Gems of Northern Italy

MILAN CITY HIGHLIGHS WITH DA VINCI LAST SUPPER

Your hotel is in the heart of the city, so it’s easy to see the highlights of the neighborhood on a short, guided walk. Il Duomo, the magnificent cathedral, was born in the 14th century yet finished 500 years later. The last part to be finished, one of its five great doors, wasn’t installed until 1965 and offers one of the most spectacular Gothic façades in the world. Step inside with a local expert for a tour of the ravishing interior, then walk across the square and under the splendid triumphal arch that welcomes visitors and shoppers into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Learn a bit about the history of this area as you stroll through the beautiful 19th-century glass-covered arcade; it’s the oldest shopping mall in Europe and is still wildly popular, housing the flagships of leading fashion designers and trendy restaurants.

You’ll emerge in Piazza della Scala, home to the internationally celebrated opera house whose name comes from the square, Teatro alla Scala. Directly opposite Piazza della Scala is Milan’s city hall. A stunning Renaissance palace, it is just one of the palaces and fortresses that were the heart of medieval civic power, where the Viscontis and then the Sforzas reigned, each ruler adding to the city’s splendor and tumultuous history.

With so many highlights, it’s hard to pinpoint just one, but Santa Maria delle Grazie, a beautiful Gothic and Renaissance church, offers you a sight you will never forget. The Last Supper is not in the church itself; it adorns the walls of a modest adjoining building that was the Dominican refectory. Your tour ends after you’ve had an opportunity to admire Da Vinci’s revolutionary work or spend some free time exploring the area on your own.

Note: The order of sightseeing varies according to the availability of time slots at Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Generations Excursion: Marvel at Da Vinci’s masterpiece Do you know the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque? Gargoyles are downspouts—that’s why they lean away from a building with their mouths open; they are designed to spit rainwater. Get a look at some of the 135 gargoyles decorating the magnificent Duomo from the rooftop terrace, as well as the figures that top the spires and the city below. Thousands of people worked on this cathedral over the centuries (it wasn’t finished until Napoleon conquered the city and insisted on its completion—so he could be crowned king of Italy in it). Check out the way a whisper carries in the great market square, and cross the dry moat into the great Sforza castle, where the dukes of Milan lived and ruled for centuries. The Piazza d’Armi once held a huge clay statue of a horse by Leonardo da Vinci, but Napoleon’s troops used it for target practice and destroyed it. Leonardo lived in Milan for 14 years, so the city holds many of his works— the greatest one is still exactly where he painted it, on the walls of a dining room. Seeing The Last Supper is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. This excursion is only available on sailings that belong to the Generations program.

VERONA, “CITY OF ROMEO AND JULIET”

Discover the real roots of Shakespeare’s tragic tale with a visit to fair Verona. The Scaligeri family ruled the city for two centuries, routinely murdering one another to gain power; an echo of these savage family feuds found their way into the Bard’s tragedy. Your walking tour passes the house where Romeo purportedly lived, as well as the pretty 14th-century stone house where legend says Juliet listened to her Romeo’s vows. (It’s certainly a destination for lovers now: They leave love notes on the walls). Stop by the imposing Scaligeri tombs, ramble along Via Mazzini and through Piazza delle Erbe, the bustling city square laid out where the ancient Roman forum once stood. You’ll have a little free time to explore on your own after your tour. You might step into one of the beautiful and historic churches nearby or take an elevator up to the top of Torre dei Lamberti for a great view of the old city and its surroundings.

VALPOLICELLA WINE ESTATE LUNCH

Your journey continues from Verona through the lovely vine-clad hills of the Valpolicella wine country. These vineyards grow Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes—and even Garganega, the grape used for Soave wines. While the everyday Valpolicella red wine is popular and easy-drinking, the region also produces Amarone, a lush and unmistakable red that is the result of a unique wine-making process: Grapes are air-dried on bamboo racks for several months before being crushed for fermentation, giving the wine a luscious depth of flavor. Modest farmhouses and great estates alike produce delightful wines, but the Serego Alighieri estate, which belongs to descendants of Dante Alighieri, is one of the oldest and loveliest. The stately villa stands amid gracious gardens and fertile vineyards, welcoming you in for a tour of the grounds and cellars. You’ll see the drying racks and learn about the process before savoring a delectable three-course lunch carefully paired with Serego Alighieri wines. 

