Day 1: SATURDAY
Upon arrival, you are met at the Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice and transferred to Verona. Visit the Arena Muse Opera. Continue to Arena di Verona and see a performance of Bizet’s Carmen (August 20, 2016). Overnight in Verona.
Day 2: SUNDAY
Take a guided tour of Verona before driving to Venice to board ‘La Bella Vita.’ Cruise the Giudecca Canal, passing the Chiesa del Redentore, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and Punta della Dogana. Moor outside the Naval Museum. Disembark, stroll to St. Mark’s Square and see the Doge’s Palace.
Day 3: MONDAY
Take a guided tour of the Gran Teatro La Fenice opera house. Cruise to Pellestrina, plying the Canal of the Orphans. Enjoy a walk at sunset.
Day 4: TUESDAY
Walk or cycle along the 18th-century Istrian sea wall in Pellestrina. Proceed to Chioggia, seeing the town center, fish market and cathedral. Visit the Piazzetta. Back onboard ‘La Bella Vita,’ pass through a nature reserve with flamingos, herons and snipes. In Taglio di Po, have dinner ashore at Villa Ca’Zen — the private riverside home where Lord Byron courted Countess Guiccioli.
Day 5: WEDNESDAY
Cruise to Adria and see the Archaeological Museum. Drive to the Bagnoli Estate; tour the Renaissance gardens and wine cellars of Villa Widmann Borletti, pausing for a private tasting; and cruise to Bosaro.
Day 6: THURSDAY
Take a guided tour of Ferrara, visiting the Teatro Communale. Continue to the Camerino delle Duchesse, seeing a private room in the Ducal, as well as 14th-century Estense Castle. At Schifanoia Palace, see its renowned frescoes. Continue to Trevenzuolo.
Day 7: FRIDAY
Arrive in Mantua and see the 14th-century Ducal Palace; “Rigoletto’s house”; and Teatro Bibiena. Attend a Captain’s Farewell Dinner.
Day 8: SATURDAY
After breakfast, transfer to the Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice.