Amber Road Tours

Veneto/Alto Adige

12 days/11 nights

• Day 1

  Verona, one of Italy's most magnificent and picturesque cities, is situated on the looping Adige River and boasts wide pedestrian lanes and squares, elegant shops and cafés. Roman origins are amply demonstrated by the ancient forum, theater and famous amphitheater - one of the best preserved of antiquity and now hosting a vibrant summer season of opera. Verona's rich medieval heritage, immortalized by Shakespeare, attracts romantics from all over the world seeking traces of the star-crossed Romeo and Juliet.

  Your tour manager will welcome you early afternoon at the Hotel Due Torri (3 nights) a lovely 14th century palazzo in the center of town. Click hotel link for photos and information. Late afternoon we'll have a guided introductory tour of the historic district, followed by aperitifs and welcome dinner.

• Day 2

  In the 13th century after a period of feuding and vendettas, not unlike that of the fictional Montagues and Capulets, one family rose to power, the della Scala. They greatly expanded the power and territory of Verona, hosted Dante in exile and were patrons of the arts. Towards the end of their reign, as the populace grew tired of their increasing tyranny, Cangrande II (big dog junior) erected an enormous castle with an escape-route bridge across the Adige river.

  Our morning will commence with a visit to this Scaligero Bridge and Castelvecchio, also home to the Civic Museum. After which we'll leave you to your own explorations of this most pleasing town.

  Mid-afternoon we'll meet again for an in-depth local guide tour that includes the Arena, Duomo, St Anastasia Church, the Roman theater and the Torre dei Lamberti.

• Day 3

  From the 15th to the 18th centuries, thousands of luxurious villas and gardens were built as summer homes throughout the Veneto by wealthy Venetians. We'll begin this morning with a guided tour of Villa Valmarana ai Nani and the sublime frescoes of Giambattista and Giandomenico Tiepolo.

  For the rest of the day we'll occupy ourselves with the works of one of the most important architects of this or any era, Andrea Palladio, the master of harmony and proportion. A five minute walk will bring us to the Villa La Rotonda, his best known creation, where we'll have a private tour of the interior and gardens followed by a light lunch on the grounds at Le Scuderie.

  The afternoon will find us in sparkling Vicenza, "the city of Palladio", highlighted by the Teatro Olimpico, the oldest working indoor theater in the world (1580) and one of the marvels of the Renaissance.

• Day 4

  Lake Garda, the largest in Italy, is where we'll spend our morning. After a cappuccino stop in the village of Garda we'll board a ferry for a two hour cruise that will take us across the lake, past the villages of Salò and Limone and north up to Riva del Garda for a leisurely lunch in the scenic port.

  The Adige River, the second longest in Italy, has its source in the alpine areas near the borders of Austria and Switzerland, flows south through Verona, then east to the Adriatic sea. The river gives its name to the Alto-Adige, a bilingual province also known as Südtirol, which up until the end of WWI was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With the majestic Dolomite mountains in the background, its fertile valleys are prolific producers of fruit, wine and cheeses.

  Bolzano, the provincial capital, will be our host for three nights. We'll be staying at the Hotel Luna Mondschein, whose history as an inn and tavern dates back to medieval times. This evening at dinner they will show us what they've learned in 500 years.

• Day 5

  It's difficult to imagine a more delightful city than Bolzano, with its wonderful architecture, pedestrian lanes, market squares, parks, rivers and flowers.

  Our day begins with a local guide tour of the town and its unique history as the most important trading center between northern and southern Europe.

  Visit to the Mercantile Museum, ancient seat of the Mercantile Courthouse established in 1635 by the archduchess Claudia de' Medici of Florence.

  Late morning free for your own explorations.

  Mid afternoon we'll head just south of the Austrian border to Bressanone, the oldest town in the region founded in 901. We had just mentioned that it would be difficult to find a place more charming than Bolzano but here it is. After a guided visit to the impressive 13th century Palazzo Vescovile, center of power for the ruling bishop-princes, you'll have ample time on your own to experience the elegance that is Bressanone.

• Day 6

  The Renon, the high plateau above Bolzano, is a beautiful area of sunny meadows and farmhouses where 97% of the population is German speaking. To arrive there we'll ascend 3,000 feet on a 12 minute cable car ride; travel 30 minutes in a 1907 vintage narrow gauge train; and take an easy walk with our local guide to hear stories of the Teutonic Knights and to see the earth pyramids, a rare geological formation; enjoy wonderful views of the Dolomite mountain peaks followed by a stop for cappuccino and a delicious local treat kaiserschmarren.

