Venice in Springtime – 08-13 April, 2024

As the days become longer and the sun warms the stones of the city it’s time to think about Venice in the springtime. The perfect time to visit. The wisteria is flowering and the Rialto Market is over-flowing with fresh vegetables and delicious fish. I’ve created a wonderful 6 day trip staying at Pensione Accademia in stylish Dorsoduro – you can even see the Grand Canal from the garden.

The trip will be hosted and guided by me – there’ll be walks to hidden gardens, a visit to the Giudecca. We’ll go for private boat tours in and around Venice, including very special and unique visits. We’ll head up the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore. We’ll discover the incredible artisans of Venice, paper makers, printers and jewellery makers.

It’s as close as you can get to being at home in Venice. Think Katharine Hepburn in the film ‘Summertime’ and you can picture the scene. This is a small group experience with a maximum of 8-10 guests. Think private boat rides, a day on the lagoon, visits to artisan studios and discovering little known palaces. This is a neighbourhood by neighbourhood visit to Venice. It’s all about really getting to know this magical city marooned between land and sea.

8th April, Monday: Venice – Accademia

Arrive in Venice today and check-in to our charming ‘pensione’ hotel. The Pensione Accademia is wonderfully located just steps from the Accademia Bridge and a stone’s throw from the Grand Canal. It really is the ideal base for a relaxing stay in Venice: www.pensioneaccademia.it There’s a courtyard garden with views over the water and of Rio San Trovaso, a small waterway, just outside the hotel.

Relax with an aperitivo in the courtyard, as you absorb the sights, sounds and smells of Venice. This evening we will have drinks followed by a Welcome Dinner at a nearby trattoria.

Meals included today: Dinner

_{Summertime (1955) starring Katharine Hepburn, directed by David Lean}

9th April, Tuesday: Rialto, San Marco, Accademia

After breakfast at the ‘pensione’ we’ll head on foot through the neighbourhood of Dorsoduro towards the Rialto Market. Our route takes us along narrow medieval alleys, through various campos (squares) and finally to the Rialto Market. In April the stalls are over-flowing with fresh vegetables, the freshest of fish from the lagoon and a wonderful array of colours, scents and character. It’s fun to make a couple of purchases at the market – perhaps some fresh fruit, herbs or even new-season artichokes from Sant’Erasmo. We’ll also pop into Paolo Pelosin’s handmade paper shop – it’s my favourite.

Cicchetti (snack lunch included at Rialto) with great views of the Grand Canal. We’ll meander along the Merceria to St Mark’s after lunch with a stop in Piazza San Marco at Quadri or Florian – one of the famous cafes. Napoleon declared St Mark’s Square the finest drawing room in Europe.

Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch

_{Carciofo Violetto di Sant’Erasmo, for sale in the market at Rialto (left). Vegetables & tomatoes, on the right.}

10th April, Wednesday: Art in Venice

Today we’ll discover some of the wonderful art of Venice. First we’ll stroll to Peggy Guggenheim’s palazzo. Peggy lived in Venice from the 1940s until her death. She assembled one of the finest collections of modern art in Europe. A visit to her house (now an art gallery) is quite an experience. Marvel at paintings by Chagall, Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dali, Magritte, Max Ernst and Leonora Carrington. Nearby is the Palazzo Cini which is also worth a visit – it houses an exquisite Botticelli painting. Well worth a visit.

This afternoon is free for you to explore and appreciate Venice. There is so much to see and do. Then at about 7 pm we’ll meet at the ‘pensione’ to go out for dinner. One of my favourite restaurants awaits us.

Meals included today: Breakfast, Dinner

_{Venice at sunset – Salute and San Lazzaro degli Armeni}

11th April, Thursday: Lagoon, Torcello, Burano

Today is a day on the water, discovering this unique natural harbour and the numerous islands that make up the Venetian Lagoon. We’ll make our way northwards towards Torcello – the island of legends. Then we’ll continue to Burano for lunch at the fantastic Da Romano trattoria. Da Romano is famous for the quality of the food, especially the fish risotto (just exceptional). It’s also famous for the exceptional art collection that hangs on the walls.

After a lengthy lunch there’s time for shopping in the cute lace shops of Burano before heading back to Venice. This evening is free for you to relax, take a stroll, or perhaps join me for a sun-downer on the nearby Zattere (where the views are breath-taking at sunset).

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

_{Torcello (left) by www.nicolefriedler.com Burano (centre) colourful houses line the canals. Dorsoduro (right) towards Giudecca}

12th April, Friday: Giudecca – San Giorgio Maggiore – Giardini

Today we travel across the Giudecca Canal to the island of Giudecca to view Venice from a different perspective. The views across the water to St Marks and La Salute are incredible. We’ll visit the small church of Sant’Eufemia, with its 12th century origins. We’ll also see an area where ordinary Venetians live, complete with their fishing boats and nets, drying in the warm sun.

This evening is our final dinner together – once again we’ll be enjoying some spectacular food on possibly the finest terrace in Venice!

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

_{Views from Giudecca back towards Zattere. The gardens of Sant’Eufemia, Giudecca}

13th April, Saturday: Departures

Today is departures day – we’ll arrange transfers by water taxi to either the airport or the train station – as required. Meals included today: Breakfast. Arriverderci!!!

This exceptional Venetian experience includes:

• 5 nights at Pensione Accademia
• Private water taxi transfers on arrival and departure
• Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
• A morning visit to the Rialto market
• Welcome drinks on arrival day.
• Daily walking tours as outlined in the itinerary
• A full day on the lagoon in our own private boat – visiting the islands
• Several visits to artisan producers, paper-maker, printer, jewellery maker.
• Numerous surprises and added extras.
• A deliberately flexible programme to enable us to adapt/improve each day at a moment’s notice.
• A choice of room types (see below).

This is a very special trip, very close to my heart and filled with local knowledge acquired over decades. For more information please e-mail: janet@grand-tourist.com

 The cost of the trip depends on room category selected at the hotel:

• Single room – small: GBP 3995 / Euros 4650 pp – 1 room left !!
• Standard Double (for single use): GBP 4750 / Euros 5500 pp – SOLD OUT
• Superior Double (for single use): GBP 4950 / Euros € 5800 pp – SOLD OUT
• Junior Suite (for single use): GBP 5200 pp / Euros € 6100 pp – SOLD OUT
• Prices based on exchange rate of € 1.163 / GBP 1.00 (may vary at time of booking).

We do not charge a single room supplement.

To book:

• A deposit of GBP 2000 / Euros 2400 / US $ 2600 is required to confirm your spot.
• The balance is then payable by 1^st March, 2024

Note – Flights are not included.

_{It’s all happening on Giudecca – The fabulous Capuchin Friars of Redentore Church – left}

NOTE – Over the last six years I’ve written hundreds of articles about Venice, Italy and ‘Life in General’. Below there is a suggested list of further reading from the pen of Janet Simmonds aka The Educated Traveller www.greyhoundtrainers.com

• Peggy Guggenheim – Modern Art in Venice
• Il Pavone – The Peacock
• Torcello – Island of legends – Cipriani, Hemingway, Venice
• Venice – Botticelli in Venice – seriously?
• Venice and Film

_{Dirk Bogarde starred in ‘Death in Venice’ 1971 film by Visconti, filmed in Venice and on the Lido}

4th March, 2024