Cruise along the Venetian Lagoon and the Po Valley
Venice
Sunday
Guests are met at the Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre, or Piazzale Roma in Venice on Sunday afternoon and transferred by air-conditioned coach to La Bella Vita for a Prosecco welcome.
A late afternoon cruise takes us along the Giudecca Canal past some of Venice's most famous monuments before we enjoy the first excursion, a guided visit of the Doge's Palace.
Dinner aboard.
Sunday
Guests are met at the Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre, or Piazzale Roma in Venice on Sunday afternoon and transferred by air-conditioned coach to La Bella Vita for a Prosecco welcome.
A late afternoon cruise takes us along the Giudecca Canal past some of Venice's most famous monuments before we enjoy the first excursion, a guided visit of the Doge's Palace.
Dinner aboard.
Venice to San Pietro in Volta
Monday
This morning we begin the day with a guided walking tour of the Castello district, discovering some hidden history along the way.
Late afternoon cruise to Pellestrina separating the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, along the Canal of Orphans passing lagoon islands with their brightly coloured houses, painted fishing boats and tiny churches.
Enjoy a pre-dinner stroll along the 18th century Istrian sea wall.
Dinner aboard.
Monday
This morning we begin the day with a guided walking tour of the Castello district, discovering some hidden history along the way.
Late afternoon cruise to Pellestrina separating the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, along the Canal of Orphans passing lagoon islands with their brightly coloured houses, painted fishing boats and tiny churches.
Enjoy a pre-dinner stroll along the 18th century Istrian sea wall.
Dinner aboard.
San Pietro in Volta to Taglio di Po
Tuesday
After breakfast, we cruise to Chioggia to visit the 18th century Church of San Domenico set on its island, and then enjoy a short tour of Chioggia's pretty canals in one of the locally made traditional boats, in quite a contrast to La Belle Vita!
Tuesday
After breakfast, we cruise to Chioggia to visit the 18th century Church of San Domenico set on its island, and then enjoy a short tour of Chioggia's pretty canals in one of the locally made traditional boats, in quite a contrast to La Belle Vita!
After lunch, we continue our cruise upriver to Taglio di Po. This evening is quite a treat as we dine ashore with the owners of the beautiful 17th century Villa Ca'Zen.
Taglio di Po to Zelo
Wednesday
A change of waterway this morning as we join the Bianco Canal and cruise toward Adria where we'll stop to visit the Archeological museum in this Etruscan town.
Lunch will be served on board before our afternoon drive takes us to the Bagnoli Estate for a private wine tasting in the 17th-century cellars and a tour of the beautiful Renaissance gardens.
Dinner on board.
Wednesday
A change of waterway this morning as we join the Bianco Canal and cruise toward Adria where we'll stop to visit the Archeological museum in this Etruscan town.
Lunch will be served on board before our afternoon drive takes us to the Bagnoli Estate for a private wine tasting in the 17th-century cellars and a tour of the beautiful Renaissance gardens.
Dinner on board.
Zelo to Governolo
Thursday
Our classical education continues this morning in our tour of the Renaissance city of Ferrera, where we can see the exterior of the Estense Castle and visit the Schifanoia Palace.
We rejoin La Belle Vita in Trevenzuolo for our afternoon cruise passing through villages and farmsteads to our evening mooring at Governolo.
Dinner aboard.
Thursday
Our classical education continues this morning in our tour of the Renaissance city of Ferrera, where we can see the exterior of the Estense Castle and visit the Schifanoia Palace.
We rejoin La Belle Vita in Trevenzuolo for our afternoon cruise passing through villages and farmsteads to our evening mooring at Governolo.
Dinner aboard.
Governolo to Mantua
Friday
What better way to finish our Italian Renaissance adventure than cruising to Mantua: intricate frescoes, the Gallery of Mirrors and 12,000 paintings and sculptures await discovery. There will be much to talk about this evening at the Captain's Farewell Dinner.
Friday
What better way to finish our Italian Renaissance adventure than cruising to Mantua: intricate frescoes, the Gallery of Mirrors and 12,000 paintings and sculptures await discovery. 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 Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice.
Saturday
After breakfast, our guests are transferred by private minibus to the Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice.