ITINERARY PREVIEW
Below you'll find a preview of the itinerary for Settimana Veneziana. While this is not an exhaustive list of everything we'll be doing (there are some small surprises), we hope it provides prospective travellers with a great idea of what the week will look and feel like.
Please note that there may be some minor changes to activities and timings. Participants will be provided with a full and detailed itinerary ahead of the trip.
Sunday, November 16
Benvenuti a Venezia! Welcome to Venice!
Arrival and welcome reception
After arriving to our palazzo in style in your private water taxi, you'll ​have time to check in and freshen up before our welcome reception, where you'll meet your fellow travellers and enjoy a few spritz or glasses of wine and some traditional Venetian cicchetti (little bar snacks that we'll learn all about this week!).
An introduction to Venice
In the evening, we'll relax in our canal-side sitting room with a glass of wine - joined by an expert Venetian guide who will share some of her favourite stories from Venetian history.
Dinner
After the talk, we'll make our way to a nearby family-run restaurant for an authentic Venetian dinner - including traditional Venetian pastas, local wine, and sumptuous desserts.
Monday, November 17
A brunch to remember
We'll start off the day with a very special brunch, right on the Grand Canal in a 13th-century palazzo (the city's oldest!). Take in the historic atmosphere and newly-designed interiors while we feast on dishes like lobster benedict and spinach & burrata frittata.
Expert-led walk & tour
From brunch, we'll meet with our private guide and embark on a guided tour of Venice's icons - the Basilica di San Marco and the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) with a few surprise stops along the way. We'll hear fascinating tales from Venetian history, and learn all of the wild ways in which the Venetian Republic operated.
Behind the scenes access
After our guided visit at Palazzo Ducale, we'll meet an employee from the palazzo who will whisk us behind the barriers into areas normally closed to visitors. We'll wave hello to the common folk in the piazza from the Doge's private balcony, step into cabinets containing secret passageways, and stroll through the private chambers and chapels of the Doge himself.
Feeling peckish?
We'll have worked up an appetite after so much learning, which is why we've included a quick stop at a friendly little bar near Piazza San Marco for a spritz and a snack! From here, you're free for the evening.
Dinner
Tonight, you'll be on your own for dinner. We will provide personalised suggestions based on your preferences, and can reserve a table on your behalf.
Tuesday, November 18
A visit to the squero
After you've returned from breakfast (we'll provide you with a list of nearby options) we'll jump into a water taxi and make our way down the canals for a very special private visit to the city's most historic squero (boatyard). We'll learn from our guide and translator about the painstaking process of building a gondola (they use eight different types of wood!), and why this squero and its expert craftsmen are so important for the continuation of Venetian culture & tradition.
The ultimate cicchetti crawl & lunch
Outside of the squero, we'll meet our new Venetian best friend who will take us on an incredible lunchtime tour & tasting across some of the city's best bacari (wine bars). Slowly making our way back to the palazzo, we'll visit 4 historic bars - learning about (and devouring) cicchetti, sipping on local wines and Venetian spritz, hearing stories about growing up in Venice, and learning some local tales.
An evening with the Venetians
Back at our palazzo, you'll have some time to relax before the early evening when we'll be visited by Michela Bortolozzi, designer and owner of Relight Venice. We'll sit down with a glass of wine while she tells us about the inspiration behind her designs, and talks to us about the importance of Venetian craftsmanship and slow travel in Venice. Afterwards we'll have a quick visit from our gondolier, Valentino (who we'll be meeting tomorrow for a ride!), who will talk about how he became a gondolier and answer any questions you might have. Valentino is one of the few gondoliers in Venice who rows a sandolo, a historic boat which was the pre-curser to the gondola, and he'll give us some insight into the island's different boats and their history.
Dinner
Dinner is up to you tonight! We'll provide you with plenty of personalised suggestions and can make bookings on your behalf.
Wednesday, November 19
Historic craftsmanship
This morning, we'll take a quick walk over to one of the city's most historic factories to watch skilled weavers at work, using looms from the 1700's, creating handmade velvets and brocades. We'll learn about this incredibly historic craft on our private tour, and have an opportunity to buy discounted pieces of material.
A private sandolo ride
We'll meet our friend Valentino and one of his colleagues for a morning ride on their sandoli. Since these historic boats can access smaller canals than a gondola, we'll be able to go through some of the smaller canals in beautiful, quiet areas - it's a magical experience!
Lunch
Today we'll enjoy lunch together at a cosy osteria. You'll choose between dishes such as fresh pasta, grilled fish, and calamari, perfectly paired with a glass of local wine.
Artisan visits
From lunch, we'll make a stop around the corner to visit the city's youngest remer (oar maker) - one of only four in the entire city! We'll learn how he painstakingly crafts the forcole (oarlocks) for gondole, and watch a demonstration of his skills. Afterwards, we'll stop in to see Michela at Relight Venice, where we'll all get the opportunity to handcraft our own Relight Venice candle to take home. While we get to work with our designs, we'll learn about Michela's sustainable sourcing of materials and how she collaborates with other Venetian (and global!) artisans in her work.
