fair Verona, and the banks of the River Adige.

The original church was erected in the 8th-century and refurbished in the 11th-century, and the Romanesque style remains in the lower portion of the structure with the upper section representing Gothic architecture from the 13th and 14th-centuries. The marble façade embodies the grace and opulence of the structure and the city at large, which stands out from the verdant hills and rushing waters that border Verona. Your accommodations are situated in a gorgeous palace in the historical center near the dramatic figure of the Roman arena. In the summer, you can catch a concert that varies from rock to opera and draws crowds from around Italy, each performed inside the Roman stadium which dates back to the 3rd-century AD.

In the morning you can stroll along the outer ridge of the Roman arena as the structure overlooks the open cobbled Piazza Bra that shimmers with the golden stones in the spreading sunlight. The Gran Guardia Palace frames the entrance to the square, with the Neoclassical Barbieri Palace bordering the southern edge. The colorful facades of the homes that line the Via Mazzini bring pastel brightness to the morning. The cafes in Piazza dell’Erbe open their doors to the fruit and vegetable stands of the morning market and after breakfast, you will meet your guide eager to venture out into Verona to uncover the magnificence of the historical streets.

You can see the top of the 275-foot tower Torre dei Lamberti, which houses the medieval bell known as El Rengo. Palaces surround the Piazza dei Signori. At the heart of the square stands a 19th-century monument dedicated to Dante Alighieri. One of the most memorable images of Verona is the Casa di Giulietta, or the “House of Juliet.” The city will forever have a connection to Shakespeare’s unforgettable drama of star-crossed lovers and visitors come from around the world eager to spend a moment with Juliet.

Some fans of the teen-drama will write letters to the heroine in the hopes she can help in matters of love, having once fallen so deeply for Romeo. Your guide will lead you to the tunnel of the House of Capulet. People place notes inside the cracks, pockets, and envelopes around the colonnade. Inside the courtyard stands a bronze statue of Juliet, beneath a balcony added to the square in the 1930s. Shakespeare’s tale has moved beyond fiction and into legend, which adds another layer to the majestic character of the city, from the castles to basilicas, piazzas to palaces.

Before breakfast, you can wander along the Piazza dell’Erbe to view the everyday life of Verona. The colorful produce of the local market adds to the pastel facades that border the square. The aroma of oranges, pears, and eggplants drifts upwards from the crates that fill the marketplace. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the stunning town of Padua. The historic streets retain a youthful ambiance thanks to the student population of the local university, which was established in the 13th-century.

Your hotel is located in the heart of the historical center that overlooks the vibrant life of the cobbled streets. Padua has Roman roots and was once one of the wealthiest cities in all of Italy and drew artists from around the country, including Donatello and Giovanni. Your guide will meet you in the lobby ready to show you the stunning monuments of Padua, beginning with the Piazza del Santo. The lavish façade of Basilica di Sant’Antonio frames the square as an equestrian statue commemorating in the 15th-century by Donatello stands at attention in the square’s center.

The conical and round domes of the basilica accentuate the height of the two slender towers to create a collection of Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine features. One of the most unique monuments of the city is located in the Scrovegni Chapel. The structure was erected in the early 14th-century as a private place of worship for the wealthy Enrico Scrovegni. The master artist Giotto decorated the church walls with frescoes that depict the life of Mary and Jesus. The vivid colors and humanistic features of the heavenly figures brought to light a new understanding of art’s possibilities.

In the morning, you can take a stroll along the arcade of the dramatic Palazzo della Ragione, a 13th-century structure that lines the city center. Hundreds of frescoes decorate the interior with astronomical and mythological themes and connect superstitious tales with imaginative descriptions. After breakfast, you will make your way to the enchanting town of Vicenza, located at the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains. Lush plains spread across the landscape between the mountains and the banks of the Po River. You will enter the heart of the city from the southeast at Piazza dei Signori, and the elegant 16t- century façade of Basilica Palladiana dominates the square and features the architectural style known as Palladian.

The main hall reaches a length of 170 feet and reminds visitors that the basilica was originally constructed as a gathering hall for the Grand Council. The Teatro Olimpico was built in the 16th-century as an adaptation of ancient theaters that feature Renaissance design and décor. The stage creates an illusion of a larger size by using the decorative effect of narrow, long streets that run into the distance. Outside the city center, you will visit the remarkable Villa Valmarana, also referred to as La Rotonda. The 16th-century structure is famous for its symmetrical design, with four porticos crowned by a dome.

