Italy
Independent Venice: Art, Culture and Canals
Program No. 23230RJ
Discover the timeless beauty, architectural grandeur, world-class cuisine and unparalleled cultural legacy of Venice with local experts and plenty of time on your own.
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 14 - Sep 21, 2024
Starting at
3,149Oct 5 - Oct 12, 2024
Starting at
3,149DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Oct 26 - Nov 2, 2024
Starting at
3,989Not seeing the date you're looking for?
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At a Glance
Experience "la bea vita" (the beautiful life in Venetian dialect) in Venice as you learn from our Study Leader and then independently discover the parts of the city that are calling to you most — whether the gorgeous marbled architecture reflected in its winding canals or the narrow backstreets where daily life unfolds. Immerse yourself in the Italian culture by tasting the fresh flavors of the sea at quaint trattorie and learning about Venetian crafts from local artisans. With the help of your Study Leader and plenty of time on your own, study the spectacular artists, architects, and musicians that contributed (and continue to add to) Venice’s unmatched beauty.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles a day. Extended standing during site visits with limited or no public seating. Uneven terrain, limited public handrails, unavoidable stairs, marble and terracotta flooring, cobblestones. Elevator use is limited or restricted in historic sites. Venice's canal bridges have ramps or stairs with handrails. Expect crowded conditions in pedestrian centers and museums. Program-related travel and transfers will be via vaporetto and water taxi. Sheltered waiting areas may not be available at docks. The extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Independent City Discoveries
Learn with a Group Leader and enjoy educational programming while also getting substantial independent time to explore on your own. Most Independent City Discoveries include lectures, self-guided excursions and passes for public transit and museums.
What You'll Learn
- Experience the St. Mark’s Basilica at night, when its beauty can be experienced without crowds.
- Revel in a Vivaldi concert performed on priceless original instruments by a chamber music ensemble.
- Gain a deeper understanding of traditional Venetian crafts – including Carnival masks – with the author of "Venice Master Artisans," Cristina Gregorin.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Cristina Gregorin
Cristina Gregorin has a PhD in German studies and earned her degree in history, art history, and languages from the University of Trieste. She has lived and worked in Venice for many decades. As an excursion expert, she prefers to offer a multifaceted experience of Venice that includes traditions and habits of the past and present, and the juxtaposition of the historical and contemporary aspects of the city. Cristina is the author of “Venice Master Artisans,” a book focusing on Venetian arts and crafts.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Cristina Gregorin
View biography
Cristina Gregorin has a PhD in German studies and earned her degree in history, art history, and languages from the University of Trieste. She has lived and worked in Venice for many decades. As an excursion expert, she prefers to offer a multifaceted experience of Venice that includes traditions and habits of the past and present, and the juxtaposition of the historical and contemporary aspects of the city. Cristina is the author of “Venice Master Artisans,” a book focusing on Venetian arts and crafts.
Michela Ceccarini
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Michela Ceccarini has a passion for foreign languages and cultures, but particularly enjoys sharing the wonders of Genoa, Italy, with lifelong learners from around the world. A Road Scholar group leader for nearly a decade, Michela is also the founder of Genova Insieme, an association that organizes cultural events in Genoa, educational activities for schools and excursions to art cities in Italy. In addition, she also consults in foreign public relations for companies and accompanies Italian groups to Scandinavia.
Suggested Reading List
(14 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Independent Venice: Art, Culture and Canals
Program Number: 23230
The Genius of Venice, Piazza San Marco and the Making of the Republic
With 112 color illustrations and four maps, the Genius of Venice presents the magnificent buildings of the celebrated piazza as, in the words of John Ruskin, the "living books of history" in this handsome cultural history.
Venice is a Fish
The hugely popular Venetian novelist, poet and playwright makes his English-language debut with these marvelously digressive essays on the many moods and pleasures of La Serenissima.
The City of Falling Angels
Following a devastating fire at the historic Fenice Opera House, Berendt delves into the lives of Venetian locals and expatriates, unveiling a tapestry of eccentric personalities, enigmatic characters, and long-held secrets. The narrative explores the city's unique charm, artistic treasures, and challenges in preserving its cultural heritage. As Berendt immerses himself in the city's social circles, he uncovers a world of opulence, artistry, and cultural rivalries. Through this rich and immersive storytelling, "The City of Falling Angels" offers a vivid portrait of Venice, highlighting its timeless allure and the complexity of the people who call it home. Berendt's masterful narrative combines history, art, and human drama to create a mesmerizing and unforgettable exploration of a city like no other.
Death at La Fenice
When Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a renowned conductor, is found dead during an intermission at the prestigious La Fenice opera house, the city's commissario, Guido Brunetti, is tasked with unraveling the intricate web of secrets that surrounds the case. As he delves deeper into the world of high-stakes music, fierce rivalries, and long-buried resentments, Brunetti uncovers a multitude of suspects and hidden motives. With the backdrop of Venice's enchanting canals and historic opera scene, this novel offers readers a spellbinding combination of murder, music, and the dark underbelly of an artistic elite. Donna Leon's masterful storytelling and rich character development make "Death at La Fenice" a must-read for fans of crime fiction and Venetian culture.
Venice, A Literary Guide for Travellers
From local authors to classic writers like Dickens, Byron, Kafka, Poe, Rousseau, Thomas Mann, John Ruskin and Ezra Pound, this literary survey reveals Venice's multifaceted personality through literature.
The Perfect House, A Journey with Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio
A professor of urban studies and popular author, Rybczynski is an enlightening guide to Palladio and his influence in Italy and abroad.
Art and Life in Renaissance Venice
This compact volume evokes the spirit of Renaissance Venice with authoritative essays and 120 full-color illustrations.
Venice: The Biography of a City
Synopsis from Amazon.com: "This novel guidebook to the famous Italian city combines a personal narrative with historical and social information, and includes a comprehensive gazeteer of every building mentioned in the text and every monument and work of art of importance in Venice. Christopher Hibbert is the author of many works of history and biography, including "The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici" and guidebooks to Florence and Rome."
My Venice and Other Essays
A collection of 50 of Leon's funny, charming, passionate and insightful essays, ranging from battles over garbage in the canals to the troubles with restoring Venetian real estate.
Venice from the Ground Up
A walking tour, history and celebration, this masterly, personal guide to Venice includes a short account of McGregor's favorite sites, 10 maps and suggested walks (and boat rides).
The Italians
From Amazon: A vivid and surprising portrait of the Italian people from an admired foreign correspondent.
The World of Venice
From Barnes and Noble website: "A fascinating exploration of the history, sights, seasons, arts, food, and people of an incomparable city. “A highly intelligent portrait of an eccentric city, written in powerful prose and enlivened by many curious mosaics of information...a beautiful book to read and to possess” (The Observer)."
Eyewitness Guide Venice & the Veneto
Features color photography, dozens of excellent maps (including a pullout map) and a synopsis of the region's attractions.
Watermark
A metaphysical, metaphorical meditation on Venice by poet Joseph Brodsky. His ruminations take the form of 48 short chapters, each prompted by an idea, memory or scene associated with his much loved city.