From the Hills to the Lagoon

Persons: Max 8 - Min 4 Duration: 8 days Date: 25/5 to 01/06 - 08/06 to 15/06 - 07/09 to 14/09 Embarkation: Venice, Tessera

This delightful itinerary offers nights in castles and private villas, trips in carriages and other old-fashioned transport: it combines the beautiful Veneto hinterland with elegant villas, plus a special welcome from the private homes where you will be staying.

The itinerary starts at the Euganean Hills on the outskirts of Padua: we'll explore medieval cities, villas and castles across a network of ancient streets and canals.
The journey continues on the Venetian lagoon among its islands, adding the finishing touch to a relaxing itinerary which offers you the incomparable panorama of the Veneto Villas.

Boats and traditional means of transport make for a unique journey in one of Italy's most historically, culturally and gastronomically rich regions.

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From the Hills to the Lagoon

Day One - Lispida

On your arrival, we travel to Lispida, where we can relax in the neo-gothic castle Villa Italia, a beautiful private residence. The eighteenth century castle stands in the Euganean Hills surrounded by a huge park.
We'll be staying here for two nights: it's the perfect starting-point for visiting the surrounding cities, villas and castles.

We'll dine at Villa Italia, which was a medieval monastery before taking on its present aspect in 1792.
After dinner we'll visit Arquà Petrarca, the charming medieval town where the fourteenth century poet Petrarch spent the last years of his life. It's the perfect place for an evening stroll.

From the Hills to the Lagoon

Day Two - Lispida-Monselice

Villa Emo was designed by Palladio's student, Vincenzo Scamozzi. The Contessa herself will be our hostess at lunch after a visit around the Renaissance villa and gardens, which contain a wide variety of plants and flowers and an exceptional rose garden.

The day closes with a private visit to Villa Barbarigo at Valsanzibio.

Today we'll have the rare privilege of riding in a magnificent nineteenth century English carriage.

We then go on to the amazing walled city of Monselice where we'll visit the stunning eleventh century castle.

The Villa, situated in a beautiful valley, has one of the finest Italian baroque gardens.
The garden has a mixture of classical and romantic elements which create a paradise of statues, fountains, friezes, loggias, and a maze.

During the fifteenth century, after Monselice was conquered by the Venetians, the castle fell into the ownership of the Marcello family, one of the most noble houses of Venice. The family built the Palazzetto which unites the thirteenth century Ezzelino Tower to the Romanesque part of the castle.

After lunch we'll take a carriage to Catajo Castle.

Built in 1570 by Marchese Pio Enea degli Obizzi, Captain of the Venetian troops, the castle houses gardens, terraces and courtyards, as well as the important eighteenth century fountain "degli Elefanti" . Its rooms are endowed with wonderful frescoes by G.B Zelotti. The castle is surrounded by a garden with a lake and deer park.

We get back to Lispida at dusk, in time to relax a little before dinner.

We'll have lunch in one of the most important Veneto villas, Villa Emo, at the kind invitation of Contessa Marina Emo.

From the Hills to the Lagoon

Day Three - Battaglia-Padova

We'll spend the day exploring the Canale Battaglia, an important waterway which carries us to the medieval heart of Padua on board a beautifully restored 1930s caorlina boat from the Venetian lagoon.

Lunch will be held at Villa Molin, designed in 1597 by Vincenzo Scamozzi.
After lunch, we will continue down the Battaglia, towards Padua.

Villa Molin, designed according to the Palladian circular concept, has a central vestibule with eighteenth century frescoes: an ideal spot for relaxing and enjoying lunch.

The city has a great historical and cultural heritage, including one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe.
We arrive in Padua's historical centre just a short walk away from the Scrovegni Chapel, a masterpiece of fourteenth century Italian and European art housing Giotto's magnificent frescoes
(1303-1305).
The 36 scenes by the Florentine Master depict the lives of Christ and the Madonna and illustrate the themes of redemption, concluding with the scenes of universal judgement.

Only a few examples of the traditional caorlina boat remain. It was predominantly used for fishing and transportation.