In the morning, students will fill the green spaces of Padua as they sip espresso and read their materials for class. The scent of rich cappuccino drifts out of the corner cafes and mingles with the aroma of sweet, fresh brioche. After breakfast, you will make your way to the dock along the Naviglio del Brenta, a canal that links Padua to Venice. The first public transport along the canal was called a burchiello, a luxurious boat drawn by horses down the waterway. Your canal ride exudes charm as your boat cruises down the water to showcase what was once a rural expanse. Towns have since grown around the fabulous villas that once sporadically rose along the banks, which created the Riviera del Brenta. The boat stops at some elegant villas along the way before you will reach Villa Foscari, the closest estate to Venice.

The picturesque structure was constructed along the bend of the canal. Weeping willows frame the pearled façade and highlight the Ionic columns. The villa was erected in the 16th-century atop a pedestal for a more prominent appearance, which added 11 feet to the structures intended height. The interior contains opulent frescoes that depict mythological scenes from Ovid, the Roman poet. Trompe l’oeil paintings make certain figures appear three-dimensional, and often create the illusion that the characters are standing in the room with you. You will continue down the canal to the shores of the Venetian lagoon, where you will meet your private vaporetto ready to escort you to your stunning palace hotel.

The grandeur of Venice will be apparent the moment you arrive in the city. Beautiful palaces and elegant churches rise above the cobblestone lanes and the canal waters. In the morning, you will find the aroma of freshly baked brioche accompanying the scent of rich espresso drifting from the cafes in the heart of the historical center. After breakfast, you will meet your guide for a private tour of Venice’s most iconic sites. The Rialto Bridge was erected in the 16th-century and remained the only structure to cross the Grand Canal for hundreds of years. The stone archways support the shops that line the sides of the bridge as gondolas pass below. Once in St. Mark’s Square, your guide will lead you to the opulence of the Doge’s Palace.

The main building was erected in the 14th-century with the façade in view from the Piazzetta and dates back to the 15th-century. The Gothic architecture creates a dramatic impression with its double arcade and slender marble columns. The combination provides a lacy pattern that highlights the pink Verona marble. You will enter into the Sala del Collegio where the Doge received important visitors, and the harmonious room includes thematic décor with a ceiling draped with Veronese paintings as allegories to the Venetian Republic’s ideals. In the Sala del Consiglio dei Dieci, you will enter the court of the secret police, an organization that controlled the aspects of public and private life in the Venice.

Today you will step aboard a vaporetto for a private tour of the islands around the Venetian lagoon for a unique view of the culture and daily life of Venice. The aroma of the sea sweeps in from beyond the lagoon as fishing boats return to the island canals and moor against the cobbled lanes. Your boat will dock at Murano Island, known for its magnificent and historical glass making. The forgers were relocated to Murano in the 13th-century to decrease the risk of fire in Venice. Glass making was a coveted secret in Venice, enough so that the Council of Ten ensured their ability to keep an eye on all glassblowers in the Republic.

The colorful homes of the island give way to showrooms and studios where artists continue their work in view of passersby. The Glass Museum fills the 17th-century Palazzo Giustiniani, which exhibits a collection of Venetian glass that spans thousands of years, from the Roman Empire to the 20th-century. The Basilica of Santi Maria and Donato was constructed between the 7th and 11th-centuries and the exterior features dark red and brown brick while the interior contains a breathtaking mosaic floor that dates back to the 12th-century. Images of bears and foxes add to the movement of the artwork, and precious stones create an elegant color that emerges from the geometric patterns and peacocks in profile.

The Galleria dell’Accademia embodies the splendor of Venice’s artistic past as its collection spans the 15th to the 18th-centuries. Much of the artwork was gathered from monasteries, churches, and palaces throughout the centuries. Visitors can trace the evolution of artistic style, as the galleries are arranged chronologically, which also allows for visitors to compare the works of contemporaries and view the marvels in both past and present terms. Your private transfer will meet you at the dock of your hotel to escort to meet your car headed for Marco Polo International Airport. You will have experienced the pleasures and perfections of Veneto through the luxuries of culture and cuisine.