DETAILS
Veneto is one of Italy’s wealthiest regions, reflected in the extravagance of the grand villas and their stunning gardens. Many of the grand villas we visit were designed by Andrea Palladio, one of the most influential individuals in the history of Western architecture. Join us as we discover no fewer than six glorious villas on tour
- Pricing from
- $2,550
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Voyages
- Departure Dates
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Sep 16, 2024 - Sep 21, 2024
Additional nights at the hotel – Includes breakfast $140 per person.
Cancellation by You
If you or any member of your party wish to cancel your holiday, or if you fail to pay the full cost of the holiday within the specified time you will be liable, as a minimum, to pay the charges detailed below up to the point of cancellation, in addition to any non-refundable items*. Or in the case of failure to pay, at the date that we deem your booking to have been cancelled. Notification from the person who made the booking must be received at our offices. This can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter. The cancellation charge will be calculated according to the date this is received, or the date upon which your cancellation is treated as occurring because of non-payment.
*Non-refundable holiday costs charged including upgraded air tickets, hotel upgrades, extensions, extra nights, transfers etc., will be charged at 100% and the charges shown below will then apply to the remainder of the holiday cost and any amendment charges are not refundable. Additional accommodation costs for reduced occupancy or other components, may be payable in the event that one or more passengers cancels but where remaining passengers still wish to travel.
Group Bookings – cancellation charges will apply to any guests in the group who may wish to cancel in the unlikely event of cancellation by the lead passenger.
Note: If your cancellation falls within the provisions of your travel insurance policy you may be able to make a claim which must be made direct to your insurance company.
Cancellation Charges – if you cancel your holiday:
In order to compensate our expenditure, we charge a cancellation fee according to the following scale:
Up to 84 days: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
83-64 days:
35% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
63-46 days: 55% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
45-31 days: 75% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
From 30 days to departure: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
Lord of the Glens: Up to 6 months: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs | 6 months-0 days: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
Emerald Isle Explorer:
Up to 5 months: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
5-3 months: 65% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
3 months – 0 days: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
Maharajas’ Express:
Up to 140 days: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
139-84 days: 45% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
83-46 days: 65% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
From 45 days to departure: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
Variation by You
Booking alterations: If, after our booking confirmation/invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes (subject to agreement by our suppliers) but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be received at our offices, this can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter from the person who made the booking. You will be asked to pay an administration charge starting from £50 per person in addition to any associated costs of the changes imposed by our suppliers and any extra arrangements, these costs are non-refundable. Quotes normally have a 24-hour time frame before they expire, and the price is therefore subject to change. You should be aware that these costs could increase as the departure dates becomes closer and you should contact us as soon as possible. Additional fees may be charged, depending on the cost and work caused to us by the requested change.
Booking transfer to another person: You can transfer your existing booking to another person suggested by you (subject to agreement by our suppliers) *. Notice be made must be received at our offices, this can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter from the person who made the booking at least 25 days before departure. The replacement traveller must satisfy and fulfil any conditions that apply to the holiday, and all costs of the original booking. Both you and the new traveller are responsible for paying all costs we incur before the transfer can be made by us. The cost of the transfer will consist of both an administration charge of £50 and any costs which our suppliers impose*.
ITINERARY
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day 1
Venice, Italy
On arrival at Venice Marco Polo Airport on September 17th, we are met by a local coach and guide and depart for a visit to the grand gardens of Villa Pisani, in Stra, near Venice. When Alvise Pisani was elected Doge of Venice in 1735 he commissioned a grand villa to reflect his powerful status and originally the area behind the villa was filled with French parterres. These were replaced by a long pool of water which now dominates the garden, with the palace at one end and an ornate pavilion, converted into luxurious stables, at the other. Avenues provide further views along the length of the garden while a hexagonal belvedere overlooks the avenues in all directions. High walls enclose Pisani’s impressive array of greenhouses, where prize winning camellias were once grown. We continue to our hotel in Schiavon, near Vicenza. In the evening we enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner.
