In Transit: Overnight flight crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Arrivals the following day.

Arrive To: Arrival at Venice Airport. Transfer by coach to hotel in Padua. This medieval town boasts an ancient university (1222) and an impressive faculty, including Galileo. The focus of the city is Il Santo, or S. Antonio of Padua, a Portuguese friar who died there in 1231. Pilgrims flock to the Basilica built in his honor, as did the number of artists commissioned to embellish the building.

Lunch: Lunch at hotel restaurant.

Afternoon: An informal gathering is followed by a neighborhood walk pointing out the location of ATMs, pharmacies, grocery stores, and nearby attractions.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Europa

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Program coordinator introduces the lectures, excursions and trips on the program schedule in a morning orientation. An introductory lecture entitled, “Padua and Her University,” is an irreverent look at one of Europe’s oldest institutions of higher learning (est. 1222), whose list of alumni includes illustrious names such as Galileo and Torquato Tasso, given by a local university historian and Shakespeare scholar.

Lunch: Lunch at hotel restaurant.

Afternoon: A local guide and historian leads a visit to the 14th century Basilica of Saint Anthony, who is known as "il Santo." The visit continues to the adjacent Oratory, a local treasure built around the same time frame as the Basilica and completely adorned with frescoes by artist, Altichiero da Zevio. Just down the way, are the world famous botanical gardens of Padua, where there will be free time to explore the indigenous and exotic flora, stroll the grounds, or relax by the fountains.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Europa

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: A local expert gives a talk on the painter Giotto and his influence on the artists of the Italian Renaissance, most notably for his solid figures depicting accurate representations of human emotions.

Lunch: Lunch at hotel restaurant.

Afternoon: An expert led visit to the Scrovegni Chapel presents the magnificent frescoes (1303-05.) It was commissioned by Enrico Scrovegni as a way to expiate the guilt he felt from his family's money lending business. In addition to scenes depicting the life of Mary and Jesus, there is a Last Judgment which gives insight into the prevalent belief system of the day. Giotto breaks away from the medieval Gothic style to depict emotions in the faces of the personages.

Dinner: Dinner on your own.

Lodging: Hotel Europa

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel restaurant.

Morning: Coach to Ravenna, a city that once Rome declined, became the capital of the Western Empire (402-VI.) It remained the capital through the Ostrogoth and Byzantine rule. The bus will stop in Classe, the old port for the Roman navy (you can see how much the land has silted in, the Adriatic is more than one mile away. There you can see the mosaics for the new church honoring S. Apollinare.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: The visit continues with an expert led visit to the serene tomb of Galla Placidia, dated to 430. The vaulted ceiling in dark blue mosaics with stylized stars is intended to give the sense of the firmament. You may recognize the often reproduced image of doves around a water basin. In the basilica of S. Vitale you will see a mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian (5th C.) who is credited with re-codifying Roman law, the basis for our own civic laws.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Europa

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Transfer to Venice by coach and boat along the Grand Canal. Your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: A brief presentation of the logistics of moving around in Venice followed by a short orientation walk in the neighborhood. Public transportation in Venice is by boats called, "Vaporetto." You will receive a pass valid for the duration of your stay.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Evening: An evening walk in the charming Dorsoduro district of Venice, quiet home to artists, designers, writers and educators. Dorsoduro faces West, so expect beautiful sunsets across Canale della Giudecca as you look at that large island.

Lodging: Hotel Messner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: In a visit of St. Mark's Basilica, one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture a local expert points out the gilded mosaics and the gem laden golden pall behind the altar.

Lunch: Lunch on your own

Afternoon: Return to St. Mark's square for a guided visit of the Doge's Palace. This is the residence and offices of the Venetian ruler. See the great halls, richly decorated with paintings, frescos and sculptures. From the palace, you will have the best seats in the house to look over the Canal. Cross over the famous "Bridge of Sighs" and visit the dungeons called, "I Piombi."

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Messner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: In the Frari church an expert-led visit of the Franciscan church with masterpieces of the artists Titian and Bellini. This is where the sculptor Canova is buried.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Explore the lively Rialto Market and famous bridge that spans the Grand Canal. The market has been the center for commerce and trade for centuries when merchants sold exotic imported goods just unloaded from ships. Today you can walk among the stalls of souvenirs of glass and lace or choose from a colorful range of fruit, vegetables and fish.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Messner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Rehearsal schedule permitting, the opera house La Fenice conducts tours of the historic theater.

Lunch: Lunch on your own

Afternoon: Expert-led visit to the Ghetto, where the prosperous Jewish community was concentrated after the 1500s. Today it is a lively and thriving quarter, with its religious and administrative institutions, particularly two Synagogues, open for services.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Messner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: A walking itinerary links the musical landmarks of the city and culminates at a gondola dock where you board the elegantly sleek Venetian vessel. No visit to Venice would be complete without a private gondola ride through the interior canals.

Lunch: Lunch at hotel restaurant.

Afternoon: Shakespeare in Venice lecture, the Bard set 5 plays in the Veneto region, Romeo and Juliette, Two Gentlemen from Verona, Taming of the Shrew, Othello and the Merchant of Venice. Our scholar illuminates Venice through English literature.

Dinner: Dinner on your own

Evening: Delight in an evening concert of classical Venetian musical traditions.

Lodging: Hotel Messner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Within walking distance to the hotel, a local art historian guides a visit to the vast art museum of Venetian painting, The Galleria dell'Accademia, established 1807. Renowned artists include Veneziano, Giorgione, Veronese, and Tintoretto.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: Free afternoon to explore a corner of the city on your own--on foot or using your vaporetto pass valid for the entire week of your stay in Venice. Look for suggested itineraries or destinations from your group leader.

Dinner: Dinner on your own

Lodging: Hotel Messner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Vaporetto ride to the island of Murano, noted for the numerous glass manufacturers and artisans located there. To prevent widespread fire from spreading on the main island of Venice, centuries ago all kilns were moved to Murano. A master-craftsmen demonstrates the art of glassblowing. Free time to explore Murano at your own pace.

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Free afternoon. Possibility to board another vaporetto to reach the island of Burano. The colorful houses and quiet streets are home to a burgeoning artistic community. You will find many shops where you can watch artisans create intricate lace handy-work.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Messner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room; continental style for participants with early morning departures.

Morning: Departures from Venice airport

Meals Included: Breakfast