Best of Italy in a Week: Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Rome Tour

Lavish palaces and marvelous churches tower above the narrow canals and rippling waters of the Venetian Lagoon. Beautifully decorated gondolas glide down the hidden passageways and beneath the arching stone bridges. Cafes offer the rich aroma of fresh espresso around the 118 connected islands that create the single city of Venice. The neighborhood of Cannaregio overtakes the former Jewish Ghetto and contains the preserved markings of the former walls that once separated the neighborhood from the surrounding city. The opulent palace of Ca d’Oro offers a perfect example of Venetian Gothic architecture.

The rich paint and marble filigree represent the popular, lavish design of the legendary Venetian Republic. Your flight lands at Venice Marco Polo Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon your arrival. You step aboard a private boat at the dock of the Grand Canal. The famous waterway stretches through the city reaching a length of two miles. Barges and vaporettos careen past the wooden plinths, helping to support the various marble structures lining the canal. You spot the golden weathervane atop the campanile glinting above the remarkable skyline of the historic city in St. Mark’s Square.

You arrive at the hotel along a private dock and take a moment to settle into the comforts of your luxurious hotel. Your guide greets you in the lobby, eager to take you through the marvels at the heart of the city. Cross over the splendor of the Rialto Bridge. The marble structure was erected in the 16th century to replace an older wooden bridge. Stone arches support the covering around an opening offering views to the greater canal. You reach St. Mark’s Square to find the eponymous basilica shimmering with golden hues beneath the bulbous Byzantine domes.