loading spinner
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.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
airfare
Need airfare?
Our airfare tool can help. Check it out
climate
Plan ahead.
What kind of weather can you expect? Take a look!
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Sep 16 - Sep 23, 2023
Starting at
2,749
Filling Fast!
Sep 30 - Oct 7, 2023
Starting at
2,749
Oct 14 - Oct 21, 2023
Starting at
2,749
Nov 4 - Nov 11, 2023
Starting at
2,499
Apr 20 - Apr 27, 2024
Starting at
3,149
May 11 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
3,149
Sep 14 - Sep 21, 2024
Starting at
3,149
Oct 5 - Oct 12, 2024
Starting at
3,149
Oct 26 - Nov 2, 2024
Starting at
3,149
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Sep 16 - Sep 23, 2023
Starting at
3,369
Sep 30 - Oct 7, 2023
Starting at
3,369
Oct 14 - Oct 21, 2023
Starting at
3,369
Filling Fast!
Nov 4 - Nov 11, 2023
Starting at
3,129
Filling Fast!
Apr 20 - Apr 27, 2024
Starting at
3,989
Filling Fast!
May 11 - May 18, 2024
Starting at
3,989
Filling Fast!
Sep 14 - Sep 21, 2024
Starting at
3,989
Oct 5 - Oct 12, 2024
Starting at
3,989
Oct 26 - Nov 2, 2024
Starting at
3,989

At a Glance

Experience la bea vita (the beautiful life) in Venice as you learn from our local experts 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 top-notch instructors 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 on cobblestone streets; uneven steps up and down bridges. Use of public “vaporetto” waterbus for transportation.
Independent City Discoveries
Independent City Discoveries
Learn with a Group Leader and enjoy educational programming while also getting independent time to explore on your own. Most Independent City Discoveries include lectures, self-guided excursions and passes for public transit and museums.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • 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 Experts
Profile Image
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.

Profile Image of Cristina Gregorin
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.
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.
Eyewitness Guide Venice & the Veneto
by Eyewitness Guides
Features color photography, dozens of excellent maps (including a pullout map) and a synopsis of the region's attractions.
Death at La Fenice
by Donna Leon
The first of the tremendously good Guido Brunetti mysteries, all set in the author's beloved Venice, in which a famous conductor is found dead at the celebrated La Fenice theater.
The City of Falling Angels
by John Berendt
from Barnes and Noble website: "The author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil returns after more than a decade to give us an intimate look at the "magic, mystery, and decadence" of the city of Venice and its inhabitants."
Watermark
by Joseph Brodsky
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.
Art and Life in Renaissance Venice
by Patricia Brown
This compact volume evokes the spirit of Renaissance Venice with authoritative essays and 120 full-color illustrations.
Venice is a Fish
by Tiziano Scarpa
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.
Venice from the Ground Up
by James H. S. McGregor
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).
My Venice and Other Essays
by Donna Leon
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.
The Italians
by John Hooper
From Amazon: A vivid and surprising portrait of the Italian people from an admired foreign correspondent.
Venice: The Biography of a City
by Christopher Hibbert
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."
The Perfect House, A Journey with Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio
by Witold Rybczynski
A professor of urban studies and popular author, Rybczynski is an enlightening guide to Palladio and his influence in Italy and abroad.
The Genius of Venice, Piazza San Marco and the Making of the Republic
by Dial Parrott
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.
The World of Venice
by Jan Morris
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)."
Venice, A Literary Guide for Travellers
by Marie-jose Gransard
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.
Print All
Map details are not available for this location.
View Map
Expand All
8 days
7 nights
8 meals
6 B 0 L 2 D
DAY
1
In Transit To Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive Venice, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Venice
D
Hotel Amadeus

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Walking up to 2 miles. All walks in Venice involve crossing bridges with steps or ramps. Streets in Venice can be narrow with uneven stone pavers.

Afternoon: Check in and settle in. At 4:15 p.m. we gather in the meeting room for an Orientation session. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. We will distribute the Venice Museum and Chorus Passes for entrance to some of the major museums and churches in Venice as well as a public transportation pass for the vaporetto/water bus and boats to the islands. All walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. 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. 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. Next, we will join our Group Leader in a welcome cocktail (or fruit juice).

