Discover a truly magical cruise aboard La Bella Vita on Italy's Venetian Lagoon, River Po, and Canal Bianco between Venice and the lakeside Renaissance city of Mantua. Visit the Naval Museum, which houses notable vessels like ceremonial barges and warships, as you travel with a guided tour of Venice's historic buildings. Explore Chioggia and take in the vibrant fish market and charming canals. Continue sailing through a nature reserve, passing flamingos, herons, snipe, and other wildfowl. Proceed to Bagnoli Estate for a wine tasting, followed by a trip to the wine cellars of the 17th-century Villa Widmann Borletti to sample their renowned estate-grown vintage wines. Moreover, embark on a morning excursion to the Renaissance city of Ferrara before disembarking and returning to Venice.
Highlights
Enjoy dinner at the 17th Century home, Villa Ca’Zen with your private group of up to 20 guests
Tour Chioggia with its Roman, Etruscan and Byzantine history
Cruise on the Canal of the Orphans and pass by picturesque lagoon islands
Tour historic Venice, The Naval Museum and the Pavilion of Gondolas
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
All guests are met in Venice and transferred by a private chauffeured minibus to the ship. Passengers are welcomed, and a chilled Prosecco awaits. The cruise begins by sailing through the Giudecca Canal and by some of the most famous monuments in Venice, such as the Chiesa del Redentore, the impressive Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute, and the Punta Della Dogana to your mooring outside the Naval Museum. Then you have an opportunity to stroll and roam around St Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace. Dinner served on board.
A guide accompanies you while roaming around the Castello District. Explore the hidden beauty of Venice, such as the gardens of the Biennale Exhibition of Modern Arts, Palladio’s Church of San Pietro in Castello, and the Venetian Ships Pavilion, an annex of the Naval History Museum Venice, housing vessels of historical importance, including ceremonial barges and warships. By late afternoon, La Bella Vita continues to cruise to Pellestrina and past the lagoon islands, where you can find tiny churches, ancient monasteries, and painted fishing boats. If you want to explore more of this beautiful place, you have the opportunity to walk and bike along the waterway. Dinner served on board.
Visit the 18th century Church of San Domenico to see Carpaccio's St. Paul and his last recorded painting. You can also see other works of art by Tintoretto and Bassano. You can shop at the fish market at the Piazzetta Vigo and have the opportunity to enjoy a short tour in a locally-built boat to roam around Chiogga's amazing canals. Once back on board, La Bella Vita continues sailing through a nature reserve where you find flamingos and occasional heron, snipe, and other wildfowls. Then travel to Taglio di Po and enjoy dinner ashore, hosted by the owners at the beautiful 17th Century Villa Ca'Zen.
Cruise to Adria along the Bianca canal, an ancient Etruscan town where you visit the Archaeological Museum. After lunch, the tour continues to Bagnoli Estate to explore the Renaissance gardens and wine cellars of the 17th Century Villa Widmann Borletti. Here you can enjoy a private tasting of their famous estate-grown vintages, which have been in the Venetian market for centuries. After this tour, return to La Bella Vita moored at Zelo and have your dinner on board.
Today, enjoy a morning cruise and tour of the Renaissance city of Ferrara and Schifanoia Palace, famous for its exceptional 15th Century frescoes. Discover the explicit exterior of the Estense Castle and visit the spectacular cathedral with its sculpted images in front that is described as an illustrated Bible. You then return to the hotel barge, which again sails past villages and farmsteads to Governolo. Dinner served on board.
For your final day of cruising, approach the home of the poet Virgil and the artists like Mantegna and Donatello, Mantua. This city exhibits explicit neo-classical and baroque architecture, portrayed in the 14thC Ducal Palace, housing some 15 gardens and courtyards, a museum, a basilica, and a theatre. The intricate frescoes, Gallery of Mirrors and exquisite Rivers Room and 12,000 paintings and sculptures all create a Grand Finale to our Italian Renaissance adventure. Tonight, enjoy a Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7: Mantua | Disembark
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus back to Venice.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$101,000
or $5,050 per person based on 20 max passengers
Stateroom
105 sq. ft. twin/double stateroom including en suite facilities. Private bathroom, shower, wardrobe, small tables, desk and a chair. Located at the Lower Deck
Junior Suite
110 sq. ft. twin/double junior suites including en suite facilities. Private bathroom, shower, wardrobe, small tables, single couch, desk and a chair. Located at the Upper Deck
Notes
- All children under the age of 18 years accepted onboard qualify for a discount of $300 per child per week.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Credit card, check, and bank transfer. All final payments by credit card subject to a surcharge of 2.5% and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Our trip planner was so patient with us and very flexible when we had to make changes. Flight partners were efficient and timely. Everything was so easy when it could have been very complicated and confusing.
Tam Armstrong
3 weeks ago
Working with Franny was the best. She was patient, kind, and very helpful in helping us develop a plan that suited us to a tee!
Lois
4 months ago
Franny has been such an amazing help with all my trip planning. This is our 3rd trip to plan with her and she is always so willing to assist and find the best deals for my family and friends.
Suzanne Turbyfill
10 months ago
Adventure Life took care of a lot of details for me because I flew separately and met up with the group at the start of the trip. On the return they dropped me off in Cantania and flew back to the UK as one group.
I was the only American on the Exodus trip which was not a problem. Communication between the two companies was good.
Happy Camper
1 year ago
Clara and Rhenee were gracious and available. Phone contact is so important to answer questions and discuss all aspects of trip. If not immediately available they scheduled a time to speak.
They were knowledgeable, honest, realistic and very friendly. They are both very professional and take their role seriously.
