Venice Carnival & VeronaEscorted Tour, Italy

Combine a stay in the city of Romeo and Juliet with the unique experience of La Serennissima at Carnevale time.

From your base in glorious, medieval Verona, of Shakespearian fame, journey by comfortable train through the Veneto to discover the wonders of incomparable, extraordinary Venice as it celebrates the impending arrival of spring with its colourful parades, masked revellers, street entertainment and general merry-making. With time to savour the charms of Romeo and Juliet’s beguiling trysting-place and to enjoy upon arrival an optional tour to walled Treviso and riverside Bassano del Grappa, this is a wonderful winter-warming break.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy four nights in beautiful Verona, in an elegant hotel base

Journey by train to glorious Venice, La Serenissima, to soak up the atmosphere of Carnevale

Discover the exquisite city of Romeo and Juliet

Optional tours offer the chance of a second day in Venice and visits to restored Treviso and foodie mecca Bassano del Grappa

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the four-star Leon D’Oro Hotel, Verona

Return flights to Italy

Return standard-class rail travel from Verona to Venice

Coach travel and transfers throughout

Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Fly to Italy

Meet your tour manager and transfer to your four-star hotel, a beautifully appointed, elegant base for your stay, set close to the historic heart of the city and conveniently only 900 yards from Verona’s Porta Nuova railway station. Settle into your surroundings, perhaps enjoying a drink at the piano bar, before dining in or heading out into the glorious city, where there are countless restaurants and trattorie, many lining Verona’s famous, sweeping Piazza Bra, from which to choose.

Day 2 – The Venice Festival

After breakfast, join your tour manager for the short walk to the station and the hour-long train journey across the Veneto countryside to incomparable Venice.

There is nowhere on earth that matches the beauty and heart-stopping glory of La Serennissima, one of the most beguiling, most intriguing and most romantic settings on the planet, and at Carnevale time, there’s simply no better place to be.

On arrival, in the company of a local guide, enjoy a walking tour of the city, where some hundred or so islands are linked by innumerable bridges, and where gondolas and water taxis ply their trades on the beautiful Grand Canal, past the stunning Accademia museum and the Rialto Bridge. The vast expanse of St Mark’s Square, with its sumptuous cathedral, clock tower and the Doge's Palace – the Palazzo Ducale – is one of the world’s great sights and the city’s famous focal point. Here carnival-goers gather – stopping to show off their elaborate costumes, part of the general street entertainment, which also features acrobats, musicians and dancers. Close by, joining the palace to the prisons, the famous ‘Bridge of Sighs’ afforded condemned men a last view of the beauty of Venice en route to the gallows. Away from St Mark's and the Grand Canal, a labyrinth of narrow streets awaits more exploration, each corner turned revealing another memorable sight of this truly wonderful city.

Soak up the atmosphere throughout the day, and after the chance perhaps to enjoy an early dinner, board the return train to Verona.

Day 3 – At leisure in Verona, or return to Venice by train

Today is yours to savour, as perhaps you pay a second visit to Venice under your own steam, catching the train from the nearby station.

Alternatively, spend the day exploring exquisite Verona, where buildings fashioned in pink marble line ancient streets. Amongst the outstanding sights is Italy’s best preserved Roman amphitheatre, famed for its summertime opera festival. The Piazza Bra is lined with cafés, Piazza delle Erbe’s daily market bustles with colourful life, while the nearby maze of 13th-century streets is redolent with a sense of troubled history, chronicled in Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers, which was set amongst Verona’s brooding alleyways and hidden gardens.

Perhaps enjoy a long lunch, visit one of the city’s fine museums or churches, or take a stroll on the bank of the River Adige – the choices – and the pleasures – are yours.

There is no shortage of bars, in which to sample a glass or two of locally produced wine, and of course in a city famed for its opera, there are occasional concerts and recitals – the tourist office will post information on how to find them.

Day 4 – Optional excursion to Treviso and Bassano del Grappa

Today’s optional tour combines the restored beauty of the delightful, walled capital of the Veneto, Treviso, with its own network of canals and waterways, with a visit to Bassano del Grappa. Board the coach and head first to lovingly restored Treviso, often referred to as Little Venice, and a charming city of churches and frescoed houses surrounded by stout fortifications, some dating from Roman times.

A delightful day is completed with a visit to charming Bassano del Grappa, which straddles the River Brenta and boasts a 13th-century ‘Ponte Vecchio' bridge amongst its attractions. Bassano is known for its local produce, including porcini mushrooms, asparagus and, of course its Grappa distilleries. The Poli Grappa Museum traces the history and production of the quintessential Italian spirit, and is a highlight of a fascinating day.

Return to Verona to spend a last evening in the city

Day 5 – Return home

Bid “Arrivederci” to your hosts and transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

Venice Carnival & Verona is located in Escorted Tour, Italy. Accommodation rating is the operators own rating and may not be the official rating. Hotel details correct at 27/01/2021