Small group tour to Venice and Genoa

Group to make their own way to Padua.

Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Morning guided tour of Padua, focused in the Venetian Republica sites, suck as the Winged Lion of St. Mark at Piazza dei Signori, Palazzo della Ragione, and visits to Sant Antonio Basilica and to Capella degli Scrovegni.

Afternoon visit continues to explore Padua and some early frescoes.

Morning train to Vicenza for a guided tour. The focus will be the sites related to the Venetian Republica.

Afternoon excursion to Chioggia. The Genoan’s took this city in battle from the Venetians in the 14th century after a lengthy siege so would be a different place to visit and add to the history of the tour. Return to Padua.

Return to Padua.

Full day excursion by train to Venice. Upon arrival to Venice Island train station, the group will take the Vaporetto to San Marco where they will meet a local guide for a full day walking tour to view the main sights, including a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace, St Marks and the Jewish Museum of Venice.

A visit to the island of Torcello will be possible if there is enough time before returning to Padua by train.

Visit to the Guggenheim gallery. Guided tour on the history of the Palazzo and the art gallery.

This afternoon is at your leisure in Venice and we later return to Padua.

Evening meal in Padua at a local restaurant.

Travel to Verona. This morning the group starts with a guided walk to Juliet’s house, the Piazza and then the Museum of Verona. Walk Castelfranco Veneto for a guided tour of the walled city and a visit to the cathedral to view Castelfranco Madonna.

This afternoon the group visits Villa Chiminelli, a 16^th century Venetian Villa with Veronese frescoes. This is an example of how the Venetian merchants spent there accumulated wealth.

Among the Venetian villas it regarded as one of the three leading villas of its kind.

Recent studies show that the original property, “already attributed to the Corner family,” belonged to Francesco Soranzo, a Venetian noble, parish priest in S. Andrea Oltre il Muson from 1563 to 1595. In 1614 it passed to the noble Piacentini family and, later, in 1852, to the Tiepolo family. During the Second World War, in 1944, the Villa was occupied by the German armed forces, who used it as a military hospital, and later, with the liberation, by the American allied command. It was in this last year of the war that the entire property was purchased by Francesco Chiminelli who began the restoration work.

The villa, a typical example of the so-called “villa civilization”, follows the classic scheme of the Venetian villas of the time with a large central hall, four side rooms and a loggia in the entrance which is accessed by a short staircase adorned with eighteenth-century statues that represent the four seasons. The building is entirely frescoed inside and out. The paintings are attributed to Benedetto Caliari, brother of the more famous Paolo Veronese, and to his school.The external decoration creates a painted architecture, with a Palladian flavor, where a false elevation of columns encloses and emphasizes the triple opening of the loggia and four columns fluted with Corinthian capitals frame the coat of arms of the Soranzo family.

The paintings continue inside where the musical theme frequently dominates with musician angels, notes and various instruments. Then there are allegorical figures, joyful cherubs, flowery festoons, bucolic and religious scenes. The Corner coat of arms is on the north wall.

In addition to the frescoed noble floor, the villa also includes a basement for use as cellars, a mezzanine floor, attics and servants’ rooms. Finally, a chapel with a valuable altar is attached to the villa and overlooks the portico.

Outside there is an Italian garden, enclosed by a frescoed wall, decorated with a central fountain, numerous stone sculptures and two arcaded barchesse on two floors.

Return to Padua. Dinner included tonight.

Day at your leisure. Travellers might want to return to Venice, take an excursion to Lake Garda or any other surrounding areas.

Overnight in Padua.

Travel to Milan by train. On arrival, the group will have a guided tour of Milan to see the main sights of the city.

Group dinner this evening.

Today we have a second day in Milan with touring in the morning. We visit the Prada foundation gallery in the early afternoon.

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

The group has an early start to travel the 100km by train from Milan to Genoa.

There is guided tour of Genoa to see the main attractions related with the Republica, including a visit to the Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Ducale, Strada Nuova Museums, Galata Museo del Mare

Today the group continues to explore Genoa. We visit the merchant houses and galleries including the opportunity to view a Carravaggio and Genoa Lighthouse and Museum.

Through the medieval streets we enjoy a walking tour to learn more including the home of the Genoa’s famous son Christopher Columbus and the prison where Marco Polo ( a venetian) was held captive. And why is the Genoan flag the same as the English flag, or why is the English flag the same as the Genoan flag?

Today the group will travel to Santa Margherita Ligure by train. From this seaside town, they will board a ferry to visit Portofino and San Fruttuoso, where they will visit the 11^th century Abbey. Return to Santa Margherita Ligure by ferry for some free time to explore (time permitting), then onto Genoa by train. Dinner included tonight.

Today is at your leisure, taking time to explore the city.

Today the group will visit the famous Cinque Terre. The group will first travel by train Riomaggiore, from where they will take the Cinque Terre Express Train to explore the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola and Vernazza, before hopping on a train in Levanto to travel back to Genoa.

Dinner is included tonight at a local restaurant.

Travel by train to Viareggio, from where the group will then continue by train to Lucca and then Pisa. These two Republicas were very important in the times of the Genoan and Venetian Republicas. In Lucca, a local guide will take the group to see the main sites, and in Pisa, the knowledge of the local guide will give the group in insight on the Genoa-Pisa wars, ending with a visit to its Cathedral and Camposanto. Return to Genoa by train, via Viareggio.

This morning we continue to explore Genoa. This afternoon is at your leisure

There is a farewell group dinner this evening.

This small group tour Ends after breakfast.