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day 2
Venice/Villa Valmarana
Today, following breakfast, we will be joined be a local guide for a walking tour of Vicenza’s historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Exterior views include the Corso Palladio, Palazzo Thiene, Palazzo Barbaran, Palazzo Chiericati, the Basilica Palladiana, the Duomo, while entrance is included to the wonderful Teatro Olimpico. After some free time in Vicenza, we visit the nearby Villa Rotonda, which was designed by Andrea Palladio around 1570 and became one of the most recognisable buildings of the Renaissance. Situated on the top of a hill just outside the town of Vicenza, the Villa Capra is called the Villa Rotonda, because of its completely symmetrical plan with a central circular hall. In 1994 UNESCO designated the building as part of the World Heritage Site. We are honoured to be shown round by the owner, Count Valmarana himself. We return to the hotel in the afternoon and in the early evening transfer to the Villa Valmarana, an outstanding architectural and artistic site belonging to the Valmarana family taking its name from the statues of dwarves (nani) which decorate its garden wall. The Villa’s surroundings are designed to suite different tastes and functional needs, ranging from an Italian garden with dovecote and the well, the walk through the hornbeam and the pagoda in the woods. The family still lives Valmarana Villa, which is widely considered the top expressive painting of the eighteenth century and the highest testimony of the genius of Tiepolo, and we are privileged to be shown round by a member of the family. This privilege is extended as we enjoy dinner in a room adorned with Tiepolo’s frescoes. We return to the hotel after our meal.
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day 3
Villa Barbarigo/Le Paradis des Papillons
Today, following breakfast, we visit the gardens of Villa Barbarigo at Valsanzibio. The gardens were created for Antonio Barbarigo during 1665-69 and with their carefree atmosphere and garden ‘rooms’ full of surprises have been described as one of the most entertaining gardens in Italy. One of the most striking features is a series of ascending pools decorated with statues and fountains, and in one case a graceful Watergate which has Diana, goddess of hunting sitting astride the pediment with her dogs close a hand. There is also a large and effective maze, a charming rabbit island and various giochi d’acqui (water tricks) which provide further unexpected amusement. On our way to our next stop we will make a brief photo stop outside the Villa Vescovi in the Euganean Hills. Dating from 1535, this was the summer retreat of the Bishops of Padua. After an opportunity for lunch (not included) in Arquà Petarca we visit the private garden of Le Paradis des Papillons, near Padua. Created by a passionate young garden designer, this unusual, naturalistic garden supports not just the butterflies that give the garden its name (the owners are French), but a wide range of other animals including ducks, chickens, peacocks and rabbits. The garden itself takes its inspiration from English gardens and is filled with a wonderful range of plants. We return to the hotel.
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day 4
Villa Barbaro/Asolo
After breakfast today we depart for a visit to the gardens of the Villa Barbaro, in Maser. The Villa was built by Andrea Palladio for Daniele and Marcantonio Barbaro during 1560-68 as a farmhouse at the centre of an agricultural estate and has the unique attraction of being the only Palladian villa in Veneto to retain some of its original garden. The garden was laid out in front of the villa and Palladio’s great achievement was to unite the villa, garden and surrounding landscape and seemingly create a single architectural structure. As the gardens at the front were essentially a public space, Palladio also designed a secret garden behind the villa, a small enclosed courtyard dominated by a magnificent nymphaeum, decorated with statues of classical gods.
After some free time in the beautiful little town of Asolo, where the poet Robert Browning and the explorer Dame Freya Stark once lived, we return to the hotel to freshen up before we depart for dinner at the Villa Godi Malinverni. We are met on arrival by a member of this aristocratic family who will show the villa before we sit down to eat. Later we return to the hotel. -
day 5
Padua/Scrovegni Chapel/Venice
After breakfast we transfer to the lively university town of Padua, where we visit the Orto Botanico di Padova (Padua Botanic Garden), which was established in 1545, making it the oldest university botanical garden in the world. During the 19th century a series of greenhouses were built, and one of them now contains the garden’s most famous possessions, a dwarf fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) from 1781. The garden is surrounded by a circular wall (and a moat to keep out plant-stealing intruders!) and divided into quadrants, within which various beds are arranged. Despite 19th century alterations to the site, this remains one of the finest examples of a 16th century botanical garden in Italy, with a fine collection of plants from around the world. The modern greenhouses are also fascinating and have been developed to a very high standard by the University of Padua. They show us some of the major eco-systems of the world.
We also visit the Scrovegni Chapel, home to one of the most amazing works of art you are ever likely to see. Giotto’s amazing series of frescoes depicting the life, death and resurrection of Christ is a masterpiece in the history of painting in Italy and Europe in the 14th century, and is considered to be the most complete executed by Giotto in his mature age.
After some free time we transfer to Venice Marco Polo airport where the tour concludes.
Everything you need to know about the tour
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