Cities of art, villas and castles amidst the flavours and aromas of the D.O.C. wines of the Colli Berici.

PROGRAMME

1^st day -  Verona: the city of love

• Arrival in VERONA; walk through the historical centre  of the city that houses the magnificent Arena, Juliet’s house, the squares Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori.
• Dinner in a local restaurant on the hills of the Colli Berici.
• Overnight stay and breakfast in a Hotel or Agritourist structure.
  

2^nd day - From the old Castle of Soave to the gentle hills of the Colli Berici

• Visit to SOAVE and its medieval castle.
• In the afternoon, visit to a Palladian Villa tucked away amongst the gently rolling hills of Vicenza.
• Visit to a vineyard along the Colli Berici D.O.C. Wine Route with D.O.C. wine tasting.
• Dinner in the vineyard or in a local Agritourist structure.
• Overnight stay and breakfast in a Hotel or Agritourist structure.

3^rd day - Vicenza: Palladio’s city

• Arrival in VICENZA; walk through the historical centre to admire the prodigious heritage of Palladian architecture, such as the Olympic Theatre, Palladio’s house and the several palaces attributed to the neo-classical artist.
• Visit to a vineyard along the Colli Berici D.O.C. Wine Route with D.O.C. wine tasting.
• Optional hike or pony trekking on the hills of Vicenza.
• Dinner in the vineyard or in a local Agritourist structure.
• Overnight stay and breakfast in Agritourist structure.

4^th day - From the relaxing SPA of Abano Terme to the magnificence of Villa Pisani

• Relaxing morning in a wellness centre with free entry to the thermal baths.
• In the afternoon, departure for Stra to visit the stately Villa Pisani, with the famous fresco by G.B. Tiepolo in the ballroom. Visit to the evocative park and the old labyrinth.
• Dinner in a local restaurant.
• Overnight stay and breakfast in Agritourist structure.

5^th day - Sailing the waters of the Riviera del Brenta

• Departure from Stra by motor-boat, sailing along the charming Riviera del Brenta and the wonderful Venetian Villas, along the way of the old ‘burchiello’ boats. Lunch on board with a typical fish-based menu. Stop to visit the characteristic town centre of Dolo.
• In the afternoon, optional visit to Villa Barchessa Valmarana (entry costs € 5.00 p.p.), housing Venetian Baroque paintings by Michelangelo Schiavoni, or Villa Widmann (entry costs € 5.00 p.p.), a sumptuous 18th century residence designed by Andrea Tirali with the fresco paintings by Giuseppe Angeli.
• Sail along admiring the great many stately Villas of the Riviera.
  In Malcontenta, the wonderful Villa Foscari ‘La Malcontenta’ (entry costs € 10.00 p.p.) designed in 1560 by Andrea Palladio rises up, with its internal walls covered entirely by fresco paintings by Giambattista Franco and Giovanni Battista Zelotti.
• Return on board and sail the Fusina through the Moranzani lock, an old 17th century artefact built with the mechanism designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
• The trip ends in Fusina, where public transport is available for your return to Stra.