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LA DOLCE VITA
| Luxury barge cruise vacations on the Italian hotel barge LA DOLCE VITA cruising the Lagoon of Venice and the Brenta River. Treat yourself to a barging holiday and enjoy this splendid area of Italy. |  |
LA DOLCE VITA
Hotel barge vacation cruises in Italy
Venice, the Islands of the Lagoon, the Brenta River, Padua.
~ RIVERIA FLORITA CRUISE ITINERARY ~
September 12-18, 2010
For this special occasion, our normal cruise program will slightly change to offer the possibility for our guests to admire the Riviera Fiorita Regatta from the sundeck of our barge on the river Brenta.
The Riviera Fiorita takes place on Sunday and and we meet you at 11.30 am at the meeting hotel and transfer you to La Dolce Vita by water taxi. At lunch-time we will serve a typical Venetian menu and in the early afternoon you will be able to admire the boats parade from the sundeck of the barge.
The
Riviera Fiorita -Flowering River - Regatta is a splendid echo of the
Historic Regatta taking place in Venice the previous Sunday. It is
probably the most important event on the Brenta River, all the villages
along the banks of the Naviglio canal joining in. The event started in
1977 to re-enact the passage along the river of Henry III, King of
France. Originally that took place in 1574, the year the sovereign
visited Venice. He entered the city after having followed the course of
river Brenta from Padua, passing the great country villas of the
Venetian nobility and was warmly welcomed. Along the riverside there
were rejoicing crowds and music as the nobles looked on from their
lavish villas. Today, as then, on the second Sunday of September people
watch the procession of colourful vessels as they bear their
distinguished visitors beautifully apparelled in historic costumes.
First there is a boating competition for the rowing clubs’ boats. The
prize-giving for the best team takes place at Malcontenta, point of
arrival for the historic procession.
After the regatta in the late afternoon we will cruise down the river into the lagoon to follow our normal itinerary.
It's a great start to an amazing week and places are strictly limited.
Sunday
Guests are met at 11.30 AM the meeting Hotel in Dolo and transfer to Mira, where the barge is moored and the crew is ready to serve a welcome drink of Prosecco and lunch. In the early afternoon you will enjoy the boat parade from La Dolce Vita’s sundeck. Later we will cruise down the river to enter the Venetian lagoon. Sailing past Venice and the coast of Sant’Erasmo, we head to our mooring in Burano, the fishermen’s island in the northern lagoon, where we serve your a superb fish dinner.
Monday
In the morning La Dolce Vita hugs the coast of Sant’Erasmo with its orchards and vegetable gardens and arrives in Torcello, the first island of the lagoon to be colonised 2000 years ago. We see the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a beautiful example of Veneto-Byzantine style. We have lunch while cruising on the Siloncello canal and in the afternoon we visit Burano, a picturesque fishermen’s island in the northern lagoon. We walk through the colourful streets of Burano and visit the Lace Museum. We moor for the night on the calm waters of Burano. Dinner on board.
Tuesday
We start our cruise passing by San Francesco del Deserto Island, where we can moor and visit the monastery. We then proceed to San Lazzaro degli Armeni where we visit one of the most interesting libraries of Venice with 150,000 volumes and more than 4,000 Armenian manuscripts, some nearly 1,300 years old. The monks of the San Lazzaro monastery have welcomed visitors for more than two centuries. In 1816, Lord Byron visited the island twice a week for six months, studying Armenian and envying the monks' comfortable academic lifestyle. A plaque quotes Byron as saying, "The visitor will be convinced that there are other and better things even in this life”. We end the day with a short cruise around Venice to reach Murano and moor for the night on the Grand Canal of the island of glass. Dinner on board.
Wednesday
We visit a glass-blowing workshop in Murano. Then we move on for a tour of the Grand Canal in Venice aboard a water taxi and reach San Giorgio Island for our lunch facing Saint Mark. In the afternoon we take you on a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark in Venice. Later you have some free time to visit Venice. We moor for dinner on San Giorgio Island.
Thursday
This morning we cruise up River Brenta to Mira, passing by Villa Foscari in Malcontenta, a masterpiece of the Renaissance architect Palladio. We visit Villa Widmann, a typical Venetian luxurious villa with wonderful frescos. In the afternoon we move on for 2 more hours to Dolo, where we moor for the night. For those who like cycling, it is possible to follow the barge on a bicycle today. Before dinner we take you for a glass of wine at the old water mill of Dolo.
Friday
Further ascent of river Brenta to Stra, where we visit Villa Pisani, an 18th century masterpiece of Venetian architecture with frescos from Tiepolo. Whilst we cruise you can follow the barge by bicycle along the river and by the afternoon our cruise brings us in Padua, where we moor at Portello gate, one of the best preserved parts of the ancient city walls. We then visit Giotto’s Chapel and then we walk into the centre, which is as full of history as Venice herself. The Farewell Dinner will be at a restaurant in the centre of Padua.
Saturday
After breakfast at 9 am you are transferred to Hotel Villa Goetzen in Dolo, Marco Polo. If you have an early flight or if you are staying at a hotel in Venice, we can make custom arrangements for you at your expense
Note: This is our standard itinerary. It is subject to changes due to weather conditions, navigation regulations, etc. On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse with minor changes.
