Venetian Treasures & Milan and Lake Como (port-to-port cruise)

A short boat ride will take us to the island of Murano. The largest island in the lagoon, Murano is famous all over the world for its unique glass. We’ll visit a glassblowing studio to see how it’s done. Take advantage of some free time afterwards to explore the island on your own. Murano is also known for its lovely churches and several remarkable palazzetto.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Venetian cuisine is brimming with variety and delicacies. It incorporates the diverse backgrounds of the Venetian population to propose the best the sea and land have to offer in the region. We'll stop off at the Rialto Market in the San Polo District (closed on Sundays). Take your time browsing the stalls brimming with fruits, vegetables, and seafood before having a seat at a typical osteria on the edge of the Grand Canal to snack on delicious cicchetti, Italian tapas-like morsels and buranelli, butter biscuits in the shape of a ring or "S", flavoured with vanilla, rum or lemon, a speciality of the island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon. These tastings will delight your taste buds.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Best known in Christianity as the Saint Antoine of Padua city, it is also famous for its art. Giotto (1267-1337, painter, sculptor and Italian architect) gifted the city of Padua some of his masterpieces, enriching the artistic scenery of the city. We'll start off with a guided tour of the city by coach before visiting the basilica which holds the vault of Saint Antoine. You'll be able to admire Donatello's bronze statue from the 15th century in the square before the basilica. This art piece was a major influence on sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. A guided tour on foot will take you to the Piazza delle Erbe and the Piazza dei Frutti which holds a fresh produce market every day. You'll then see the Palazzo della Ragione (exteriors only) and the Torre dell'Orologio with its astronomical clock dating back to 1344. You'll enjoy some free time to discover this charming city on your own.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Commentaries inside the Saint Antoine church are forbidden so they would be given before getting in.
• Please dress appropriately to visit the Saint Antoine church.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.
• The departure and return of the excursion are adjusted based on the direction of the cruise:
  • VEN: departure from Chioggia / return to Venice
  • VMA + VMM: departure from Chioggia / return to Porto Viro
  • MAV + MMV: departure from Porto Viro / return to Chioggia
    

You'll leave on foot from The Zattere or San Basilio Pier. The Dorsoduro District houses some of the most picturesque canals and palazzi and some of the city's great art showcases without the tourist traps that you might expect. The area includes the highest land areas of the city. Our walk will take you along The Zattere to the Spirito Santo and the customs house. The view is absolutely spectacular from this point in Venice, because you can scan the entire Saint Mark's Basin, San Giorgio Maggiore, and the Grand Canal. We'll continue on to admire the exterior of the Santa Maria della Salute church, built during a plague epidemic in the 17th century. The church's dome was an important addition to the Venice skyline and soon became emblematic of the city, inspiring many artists. Our next stop will be Campo Santa Margherita, a large city square in the sestiere of Dorsoduro. You'll be delighted by this heart-warming quarter which has remained humble yet sophisticated with the many palaces overlooking the Grand Canal. After our visit, we'll return to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Meet up with your guide on board. The tour will begin with a historical and artistic introduction to Venice with St Mark's Square, after which you will be able to admire the exteriors of St Mark's Cathedral. The Byzantine facades of the Cathedral (one of the most magnificent in the world) will immediately draw your attention. It was built in the 9th century to hold the body of St Mark, Patron Saint of Venice. Only a few pieces of the original structure remain and the present day Cathedral dates back from the 12th, 14th and 15th centuries. The exterior, with its domes, pinnacles and wooden horses, contrasts with the shining golden mosaics of the interior. The tour continues with the Doge's Palace, the residence of the Dukes of Venice and seat of the Venetian government from the 9th century until the Republic fell in 1797. Although there are no longer any traces of the 9th century Byzantine structures, the Palace as we see it today, richly decorated both on the outside and inside, dates back from the 14th century and is considered by many to be the finest in the world. You will then be able to admire the paintings of Tintoretto and Veronese from the top of the famous Golden Staircase before walking through the Grand Council Chamber and out onto the balcony with its fantastic view over the city. You will cross the famous decorated Bridge of Sighs which leads to the prison. The bridge, known in the past as the symbol of the destiny that awaited the prisoners, has more romantic connotations nowadays. Return to the boat on foot.

PLEASE NOTE

• The commentary on St Mark's cathedral will be given outside, as it is not authorised inside.
• Passengers will be able to enter the Cathedral during their free time. Modest clothing required. A long queue can be expected.
• Wear sturdy walking shoes: the tour is entirely on foot.
• There are a lot of steps to climb at the Doge's Palace.
• With your tickets for the Doges' Palace, you will have free entry to the Correr Museum and library.
• Depending on where the vessel is moored, we will arrange for shuttle boats if necessary to provide access to the Doges' Palace.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.