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, 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, a few group activities, and who are capable and comfortable setting out on their own 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.

DAY
3
Venice History, Jewish Ghetto, Free Time, St. Mark's
Venice
B
Hotel Amadeus

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. 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 present an introduction to Venice. We’ll learn how the Republic enjoyed remarkable political stability for more than a millennium, resisting both external forces and internal turbulence. With this background, one can understand its attraction to artists and architects – La Serenissima has been shaped by them for centuries. We’ll enjoy special emphasis on the golden era of Venice. After a short break, with our Group Leader, we will walk to the old Venetian Jewish ghetto neighborhood.

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 will enjoy a special evening off-hours visit to St. Mark’s Basilica. Our Study Leader will take us through the mosaic-clad symbol of Venice that points to its Byzantine origins. The Basilica will be open exclusively for our Road Scholar group. We’ll also visit the crypt that sits under sea level. Special lights create a magical atmosphere and bring alive the shimmering mosaics laid in 1071 by artists from Constantinople. Return to the hotel on foot or with the vaporetto.

DAY
4
Venetian Crafts, Velvet Manufacturer, Free Time
Venice
B
Hotel Amadeus

Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles. Extended periods of standing at the velvet manufacturer. All walks in Venice involve crossing bridges with steps or ramps; some have no handrails. Getting on/off vaporetto.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: In the hotel meeting room, our Study Leader will present the intriguing world of Venetian handcraft, small botteghe (workshops), and the tools and centuries-old machines. After a short break, we’ll walk to the velvet manufacturer Bevilacqua. A docent will lead the visit of the shop floor and active looms. The company’s fabrics are still produced by hand on original 18th- and 19th-century looms and all the phases of manufacture are manual, and its archives store more than 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. Later in the afternoon, we will meet for a drink and chat with the Group Leader in the bar of the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
The Historical Era of Titian, Free Time
Venice
B
Hotel Amadeus

Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles along narrow streets with stone pavers, crossing bridges with steps or ramps; some may have no railing.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: In the hotel meeting room, our local expert will present the era of Venetian painter Titian. The 16th century was the most successful time for Venetian painters, like Titian, Veronese, and Jacopo Tintoretto, who ruled the art scene. We’ll learn how these artists created a new style of painting with striking, luminous colors. After a short break, with our Group Leader, we will take a walk to the San Polo district and the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari to see artwork by Titian.

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. Later in the afternoon, we will meet for a drink and chat with the Group Leader in the bar of the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Glass & Mosaics, Free Time, Classical Music Concert
Venice
B
Hotel Amadeus

Activity note: Walking 3 miles along narrow streets with stone pavers. Steps or ramps on bridges; some bridges may have a supporting wall and no handrail.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: In the hotel meeting room, our Study Leader will present a lecture on Murano glassmaking and mosaics. The Murano Islands are famous for their glassmaking technique and design, first appearing on the islands in the 8th century. Despite a turbulent history, the craft has endured here ever since.

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 meet our Group Leader and walk together to a venue where we will enjoy a performance of Vivaldi’s "Le Quattro Stagioni" by Interpreti Veneziani, a chamber ensemble. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) composed hundreds of concertos for violin, viola d’amore, cello, mandolin, flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, cornet, and string orchestra.

DAY
7
Andrea Palladio, Chocolate Tasting, Free Time
Venice
B,D
Hotel Amadeus

Activity note: Getting on/off a vaporetto. Walking 3 miles along narrow streets with stone pavers, crossing bridges with no railing. 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 present an introduction to the architecture of Andrea Palladio. The Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio greatly influenced modern architecture as seen in some of his most influential villas and churches that survive in the Veneto region. After a short break, we will visit a local chocolate shop to observe how Venetian delicacies such as candied fruits and truffles are made. Most importantly, we will also get to taste them!

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.

DAY
8
Program Concludes, In Transit From Program
In Flight
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.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!






Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.