LA DOLCE VITA HOME > ITINERARIES > Riviera Florita Cruise Itinerary
Hotel barge vacation cruises in Italy
Venice, the Islands of the Lagoon, the Brenta River, Padua.
~ RIVERIA FLORITA CRUISE ITINERARY ~
September 12-18, 2010
For this special occasion, our normal cruise program will slightly change to offer the possibility for our guests to admire the Riviera Fiorita Regatta from the sundeck of our barge on the river Brenta.
The Riviera Fiorita takes place on Sunday and and we meet you at 11.30 am at the meeting hotel and transfer you to La Dolce Vita by water taxi. At lunch-time we will serve a typical Venetian menu and in the early afternoon you will be able to admire the boats parade from the sundeck of the barge.
The
Riviera Fiorita -Flowering River - Regatta is a splendid echo of the
Historic Regatta taking place in Venice the previous Sunday. It is
probably the most important event on the Brenta River, all the villages
along the banks of the Naviglio canal joining in. The event started in
1977 to re-enact the passage along the river of Henry III, King of
France. Originally that took place in 1574, the year the sovereign
visited Venice. He entered the city after having followed the course of
river Brenta from Padua, passing the great country villas of the
Venetian nobility and was warmly welcomed. Along the riverside there
were rejoicing crowds and music as the nobles looked on from their
lavish villas. Today, as then, on the second Sunday of September people
watch the procession of colourful vessels as they bear their
distinguished visitors beautifully apparelled in historic costumes.
First there is a boating competition for the rowing clubs’ boats. The
prize-giving for the best team takes place at Malcontenta, point of
arrival for the historic procession.After the regatta in the late afternoon we will cruise down the river into the lagoon to follow our normal itinerary.
It's a great start to an amazing week and places are strictly limited.
ITINERARY
Sunday
Guests are met at 11.30 AM the meeting Hotel in Dolo and transfer to Mira, where the barge is moored and the crew is ready to serve a welcome drink of Prosecco and lunch. In the early afternoon you will enjoy the boat parade from La Dolce Vita’s sundeck. Later we will cruise down the river to enter the Venetian lagoon. Sailing past Venice and the coast of Sant’Erasmo, we head to our mooring in Burano, the fishermen’s island in the northern lagoon, where we serve your a superb fish dinner.
Monday
In the morning La Dolce Vita hugs the coast of Sant’Erasmo with its orchards and vegetable gardens and arrives in Torcello, the first island of the lagoon to be colonised 2000 years ago. We see the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a beautiful example of Veneto-Byzantine style. We have lunch while cruising on the Siloncello canal and in the afternoon we visit Burano, a picturesque fishermen’s island in the northern lagoon. We walk through the colourful streets of Burano and visit the Lace Museum. We moor for the night on the calm waters of Burano. Dinner on board.
Tuesday
We start our cruise passing by San Francesco del Deserto Island, where we can moor and visit the monastery. We then proceed to San Lazzaro degli Armeni where we visit one of the most interesting libraries of Venice with 150,000 volumes and more than 4,000 Armenian manuscripts, some nearly 1,300 years old. The monks of the San Lazzaro monastery have welcomed visitors for more than two centuries. In 1816, Lord Byron visited the island twice a week for six months, studying Armenian and envying the monks' comfortable academic lifestyle. A plaque quotes Byron as saying, "The visitor will be convinced that there are other and better things even in this life”. We end the day with a short cruise around Venice to reach Murano and moor for the night on the Grand Canal of the island of glass. Dinner on board.
Wednesday
We visit a glass-blowing workshop in Murano. Then we move on for a tour of the Grand Canal in Venice aboard a water taxi and reach San Giorgio Island for our lunch facing Saint Mark. In the afternoon we take you on a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark in Venice. Later you have some free time to visit Venice. We moor for dinner on San Giorgio Island.
Thursday
This morning we cruise up River Brenta to Mira, passing by Villa Foscari in Malcontenta, a masterpiece of the Renaissance architect Palladio. We visit Villa Widmann, a typical Venetian luxurious villa with wonderful frescos. In the afternoon we move on for 2 more hours to Dolo, where we moor for the night. For those who like cycling, it is possible to follow the barge on a bicycle today. Before dinner we take you for a glass of wine at the old water mill of Dolo.
Friday
Further ascent of river Brenta to Stra, where we visit Villa Pisani, an 18th century masterpiece of Venetian architecture with frescos from Tiepolo. Whilst we cruise you can follow the barge by bicycle along the river and by the afternoon our cruise brings us in Padua, where we moor at Portello gate, one of the best preserved parts of the ancient city walls. We then visit Giotto’s Chapel and then we walk into the centre, which is as full of history as Venice herself. The Farewell Dinner will be at a restaurant in the centre of Padua.
Saturday
After breakfast at 9 am you are transferred to Hotel Villa Goetzen in Dolo, Marco Polo. If you have an early flight or if you are staying at a hotel in Venice, we can make custom arrangements for you at your expense
Note: This is our standard itinerary. It is subject to changes due to weather conditions, navigation regulations, etc. On alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse with minor changes.
LA DOLCE VITA HOME > ITINERARIES > Riviera Florita Cruise Itinerary