After dinner you can take a walk around the centre of Padua and explore the elegant squares: Piazza dei Signori, Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta,
and the famous Caffè Pedrocchi, decorated in neo-classical style.

From the Hills to the Lagoon

This vast complex, of almost regal dimensions, was built in 1735 and designed by Gerolamo Frigimelica and Francesco Maria Preti.
The Villa has a huge garden with a maze, stables and gardens.
The famous ballroom has frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo.

Day Four - Portello - Mira

In the morning we sail in the caorlina down the Brenta, the famous waterway which once carried the Venetian nobility to their country residences.

We will visit the eighteenth century Villa Pisani at Strà.

The canal flows directly into the Venetian lagoon after taking us past a unique collection of eighteenth century villas once owned by the most powerful and illustrious Venetian families.

This will be followed by Villa Molini, the old mill in Dolo, a delightful little town on the Brenta which was probably founded in the 1200s. We will stop off at Villa Mocenigo for lunch before heading off for the Venetian lagoon. Along the way we will see one of Palladio's most famous villas, La Malcontenta, before dining and sleeping at Villa Allegri.

We will stop here to enjoy a private viewing of the Villa's frescoes and eighteenth century romantic gardens on the Brenta.
The villa is still owned by the Foscari family, who commissioned it, despite various changes of ownership over the years.

From the Hills to the Lagoon

Entering the lagoon and heading towards Chioggia, we'll stop at Valle Zappa, which was founded in the 1400s.

We will reach the Hotel Grande Italia in Chioggia by boat and stay the night.
The hotel opened in the early 1900s and has wonderful views of the lagoon.

Day Five - Oriago-Chioggia

This morning we will transfer from the caorlìna onto the Eolo, a bragozzo boat which has been beautifully restored and refurbished.

The first examples of the bragozzo originated during the era of the Doges. Its bottom is traditionally flat in order to navigate the shallow waters of the lagoon.
The Eolo has a well-equipped kitchen and our host, Mauro Stoppa prepares wonderful delicacies using fish and vegetables from the lagoon.

Its strange and charming architecture comes from 1925. It is truly a unique construction of great architectural interest. The panoramic view make this a magical stop before having lunch on the lagoon.

From the Hills to the Lagoon

This island's incredible history is possibly its most fascinating aspect: it could be said that it was a Republic within a Republic! In fact after the inhabitants successfully helped the Venetians defend Chioggia, Poveglia was declared an independent state.

Day Six - Chioggia

In the morning we'll visit Chioggia, the picturesque fish market, the Cathedral and the 1322 granary.

The ancient town of Chioggia is situated on two islands separated by the Canale della Vena. Even though Chioggia has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, it has maintained the chessboard structure which recalls its Roman past. In Roman times the city became an important port, situated between the sea and the waterways to Padua. Chioggia's fortunes now lie with fishing: its canals are often full of fishing boats and bragozzi are still used by some fishermen.

Dinner will be served on board the Eolo as we approach Venice. We will be overnight guests at the seventeenth century Villa Ca' del Borgo.

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For lunch we will set off on the Eolo from Chioggia to the island of Poveglia.

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From the Hills to the Lagoon
Day Seven - Torcello	After lunch, the Eolo will take us to the hidden Valle Perini, the only fishing valley which still uses traditional fishing techniques. Heading towards Torcello at dusk, we'll have time for an aperitif before dining on board: a peaceful moment of relaxation.
In the morning, the Eolo will sail towards the Island of Sant'Erasmo, one of the lagoon's major fruit and vegetable producers. We will then move on to Torcello, the first Venetian settlement on the lagoon. Its Byzantine cathedral was the seat of the Patriarchate before it transferred to Venice. We'll arrive on Torcello in time for lunch at one of the most famous restaurants in Venice: Hemingway's beloved Locanda Cipriani.
		We will be spending the night at the private residence, Villa S. Giovanni Evangelista, on Torcello. It was originally a fifteenth century convent and the spacious fields surrounding the villa are the old remains of the Basilica di San Giovanni.

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	From the Hills to the Lagoon
	Day Eight - Arrival in Venice

	We will head towards Venice, our final destination, past the islands of Torcello, Burano, Murano and S. Michele.