Compare Independent Venice: Power and Beauty by Road Scholar vs 6 Days in Venice Family Vacation by Nancy Aiello Tours
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 9 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 2,099 | $ 4,626 |
| Price Per Day | $ 233 | $ 771 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included |
|
Breakfast |
| Description | Discover the timeless beauty, architectural grandeur, world-class cuisine and unparalleled cultural legacy of one of Europe’s most dynamic cities — Venice. |
We designed this Venice Family Vacation as the perfect first trip to Italy with kids and teens. Each day is action-packed and the overall trip includes a good balance of structured time, free time, sightseeing, and hands-on activities ensuring the focus is on an authentic taste of Venice. It is a fun, educational, and stress-free vacation of a lifetime for families looking to give their children an unforgettable Italian experience. |
Day
1
In Transit
In Flight
Day
2
Arrival and Orientation
Venice D Hotel Bonvecchiati
Activity note: Check-in available from 2:00 PM.
Afternoon: 3:45 PM Meet in the conference room for an introduction to the program and orientation to Venice. Your Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. You will receive the Venice Card for entrance to some of the major museums and churches for the duration of your stay. You will also receive a public transportation pass (for the vaporetto/waterbus and boats to the islands). For your self-guided excursions, you will receive a booklet with detailed suggested itineraries for exploring Venice on your own. Then take a short orientation walk led by Cristina Gregorin.
Dinner: Welcome Dinner at the hotel. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.
Evening: At leisure.
Day
3
Introduction to Venetian History
Venice B Hotel Bonvecchiati
Breakfast: Hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.
Morning: Lecture: "Introduction to the History of Venice." The republic enjoyed remarkable political stability for more than a millennium, resisting both external forces and internal turbulence. With this background, one can understand its attraction to artists and architects - La Serenissima has been shaped by them for centuries. Emphasis on the golden era of the town.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Self-guided excursion. For self-guided excursions, you will receive a booklet with very detailed descriptions of 12 different walks, some of which take you off of the beaten path. Optional: Join your Group Leader on a walk to the Rialto area with the fish and vegetable market. In the late afternoon, meet your Road Scholar group for a drink and chat.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day
4
Lecture: The Historical Era of Titian, Vivaldi Concert
Venice B Hotel Bonvecchiati
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Lecture: "The Historical Era of Titian." For Venetian painting, the 16th century was the most successful. Titian, Veronese and Jacopo Tintoretto dominated the Venetian art scene, winning most of the public and religious commissions. They created a new style of painting with striking luminous colors.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Self-guided excursion. Optional: Join your Group Leader on a walk to the San Polo district with the Frari Church to see Titian's famous painting.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: Attend a Vivaldi Concert by Interpreti Veneziani. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) gave over 500 concerts to his hometown, performing for violin, viola d'amore, cello, mandolin, flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, cornet and string orchestra. Enjoy this concert performed by the chamber music ensemble Interpreti Veneziani, played on prestigious original instruments.
Day
5
Glass and Mosaics, Night Visit of St. Mark's
Venice B Hotel Bonvecchiati
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Lecture: "Glassmaking and Mosaics." The art of making glass has never been quite as entrenched in a place as on the Murano islands, which are famous for blowing techniques and design. Murano glass first made its appearance in the 8th century, and despite various ups and downs, has managed to not only endure but also flourish in our modern times.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Self-guided excursion. Optional: Join your Group Leader on a walk to the old Venetian Jewish ghetto area.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: Enjoy a special expert-led night visit of St. Mark's Cathedral, the mosaic-clad emblem of Venice's Byzantine origins. Visit the crypt under sea level. Special lights create a magic atmosphere and bring alive the unique mosaics which were first executed in 1071 by artists from Constantinople. The Basilica opens just for the Road Scholar group.
Day
6
Venetian Lagoon
Venice B Hotel Bonvecchiati
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Take a full day to discover the Venetian Lagoon on your own. The Group Leader will assist you in planning your time according to your interests. You can visit Murano, the island of glass-working with its museum of glass making; Burano, the island of lace makers and fishermen; or Torcello, with its great basilica in Venetian-Byzantine style, which is famous for its marvelous mosaics.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Continue your exploration of the Venetian Lagoon.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: Meet for a drink with your Road Scholar group in the hotel lobby.