Dinner
Tonight we'll enjoy dinner at one of the city's best pizzerias. Their key ingredients come from some of the very best places in the country - think San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella from Agerola, and Tropea onions. Whether you're after a classic Margherita or something a bit more adventurous you'll be spoilt for choice, all washed down with local wine or something from their huge menu of speciality local beers.
Thursday, November 20
Good morning to YOUR morning
Today, you've got some free time to explore Venice at your leisure. You'll be well equipped for this adventure, having spoken to Courtney before your departure for suggestions and booking of any special experiences. We can't wait to see you later and hear stories of what everyone got up to!
A sunset stroll
We'll join the incredible Gillian in the afternoon for a stroll around her favourite parts of Venice. She'll tell us about her move to the city and how Venice inspires her while we spot some of her favourite hidden gems, visit a surprise location, and catch a sunset (if nature allows!) on our way back to our accommodation.
​Dinner
You're free for dinner tonight. As always, we'll provide you with personalised recommendations, and can assist in booking any tables if necessary!
Friday, November 21
Buona Festa della Salute! Today is a sacred Venetian holiday that marks the end of a disastrous bout of the plague which decimated the city's population between 1630-1631. We'll have the privilege today of exploring the origins of this story, as well as taking part in an age-old Venetian tradition.
A journey through the lagoon
​After a light breakfast of pastries and tea or coffee delivered to your room, we'll walk together to a local dock to board our private vintage boat for the day. On board we'll be joined by an expert guide, who will talk to us about the origins of Venice and the importance of the surrounding lagoon, while we take in the scenery from our heated cabin with comfy leather seats and enjoy some Prosecco and snacks.
Venetian innovation
Nearly six years on from our own pandemic, we'll visit a private island in the lagoon where the Venetian Republic, nearly 600 years ago, invented a system to try and protect its citizens from the plague. Here on this island, incoming ships were held for a set period of time before allowing entry to Venice - inventing quarantine, which comes from the Venetian quarantena (forty days). We'll have private access to a small museum on the island to learn more alongside our guide.
A luxurious wine tasting
​Nestled in the north of the lagoon, we'll disembark our boat for a fine wine tasting at a luxurious vineyard growing ancient grapes once thought extinct. We'll get a tour around the vines to learn more about wine production in this unique terrain before sitting down to sample some of their best vintages!
Lunch
We'll enjoy a delicious lunch out in the lagoon today. More information will be made available nearer to the time of departure!
Dinner
After a quick break at our accommodation to freshen up, we'll join each other for a traditional Venetian dinner. We'll encourage you to try castradina, a delicious smoked mutton stew served only during Festa della Salute. Don't worry if you're not feeling adventurous, though, we'll have plenty of other options at the table and, of course, local wine to go with it!
A pilgrimage to La Salute
​After dinner we'll take a walk over a temporary floating bridge, erected for Festa della Salute, joining crowds of locals on their pilgrimage to Santa Maria della Salute, consecrated in 1681. We'll be able to purchase some candles before entering the church, and can light as many as we'd like - with thanks or wishes of health for loved ones, or to remember someone who is no longer with us. It's a solemn moment, no matter your views on religion, and a deeply important day for Venetians. After leaving the church, we'll make our way to a late-night food fair, set up nearby, where we'll join locals in indulging in some sweet treats to round off the evening.
Saturday, November 22
​​Bellini brunch
​It's the weekend, and what better way to celebrate in Venice than with a freshly made bellini! We'll visit a small cafe & bookshop on a quiet canal for an indulgent brunch with a view - including pastries, cakes, savoury crostini, tea, coffee, and a bellini (or its pomegranate-laced cousin, the tintoretto!).
Free time
The late morning and afternoon are yours, with time to explore and indulge at your leisure. We'll liaise with you before departure to help plan this free time, making sure you get the very best out of every moment in Venice.
All aboard
We'll hop on board our private water taxi in the early evening to be taken straight to a palazzo on the Grand Canal, where we'll enjoy a very special evening together.
Our finale dinner
To ​celebrate our final night together, we'll take part in a private cooking class - run by two young Venetians - in the professional kitchens of a palazzo on the Grand Canal. You'll be invited to get involved and learn some new skills and recipes to take home, but you're equally welcome to sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy the view! We'll enjoy our meal, and local wines to pair with it, in a beautiful room with views onto the Grand Canal. After dinner, you'll be treated to some special gifts from our chefs before we board a water taxi back to our accommodation.
Sunday, November 23
Check out
Our check out time is 11:00, however if you are departing later in the day (or staying on longer in Venice or wider Italy) we have arranged complimentary luggage storage for you.
Airport transfer
And, with that, it's time to say arrivederci for now to Venice! You'll board your private water taxi back to the airport to ensure you're there in plenty of time for your journey home - bringing all of your incredible souvenirs and memories with you!
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