  Guided visit to the medieval Castel Roncolo with its excellent cycle of frescoes on the story of Tristan and Isolde.

  Late afternoon we have a fascinating appointment at the South Tyrol Archaeological Museum to see Otzi, the 5,000 year old Iceman - the discovery of his frozen mummy and artifacts in 1991 revolutionized the knowledge of our human past - Click to read more about Otzi.

• Day 7

  Before leaving the Alto Adige we'll first stop at the spa town of Levico Terme on the shores of Lago di Caldonazzo. Arriving back in the Veneto we'll visit Bassano del Grappa on the Brenta River. You'll have time on your own to explore the squares, the Palladio-designed Ponte degli Alpini (Alpine Soldiers' Bridge) and have lunch. Naturally you won't want to miss the grappa museum, (for the timid there is a ceramic museum) before our afternoon visit to the excellent Civic Museum featuring many prominent artists, in particular Jacopo Bassano.

  Asolo, a small hill town that has been home to artists and poets over the centuries, is an enchanting place where, according to some, time slows and the inhabitants live in a perpetual state of spring fever. The truth of this you will attest to yourself but its beauty and charm are undeniable. The lodging for our three nights' stay is the Albergo Al Sole, a hotel since the early 1900's. Late afternoon on your own prior to an included dinner on a terrace offering views of Monte Grappa.

• Day 8

  Late morning departure for the hills of the Valdobbiadene where we'll have a tour of a Prosecco cantina with wine tasting and light lunch.

  Antonio Canova (1757-1822), one of the most accomplished sculptors of all time, was a native of Possagno, just six miles from Asolo. The Canova museum includes his birth home and the "gipsoteca" a splendid collection of all of his works in gypsum, the material he used after modeling in clay and prior to sculpting in marble. We'll also visit his Tempio Canoviano, the neo-classical temple that became his ultimate resting place.

• Day 9

  Mid morning departure for a guided visit to Villa Barbaro di Maser, a medieval palazzo transformed into a country villa by Palladio decorated with a cycle of frescoes, the master-work of Paolo Veronese.

  Treviso is a gem of a city, a "miniature Venice" with canals minus the crowds. You'll have lunch on your own, then a tour with our local guide and then some time to explore before returning to Asolo.

• Day 10

  Padova, an ancient Roman town, has a long and rich history. It is home to one of Europe's oldest universities (1221), counting among its illustrious alumni Petrarch, Dante and Galileo, and was the setting for Shakespeare's TheTaming of the Shrew. This morning we'll have a guided city walking tour highlighted by a visit to the Scrovegni Chapel with the extraordinary early 14th century frescoes of Giotto.

  The Brenta River, which connects Venice and Padova, was considered by many Venetians to be a continuation of the Grand Canal. The Riviera del Brenta arose over the course of centuries with sumptuous villas sprouting up on both sides of the river, "designed and decorated by masters of Italian art". One of these, Villa Franceschi, has been transformed into a hotel where we'll spend the last two nights of our tour.

• Day 11

  The front door to Venice has always been the sea and that's how we'll arrive this morning, by private boat. Our local guide will meet us in St. Mark's Square for a tour that includes the Doge's Palace and the Basilica, the power and soul of the 1,000 year maritime republic.

  After a walk through the maze of Venetian alleys to Rialto we'll continue our boat tour through the Venetian Lagoon arriving at the island of Torcello, in ancient times a summer retreat for the Roman nobility; during 5th and 6th centuries one of the first refuges from the barbarian invasions; and in medieval times a productive and powerful center of commerce. What remains today is a quiet fisherman's port, archeological remains, a 7th century cathedral and a fabulous restaurant where we'll experience a delightful array of Venetian specialties accompanied by Bellini and Prosecco.

  Next port is beautiful Burano, known for its colorful homes and the production of handmade merletti (lace).

  Then, Murano, famous worldwide near since a thousand years for its production of glass. We'll visit an artisan center and gallery exhibiting some of the most beautifully crafted objects in the world!

  Returning to Venice our guided cruise will continue through the Grand Canal with tales of historical palaces and ancient intrigues.

  Exquisite farewell dinner at Villa Franceschi.

• Day 12

  Early morning transfer to Venice airport.

  For those wishing to extend their Italy stay our mid morning transfer will be to Piazzale Roma where you can walk or take a water taxi into Venice or catch a high-speed train to other points.