Timeless Venice (port-to-port package)

This excursion will lead you to discover the area that has been the heart of handmade gondola production for centuries. You'll visit a gondola workshop and learn all the secrets of this art directly from the master artisans. Back in the 16th-century, the heyday of the gondola, there were upwards of 10,000 of these elegant boats plying the waters of the city canals. Today, there are only 350 remaining, and the job of gondolier is a coveted profession passed down from father to son. Afterwards, we'll visit a Venetian Carnival mask-making workshop. All the masks are individually handmade and feature touches of fantasy and creativity that make them unique items. Most of the masks are signed by the artists, which makes them the perfect souvenir.

Duration : approx. 4:15

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• These excursions are not proposed for all the cruises and depend on the itinerary.
• If the minimum of 25 participants is not reached, the excursion may be either cancelled or proposed at another rate, depending on the number of participants (to be paid for on board).
• The excursions on the first evening and the morning following boarding are only guaranteed for the passengers who have booked the excursion before the cruise.

The Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo is located in the Castello District, a bastion of tranquility offering poignant insights into Venetian daily life. It is one of the largest and most important churches in the city.
Known as San Zanipolo in the Venetian dialect, the basilica is a major monument in terms of its size and historical and artistic significance. Construction on the Italian-Gothic style church began in 1246 and was completed in the mid-14th century. Outside, the majestic facade adorned with sculpted doorways and an impressive rose window are simply divine to see. Inside, the large nave, side chapels, and rib vaults are just as amazing. The basilica is also famous for housing the tombs of numerous doges and Venetian personalities—earning it the nickname "The Pantheon of Venice." Works of art by masters such as Giovanni Bellini and Paolo Veronese make it a major historical and artistic treasure in La Serenissima. The Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo remains living testimony to Venice's past grandeur and a place where architecture, art, and history come together in spectacular fashion.

PLEASE NOTE

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

Just one bridge separates Burano from this small hidden vineyard. The story began almost 15 years ago when Gianluca Bisol noticed a vineyard in a garden adjacent to the church. Upon analysis of the vines, he discovered they belonged to the Dorona variety—the wine once served at the banquets within Doge's Palace. The tide peaks occurring naturally in the area (acqua alta) flood the vineyard with salt water, which influences certain characteristics in the Venissa wines. As you visit the grounds, your guide will explain the biodynamic techniques this small winemaker uses to make their pesticide- and insecticide-free products. Of course, we’ll finish up our tour with a tasting.

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
    

Our panoramic tour along the Brenta River allows you to admire the beautiful countryside and charming villages in the region. During this excursion, we'll visit either Villa Pisani or Villa Foscari (depending on opening hours and availability). Villa Pisani is a veritable palace spread out over more than 27 acres. Its garden with a box-tree labyrinth was named the Most Beautiful Park in Italy in 2008. Villa Foscari, also known as La Malcontenta, was painstakingly restored during the better part of the 20th century to its former grandeur. Designed by architect Andrea Palladio, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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.

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.