La Bella Vita luxury barge cruises

Venice

Sunday
Guests are greeted on Sunday afternoon at Piazzale Roma in Venice or the Best Western Hotel Bologna in Mestre. They are then driven by air-conditioned coach to La Bella Vita for a welcome drink of prosecco.
After an afternoon cruise along the Giudecca Canal, passing some of the most well-known landmarks in Venice, such as the Basillica di Santa Maria della Salute, the Punta della Dogana, and the Chiesa del Redentore, we dock by the Naval Museum.  Take a stroll over to St. Mark's Square for our guided tour of the Doge's Palace
Dinner is served aboard.

Venice to San Pietro in Volta

Monday
We start the day with a guided walking tour of the Castello neighbourhood. Along the way, we explore some hidden gems of the city, such as the gardens of the Biennale Exhibition of Modern Arts, Palladio's Church of San Pietro in Castello, and the Venetian Ships Pavilion, an addition to the Naval History Museum Venice that houses important historical vessels like warships and ceremonial barges. 
We will enjoy a late afternoon cruise to Pellestrina, which is the point where the Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea meet. We travel through the Canal of Orphans, passing by small churches, painted fishing boats, and lagoon islands with their historic monasteries.
Take a pre-dinner stroll along the Istrian sea wall, built in the 18th century.
Dinner is served aboard.

San Pietro in Volta to Taglio di Po 

Tuesday
We cruise to Chioggia, the setting for Goldoni's plays, after breakfast to see the Church of San Domenico, which is situated on an island and dates back to the eighteenth century. Admire the final known painting by Capaccios, "St. Paul," as well as pieces by Bassano and Tintoretto. We also appreciate the historic fish market at Piazzetta Vigo. In stark contrast to La Belle Vita, there will be a chance to take a quick tour of Chioggia's picturesque canals in one of the handcrafted traditional boats made locally!

We will continue our cruise upriver through a nature reserve after lunch, stopping to see snipe, herons, flamingos, and other waterfowl before reaching Taglio di Po. We're in for a treat this evening as we eat dinner on the waterfront with the owners of the stunning 17th-century Villa Ca'Zen, where Lord Byron courted the Countess Giuccioli and composed some of his most romantic poetry.

Taglio di Po to Zelo

Wednesday
This morning, we'll be taking a different waterways as we enter the Bianco Canal and head toward Adria. En route, we'll stop at an Etruscan town to explore its Archeological Museum.
After lunch on board, we'll drive to the Bagnoli Estate in the afternoon for a private wine tasting in the estate's 17th-century cellars and a tour of its stunning Renaissance gardens.
We return to La Bella Vita for our evening mooring at Zelo.

Dinner is served aboard.

Zelo to Governolo

Thursday
This morning, we continue our classical education with a tour of the Renaissance city of Ferrera, where we can see the Schifanoia Palace, which is well-known for its magnificent frescoes from the fifteenth century. We also tour the magnificent cathedral with its façade of sculpted images described as an illustrated Bible, and we admire the exterior of the Estense Castle with its moat.
After reuniting with La Belle Vita in Trevenzuolo, we cruise through farms and villages until mooring in Governolo for the evening.
Dinner is served aboard.

Governolo to Mantua

Friday
A cruise to Mantua, the birthplace of poet Virgil and artists Mantegna and Donatello, would be the ideal way to cap off our adventure through the Italian Renaissance. The Ducal Palace, built in the fourteenth century and home to a museum, basilica, theatre, and fifteen gardens and courtyards, is one of Mantua's most remarkable examples of neo-classical and baroque architecture. There are 12,000 paintings and sculptures, the Gallery of Mirrors, and elaborate frescoes just waiting to be discovered.
There will be much to talk about this evening at the Captain's Farewell Dinner.

Mantua

Saturday
After breakfast, our guests are transferred by private minibus to the Best Westenr Hotel Bologna in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice.