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The historic Rialto Bridge spans the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, surrounded by colorful buildings and boats on the water.
Italy

Independent Venice: Art, Culture and Canals

Program No. 23230RJ
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
8 meals ( 6B, 2D )
5 expert-led lectures
4 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Walking up to 1 mile along narrow streets with stone pavers, crossing bridges with steps or ramps, and some with no railing. The extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Afternoon:
We check in and settle into the hotel. At 4:45 p.m., we gather for a Welcome Reception, where our Group Leader greets the group and leads introductions. We then head out for an expert-led walk through the neighborhood, getting our bearings and noting useful spots nearby, including ATMs, pharmacies, grocery stores, and more.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. This is a Road Scholar Independent program. It is designed for participants who want high-level Road Scholar instruction, few group activities, and are capable and comfortable setting out independently for a significant part of the day/night. There will be several hours each day of educational content. Most meals will be on your own (excluded from the program cost) to have what you like, and there will be substantial free time for personal independent exploration. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles along narrow streets with stone pavers, crossing bridges with steps or ramps, and some with no railing. The extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. Breakfasts will be buffets. Other included meals will be plated and served from a set menu unless indicated otherwise; water is included, other beverages will be available for purchase.
Morning:
We gather in the meeting room for Orientation. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will distribute the Venice Museum Passes for entrance to some of the major museums in Venice, as well as a public transportation pass for the vaporetto/water bus and boats to the islands. Please note these passes are not available before Day 3 of your program. All walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, attending performances or other events, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Periods in the schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our Study Leader will provide an introduction to Venice in the hotel meeting room. We will delve into the history of the Republic, which maintained political stability for over a thousand years, weathering external pressures and internal challenges. Through this context, we will better appreciate Venice's allure to artists and architects, as they have left an indelible mark on the city throughout the centuries. After our lecture, we'll begin a neighborhood walk through the San Marco area with our Study Leader. Kindly note that we may encounter crowded conditions during our walk.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy local fare.
Evening:
We have the privilege of embarking on a unique nighttime visit to St. Mark's Basilica, reserved solely for our Road Scholar group. Our experience kicks off with a guided exploration of this astounding Basilica, whose construction started in 1063 CE, dedicated to Venice's patron saint, St. Mark. Its most striking elements include a range of mosaics from the 11th to the 19th centuries, beautifully rendered in a multitude of vibrant hues set against golden backdrops. Our journey also includes visiting the crypt nestled beneath sea level, where special lighting creates a mystical ambiance and illuminates the glittering mosaics installed in 1071 by Constantinopolitan artists.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles along narrow streets with stone pavers, crossing bridges with steps or ramps, and some with no railing. The extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Join us in the hotel meeting room for a presentation by our Study Leader on the illustrious era of Venetian painter Titian (1488–1576). Step back to the 16th century, a period of unrivaled success for Venetian artists, including Titian, Veronese, and Jacopo Tintoretto, who reigned over the art scene. Discover how these visionary artists revolutionized the world of painting with their masterful use of striking, luminous colors, creating a new style that left a lasting impact on the art world.
Lunch:
On your own to sample the local fare.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. In the late afternoon, we will venture to a wine bar or shop, where we'll have the opportunity to sample wines from the Veneto.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a vaporetto (water bus). Walking up to 3 miles along narrow streets with stone pavers, crossing bridges with steps or ramps, and some with no railing. The extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
In the hotel meeting room, our Study Leader will unveil the world of Venetian handicrafts, taking us on a journey through the charming small botteghe (workshops) and revealing the traditional tools and centuries-old machines used by skilled artisans. After a short break, we head out on foot or by vaporetto to Bevilacqua, one of Venice's most celebrated velvet manufacturers. In an expert-led visit to the workshop, we watch skilled artisans at work on authentic 18th- and 19th-century looms, where the company's fine fabrics are still made entirely by hand. We also have the chance to explore the archives, home to over 3,500 original patterns.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own to sample the local fare.
Evening:
We will set out on foot to attend a classical musical performance of a renowned local chamber orchestra. Venice played a pivotal role in the evolution of Baroque music during the 17th and 18th centuries, ushering in a new era of musical expression and innovation. During this period, music shifted from the Renaissance's structured polyphony to a more emotional, dramatic, and ornate style that characterized the Baroque period. Venice was the cradle for this transformation, with its churches, opera houses, and orchestras significantly contributing to this musical revolution. Iconic composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, born in Venice, became synonymous with the Baroque style. His works, including the famed "Four Seasons," are representative of Venice's rich Baroque tradition. Furthermore, the city's introduction of public opera houses during this era made music more accessible to the general populace, broadening the influence and reach of Baroque music.
Activity Note
The extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free time continues. We gather in the hotel meeting room for a presentation by our Study Leader on the history of Murano glassmaking and mosaics. Just a short boat ride from Venice, Murano has been the center of Venetian glass craft for centuries, with techniques passed down and refined across generations. Following our lecture, we will gather at a local bar for a drink and conversation with our Group Leader.
Dinner:
On your own to sample the local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 1 mile along narrow streets with stone pavers, crossing bridges with steps or ramps, and some with no railing. The extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Join us in the hotel meeting room for a lecture led by our Study Leader as we delve into the world of Andrea Palladio's architectural brilliance. A celebrated Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio (1508–1580) left an indelible mark on modern architecture through his iconic villas and churches scattered across the picturesque Veneto region. Discover his designs' enduring beauty and timeless elegance, inspiring architects and enthusiasts alike. This insightful introduction will give you a deeper appreciation of the Veneto landscape's architectural heritage.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 12:00 p.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers. At a dock near the hotel, bags will be loaded onto the boat and then off the boat at the airport dock. A few steps from the boat to the dock and you are in the water transportation wing of the airport. Follow the signs to the main terminal. Carts are available or use the moving walkway.
Breakfast:
At the hotel restaurant; for those with early departures, the hotel will prepare a bagged breakfast with a fruit, a roll or pastry, fruit juice, and water to take with you. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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