This wondrous water tour starts on the East Coast lagoons of VENICE,
crosses Northwest to Lago di Como's tranquil lake town BELLAGIO,
continues West to the cliffs & coastal beaches of CINQUE TERRE,
& ends too soon at the flowing River Arno in beautiful FLORENCE.

Our acqua adventure begins in powerfully enchanting VENEZIA with our PRIVATE GONDOLA winding us through the lagoon & Grand Canal, "the most beautiful street the world" to a local ristorante for our welcome DINNER. We'll learn of Venice's historical dominance & artistic influences during various in-depth guided TOURS starting at ST. MARK'S SQUARE, then inside the golden BASILICA, the DOGE'S PALACE & CHAMBERS (works by TINTORETTO…), the gothic SANTA MARIA GLORIOSA DEI FRARI (masterpieces by TITIAN & BELLINI…), the RED LIGHT district, ghastly PRISONS, BRIDGE OF SIGHS, ARTISAN QUARTERS and the less touristy labyrinth of back alleys in DORSODURO & SAN POLO all
making up the true Venice, away from crowds.

Of course there's much to do in your free time, view Accademia's vast Art collection, the modern collection at the Guggenheim, boat to the Island Of Burano (lace), Murano (glass) or Torcello (population: 20), shop the Rialto Bridge or sip the seasons' last juicy peaches squeezed into a Bellini cocktail while sitting in St. Marco's square. Our last evening will be spent on a GIRO D'OMBRA (unique Venetian "pub crawl") to local BACARO (tapa style bars), taste searching for the perfect "cicchetti" (mini plate of local specialties) and "ombra" (wine).

We'll transfer (9/16) by private bus inland to lovely VERONA for a guided walking TOUR that includes the 3rd largest AMPHITHEATER in Roman times (1st cent. bc), ROMEO AND JULIETS BALCONY, popular PIAZZA ERBE & PIAZZA BRA. Leave Verona for an enjoyable late lunch at a local vineyard of VALPOLICELLA wine, before arriving to bellissimo BELLAGIO. We'll go to the Lake District for the same reason the rest of the world does, to relax in the peace of nature's most idyllic surroundings. We'll stay in the elegant small town of Bellagio with the Alps as a backdrop to the tranquil lake views before us. No museums or churches, just the scenery of smooth waters surrounding our lush peninsula. Only two lake front DINNERS scheduled together, to ensure no one escapes to the mountains & sets up house permanently. Free time to explore other lake towns, boat to larger Como, visit the hilltop castle in tiny Varenna, hike Cadenabbia, visit Villa Carlotta, or stay in Bellagio itself, offering several options (reservation & supplemental prices):

1. DAY SPA at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni; hot stone massages, seaweed wraps & more
2. Half Day COOKING CLASS at Villa d'Est; Chef's lessons begins in the morning & ends with your exquisite lunch.
3. OUTDOOR SPORT DAY; transportation to nearby hilltops, your choice down hill return: mountain bike, hike, kayak or paraglide.

After this relaxing lake repose, we'll cross further West(9/20), till we reach the salty LIGURIAN COAST & our beachfront hotel in MONTEROSSO. The CINQUE TERRE offers more incredible views as we make our way from the 1st to 5th village, strolling grassy paths, dotted with vineyards, sandy shores & rocky cliffs perfect for diving into the ocean below. Our FULL DAY PASS is for unlimited passages of your choice between the 5 villages: train, scenic boats, shuttle or national park paths. Enjoy a PESTO LESSON and fresh fishy DINNER on our last night. A morning walk about the local weekly market before a 2-hour private bus ride to our last stop FIRENZE (9/22), an unforgettable city split by the flowing Arno River. Enjoy your last 2 days' free time shopping, eating gelato, or visiting any of the world's most well known museums (reservations for Uffizi or Academia optional/additional). We'll end our tour stylishly of course, with a CARRIAGE RIDE through the heart of FLORENCE to our final arrivederci DINNER. Rating: unavailable, camera fell in the water.

Reserve your spot by mailing a $300 Deposit & Trip Registration.