OVERVIEW
CLASSIC ITINERARY – ITALY
Embark on a captivating cruise aboard La Bella Vita, navigating through the Venetian Lagoon, River Po, and Canal Bianco from Venice to the Renaissance city of Mantua. This journey offers a blend of colourful landscapes, from the vibrant lagoon islands to wild beach dunes and pine woods teeming with birdlife. Explore the rich history and cultural tapestry of the region with guided tours of Ferrara, Mantua, and Chioggia, delving into the diverse influences of Renaissance, Roman, Etruscan, and Byzantine cultures that have shaped this area over centuries.
La Bella Vita is a chic 20-passenger vessel, featuring a modern Italian interior with vibrant colours that create a relaxed, casual atmosphere. The barge is equipped with an inviting bar area for sipping Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louvre doors that open to stunning views, enhancing your experience as you indulge in fine Italian specialties and wines.
Accommodations include two upper deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en-suite facilities. Above deck, a vast sun deck adorned with a large canopy and comfortable loungers offers the perfect spot to unwind and watch the scenic world go by. This cruise provides a magical blend of scenic beauty, cultural exploration, and onboard luxury, making it an unforgettable Italian adventure.
7 days
From $6,715 per person, twin share
Send Enquiry
Cruise Package includes all meals catered for by the on-board Master Chef and an open bar with a large selection regional wines. Chauffeured and guided sightseeing plus the use of all barge facilities such as bicycles is also included.
Inclusions
- 6 Nights accommodation in air-conditioned, en suite cabins
- All excursions and admittance fees
- All gourmet meals aboard and ashore
- Champagne welcome
- Local transfers to and from the designated meeting point
- Open bar
- Other hotel barge facilities such as a spa pool
- Selected regional wines
- Use of bicycles
- Sunday, Day 1: Venice
- Monday, Day 2: Venice to San Pietro in Volta
- Tuesday, Day 3: San Pietro in Volta to Taglio di Po
- Wednesday, Day 4: Taglio di Po to Zelo
- Thursday, Day 5: Day 5: Zelo to Governolo
- Friday, Day 6:Governolo to Mantua
- Saturday, Day 7: Mantua
City: Venice
Country: Italy
Guests are met in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to La Bella Vita for a Prosecco welcome. An afternoon cruise takes us along the Giudecca Canal past some of Venice’s most famous monuments: the Chiesa del Redentore, the impressive Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and the Punta della Dogana to our mooring outside the Naval Museum. Then time for a stroll to St Mark’s Square and a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace before dinner on board.
City: Venice
Country: Italy
Guided walking tour to Castello District, perhaps discovering some hidden parts of the city of Venice: the gardens of the Biennale Exhibition of Modern Arts, Palladio’s Church of San Pietro in Castello and the Venetian Ships Pavilion, an annex of the Naval History Museum Venice, housing vessels of historical importance including ceremonial barges and warships. Late afternoon cruise to Pellestrina which separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, along the Canal of the Orphans passing lagoon islands with their ancient monasteries, painted fishing boats and tiny churches. Time perhaps for a walk or cycle ride along the 18th century Istrian sea wall. Dinner on board.
City: Volta
Country: Italy
After breakfast, we cruise to Chioggia, city of Goldoni’s plays. Here we visit the 18th century Church of San Domenico set on its own island, to see Carpaccio’s St Paul, his last recorded painting and other works of art by Tintoretto and Bassano. We also admire the Piazzetta Vigo and visit the colourful fish market. There will also be the opportunity to enjoy a short tour of Chioggia’s pretty canals in a traditional locally-built boat, before re-joining La Bella Vita. Passing through a nature reserve with flamingos and occasional heron, snipe and other wildfowl, we travel upriver to Taglio di Po for dinner ashore hosted by the owners at the beautiful 17thC Villa Ca’Zen, a private stately home by the river where Lord Byron courted the Countess Giuccioli and wrote some of his best poetry.
City: Taglio di Po
Country: Italy
This morning we join the Bianco canal and cruise to Adria, an ancient Etruscan town where we visit the Archaeological Museum. After lunch on board, we drive to the Bagnoli Estate to tour the Renaissance gardens and wine cellars of the 17thC Villa Widmann Borletti to enjoy a private tasting of their renowned estate-grown vintages. This winery has been supplying Venetian society for centuries. Afterwards, we rejoin La Bella Vita moored at Zelo. Dinner on board.
City: Zelo
Country: Italy
Morning excursion with a guided tour of the Renaissance city of Ferrara, including the Schifanoia Palace, renowned for its fabulous 15thC frescoes. We also admire the exterior of the Estense Castle and its moat and visit the magnificent cathedral with its façade of sculpted images described as an illustrated Bible. Return to the hotel barge moored in Trevenzuolo for an afternoon canal cruise past villages and farmsteads to Governolo and dinner on board.
City: Governolo
Country: Italy
Our final cruise has a dramatic approach to Mantua, home of the poet Virgil, artists Mantegna and Donatello and a captivating lakeside setting. Mantua displays extraordinary neo-classical and baroque architecture, portrayed in the 14thC Ducal Palace housing some 15 gardens and courtyards, a museum, basilica and theatre. The intricate frescoes, Gallery of Mirrors and exquisite Rivers Room and 12,000 paintings and sculptures all create a Grand Finale to our Italian Renaissance adventure. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
City: Mantua
Country: Italy
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice.
