Although Venice is an important attraction, other provincial capitals are starting to shine through; medieval and Roman Verona; Padua with Giotto’s stunning frescoes; and Vincenza, home to Palladio’s Teatro Olimpico. The art cities of the Veneto have much to offer the discerning traveller; historic centres, grand palazzi, great works of art by world famous artists (Caravaggio, Titian and Giotto); fabulous Venetian Villas – many inspired or designed by Palladio; regional food and prestigious wines; and all are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This 7-night train itinerary takes in four of the major cities in the Veneto region of Italy and offers the freedom to explore at leisure.
Itinerary includes:
- Outbound flight to Verona Airport
- Return flight from Venice Airport
- Private transfer on arrival (Day 1) from Verona Airport
- Train ticket from Verona to Padua (Day 3)
- Train ticket from Padua to Venice (Day 5)
- 2 Nights at Giulietta e Romeo Hotel, Verona (Bed and Breakfast)
- 2 Nights at Majestic Toscanelli Hotel, Padua (Bed and Breakfast)
- 3 Nights at Palazzo Giovanelli, Venice (Bed and Breakfast)
Board Basis: Bed & Breakfast
Day 1 - Day of arrival
Arrive at Verona airport and transfer to the Giulietta e Romeo Hotel.
Overnight at the Giulietta e Romeo Hotel, Verona.
Giulietta e Romeo Hotel, Verona
Day 2 - Explore Verona
Full day to explore the delights of the historical, walled city of Verona: Visit Piazza delle Erbe, originally a Roman forum, with buzzing cafes and a daily market; the macabre Arche Scaligere, Gothic tombs belonging to the wealthy Scaligere family who ruled Verona between 13th and 14th century; Torre dei Lamberti, an 85m watchtower with panoramic views over the city; and Giardino Giusti, a marvellous Renaissance-styled garden with fabulous sculptures.
Overnight at the Giulietta e Romeo Hotel. Verona.
Verona, Italy
Day 3 - Train to Padua
After breakfast, self-transfer to the train station for your train to Padua (c.43- minutes). Train tickets included. On arrival, self-transfer to the Majestic Toscanelli Hotel.
Discover the artistic wonders of this fabulous historic city. Padua has one of Europe’s oldest universities, dating from 1222, where the likes of Galileo and Copernicus taught; the 13th century Basilica di Sant' Antonio (St. Anthony’s final resting place); and the Scrovegni Chapel, with Giotto’s famed 14th century frescoes. The impressive Prato della Valle, an elliptical square, is thought to be Europe’s second-biggest. Don’t forget to stop off at Caffè Pedrochi and ask for the local specialty – a Pedrocchi coffee, a perfect blend of sweet mint and bitter espresso coffee.
NOTE: It is important to pre-book your visit to the Scrovegni Chapel. Book at least a couple of days in advance (online with a credit card is the easiest method). If you purchase the PadovaCard (c.14 Euros) it will give you admission to the chapel and to most of the other central tourist attractions. Lasting 48 hours, it also offers free travel on local buses and discounts for additional attractions. It can be bought at museums and local tourist offices, or online when you are making a booking for the Scrovegni Chapel, in which case you can collect the card locally from the Civic Museums ticket office.
Overnight at the Majestic Toscanelli Hotel
Padua, Italy
Day 4 - Vicenza
Enjoy a day out to Vicenza. The train takes c.15-minutes (ticket to be purchased locally): Vicenza’s compact town centre has many attractive buildings ‘palazzi’, from medieval and Venetian to gothic-style. The Corso Andrea Palladio is the main street and is lined with smart shops and cafes. Piazza dei Signori, in the heart of town, is dominated by two of Vicenza's most striking landmarks; the Basilica Palladiana, the medieval law courts, with an imposing facade by Palladio and the adjacent Torre di Piazza - a tall, slim tower. The town's most famous sight however is the Teatro Olimpico - Palladio's last work. The building was modelled on ancient Roman theatres, with a curved amphitheatre, graded stepped seating and lavish ornamentation. If you walk further out of the centre you will reach some good viewpoints over the town.
Overnight at the Majestic Toscanelli Hotel
Vicenza, Italy
Day 5 - Venice
Self-transfer from Padua to Venice by train (c.26-minutes) or, take the boat ‘Il Burchiello’ from Padua to Venice and enjoy a full day cruising along the Brenta canal. Guided visits of three fabulous Venetian Villas are included. On arrival in Venice, self-transfer by water taxi to the Palazzo Giovanelli Hotel.
Overnight at the Palazzo Giovanelli e Gran Canal, Venice.
Palazzo Giovanelli e Gran Canal, Venice
Day 6 & 7 - Days at leisure
Explore the delights of the city: Venice is one of the ‘must see’ cities in the world, and with its picture-postcard panorama - an inspiration for generations of artists - beautiful palazzi and endless mazes of narrow cobbled streets, it is easy to see why.
Note: When in Venice it’s worth buying a VeniceCard. There are two types of card: Venice Card BLUE which includes transportation on all ACTV lines (buses- land and water), between Venice and the islands Murano, Burano, Lido, and Giudecca; and Venice Card ORANGE which includes free admission to the local museums (Musei Civici Veneziani) and various other discounts. Log on to http://www.veneziaunica.it/en for more information. The cards can be purchased locally at the train station.
Overnight at the Palazzo Giovanelli e Gran Canal, Venice.
San Marco Square, Venice
Day 8 - Day of departure
Self-transfer to Venice airport for your return flight home.