Day
7
Velvet Manufacturer Bevilacqua
Venice B Hotel Bonvecchiati
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Lecture: "The Fascinating World of Venetian Handcraft." Cristina Gregorin, author of the book "Venice Master Artisans," introduces us to the intriguing world of small "botteghe" and its tools and centuries-old machines. Then, visit the velvet manufacturer Bevilacqua. The company's fabrics are still hand-produced on original 18th and 19th-century looms and all the phases of manufacture are manual. The company's famous historical archives hold more than 3,500 pattern designs, all of which are Bevilacqua originals.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Self-guided excursion.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Day
8
Architecture of Andrea Palladio
Venice B,D Hotel Bonvecchiati
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Lecture: "Introduction to the Architecture of Andrea Palladio." The Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio shaped the world that surrounds us today. Some of his most influential villas and churches survive in the Veneto region around Venice and in the city itself. Palladio's designs are based on three principals: dramatic exterior motifs, economical materials and internal harmony and balance.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Enjoy a final free afternoon of exploring the Venetian districts on your own.
Dinner: Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Day
9
Departures
In Flight B
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Depart for the airport. This concludes our program. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.
Day 1: Welcome to Venice – Myths & Legends at Twilight
Upon your arrival in Venice airport, you will be assisted with a private boat transfer to the hotel of your choice for 5 nights. After checking in and relaxing for a while, your private guide will meet you at your hotel to explore the hidden pearls of Venice on a unique walking tour riddled with mystery and excitement. Leisurely, follow your guide through narrow passageways and shadowy alleys. Explore some of the city’s hidden corners and iconic sights whilst your guide unlocks the dark secrets within… this memorable experience is indeed a real mystery until you do it! Evening at your leisure.
Day 2: Scavenger Hunt & Mask-Making Class
Meet your private guide at the hotel and set out on a fun scavenger hunt in search of clues through the streets of Venice. A walking tour that will teach the whole family about this magical city in a lighthearted manner. There is no end to the fun, as kids try their hand at the centuries-old art of Venetian mask making. During a private hands-on mask making class, kids learn about the legends behind Venetian masks. With a skilled artisan, kids will also learn how to create their very own Carnival mask. Afternoon free to explore at your pace - personalized recommendations will be provided.
Day 3: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge Palace & Gondola Ride
This morning you’ll embark on a private guided walking tour to some of the city’s most famous landmarks. Explore the majestic St Mark’s Basilica adorned with glittering mosaics. The magnificent Doge’s Palace with its lavish frescoes and graceful staircases and visit the prison crossing the iconic Bridge of Sighs. To take the edge off, enjoy a half-hour private gondola ride through the Venetian waterways to see Venice from a completely different perspective. The afternoon is at leisure to absorb the city’s everyday charms.- personalized recommendations will be provided.
Day 4: Eat like a Venetian & Row like a Venetian Gondolier
Meet your private guide at the hotel to get a taste of Venice and experience traditional Venetian waterways culture. Enjoy a food tour in the neighborhood of Cannaregio followed by a private rowing lesson. At the end of your walking tour, your guide will leave you in the expert hands of a skilled gondolier who will introduce you to a traditional, Venetian handcrafted all-wood batelina boat. Under the watchful eye of your rowing expert, the whole family will ride into the canals steering the boat just like a gondolier! Afternoon at your leisure - personalized recommendations will be provided.
Day 5: Island-hopping: Murano Glass & Burano Lace
Take a private motorboat excursion to the Lagoon Islands: quaint Murano and Burano. On Murano, you will visit a selected glass factory to watch a local master artisan at work. You’ll learn about the ancient technique of glass production while experiencing a demonstration of this craft dating back more than 700 years. The next island Burano is famous for its brightly painted houses and traditional lace making. After exploring the island secret corners, you will return to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure - personalized recommendations will be provided.
Day 6: Depart Venice
Say 'ciao Venice' at the end of your meaningful Venetian adventure as you prepare to return home with amazing memories of your Venice family vacation. Transfer privately to your departure airport, railway station or port. Buon Viaggio!
