From the Canals of Venice to Renaissance-infused Mantua

VENICE - MAZZORBO - VENICE - CHIOGGIA - PORTO VIRO - Padua(1) - CANDA - OSTIGLIA - Verona(1) - MANTUA - Venice

You’ll board our ship at 5 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Enjoy a free evening to explore the city on your own.

Morning cruise in the Venice lagoon. From the sun deck, you will contemplate the silhouettes of churches and palaces silhouetted against the horizon. At the heart of this labyrinth made of canals and islands, you will enjoy a unique experience admiring the landscapes and the ballet of the numerous boats using the channels. You will reach the island of Mazzorbo connected by a pedestrian bridge to the charming island of Burano.

Enjoy exploring Burano—known for its traditional lacemaking and picture-perfect homes—on your own.

Optional excursion CLASSIC / DISCOVERY : discovery of Murano island. Departure by private boat to the island of Murano, famous for its glass production. Visit a workshop to watch a glassblowing demonstration.

Sailing to Venice.

This morning, we offer two optional excursions:

- CLASSIC: Guided tour of Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Square. You’ll discover Saint Mark’s Square and its famous basilica (exteriors) and take atour inside Doge’s Palace, the official residence of Venetian dukes and theseat of the government until 1797. The current palace dates back to the 14thcentury and is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world. A trek to the top of the Golden Staircase brings you to massive works by Tintoretto and Veronese and gives you access to the antechambers and a magnificent view from the balcony.

- DISCOVERY: The Dorsoduro district. Bordering the Grand Canal, this Bohemian district forms the southern part of Venice. You will see numerous museums, art galleries as well as magnificent palaces. At the mouth of the Grand Canal, you will admire the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute (exterior), one of the most beautiful churches in Venice. It rests on nearly 100,000 stilts and presents a very original architecture with its octagonal plan and its two domes.

Free afternoon in Venice. Take the time to discover or rediscover the most romantic city in the world and join the Rialto, the city's emblematic bridge, located on the Grand Canal. From the bridge you will have a breathtaking view of the canal and the historic buildings that surround it.

We'll cruise to Chioggia, the departure point for an CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : A guided tour of Padua, the home of Saint Anthony. The city surrounds its medieval center with charming squares and palaces. Il Santo, the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, sits among these and contains the remains of the city's patron saint.

As you enjoy your tour, the ship will cruise to Porto Viro(2). For those who decide not to join us on the excursion, you will be transferred from Chioggia to Porto Viro. Enjoy some free time in Chioggia beforehand.

We'll return on board in Porto Viro and spend the afternoon cruising towards Canda.

We’ll spend the morning cruising to Ostiglia.

In the afternoon, we offer two optional excursions:

- CLASSIC: Visit Verona and its amphitheater or the Giusti Gardens.(3) We’ll leave by coach from Torretta and head to Verona, the “City of Love” made famous by Shakespeare’s legendary tragedy Romeo and Juliet. We’ll get to see the outside of Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta) and the balcony where she stood when Romeo declared his love. Verona encapsulates 2,000 years of history froman architectural, urban, and artistic point of view. The amphitheater, the historic symbol of the city, is a fantastic example of its longevity and influence.

- DISCOVERY: Verona through its gastronomy. As you stroll through Verona's medieval squares and alleys, you'll discover the history of Italian gastronomy through legends and historical accounts. We'll take you off the beaten tourist track and into some of the city's secret districts, not forgetting its main attractions such as Juliet's Balcony and the Arena (outdoors). At the end of the tour, you will go to a famous pastry shop to taste two sweet specialties accompanied by a coffee.

After our tour, we’ll return on board in Mantua.

Join us on an optional CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : A guided tour of Mantua, where the House of Gonzaga ruled for almost 400 years. Although Mantua is not well known, it is one of the most artistically rich and romantic cities in northern Italy. We’ll visit the Palazzo Ducale di Mantova (4) which overlooks the city center. Built between the 14th and the 17th centuries by the noble House of Gonzaga, the property comprises many buildings such as the Castel di San Giorgio which was designed as a defensive structure aimed at protecting the heart of the town, and subsequently converted into the main residence of the Gonzaga family. We’ll also visit the Camera degli Sposi (“bridal chamber”), known for its frescoes executed by Andrea Mantegna as a celebration of the Gonzaga family. We’ll then reach the historic center of the city where you’ll visit the Rotonda di San Lorenzo and the Basilica of Sant’Andrea.

You’re free to do as you please in the afternoon.

Or enjoy an optional tour of the Ferrari Museum in Modena (not included in packages). Car lovers will not want to miss this chance! The museum focuses on the life and work of Enzo Ferrari, founder of the Ferrari sports car brand. Their website says it best: “The Museo Enzo Ferrari is more than just a museum. It is a spectacular immersive experience that combines a dizzying mix of unique ingredients. Visitors not only get to admire the stunning cars displayed in the futuristic 2,500 square metre main pavilion but are also treated to a spectacular audio-visual show to tell the magical story of Enzo Ferrari’s 90 years.”

Tonight is our festive gala evening.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. Coach transfer from Mantua to Venice. End of our services.