A MORNING WALK IN VENICE WITH DOGE’S PALACE VISIT

Venice has no need to designate a pedestrians-only historic district because no cars are permitted within the island city – all transportation is by foot or water.

You first arrive at the Doge’s Palace and most famous plaza in Italy – St. Mark’s Square. Venetians elected their first doge, or duke, in AD 697 and began building the palace around AD 800.

The palace complex, as it exists now, mostly dates to the 14th and 15th centuries, and it brims with jaw-dropping artistic gems, including Tintoretto’s wall-sized Paradise and works by Veronese, Tiepolo and Titian. Throughout its history, Venice has been a supremely political city. Those convicted of crimes were led across the Bridge of Sighs to prison. Follow their footsteps to the prison and gaze into the cells. Casanova escaped from one of these cells. Other less-fortunate prisoners whiled away their time by inscribing graffiti on the walls, which you can still read.

You will continue this exploration by strolling through the historic Castello district. It’s the largest of Venice’s six districts. Back in the 13th century the Castello district was home to the Arsenal, where Venice’s ships were built. (Venetians boasted that they could build a complete ship in a single day.) This is also where the famous Biennale art exhibition now takes place. As you pass 800-year-old homes, you’ll hear the murmur of the soft local dialect through the open windows. Clothes flap from lines strung over tiny canals and kids kick soccer balls along cobbled alleys. It’s a real, living, breathing neighborhood, not just a historic site.

In addition to its well-known museums, Venice is also home to some highly specialized ones: Displays at the Correr are devoted to the history of Venice; the Museo della Musica contains 17th and 18th-century musical instruments and exhibits about composer Antonio Vivaldi. Known as the Red Priest for his hair color, Vivaldi taught music to the daughters of Venetian noblemen. The Museo Ebraico examines the history of the Jewish community that was confined to an island known as Ghetto Nuovo. The latter was one of Europe’s wealthiest and most cultured Jewish communities, made up in part with refugees from the Spanish Inquisition.

PRIVATE AFTER-HOURS VISIT TO SAINT MARK’S BASILICA

Welcome to Saint Mark’s Basilica. The doors of this icon are specially opened for you tonight. You will see the glorious church in the evening light and without the crowds. You’ll find it almost impossible not to gaze heavenward as you enter St. Mark’s. High overhead, magnificent domes are sheathed in mosaics telling the story of the New Testament, but don’t miss the intricate pattern of marble and mosaic tile under your feet. Ahead of you is the famous altarpiece made by 10th-century Byzantine artisans who gilded it and decorated it with precious gems, some of which were subsequently stolen by Napoleon. The building, which exemplifies the city’s historic connection to Byzantium and the Eastern Mediterranean, was finished in the 11th century and incorporates the remnants of earlier churches. Golden glass-tiled mosaics line the interior walls and cupolas, giving the church its nickname, Church of Gold. It houses treasures collected by Venetians over the centuries. The relics of St. Mark, patron saint of the city, were stolen from Alexandria, and the Tetrarch, a group of four crowned figures, was looted from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. Every successful Venetian voyager returned with something to decorate the basilica—a frieze, a statue—and the result is one of the most stunning works of art and architecture in this amazing city.

Note: It is not always possible to arrange an after-hours visit to St. Mark’s Basilica if religious functions or festivities are taking place in the evening. We will try to organize an earlier tour, but if cancelled, an alternative option, like a visit to San Rocco, will be organized.

PADUA MORNING WALK AND MARKET VISIT

As you stroll through town on a picturesque tour of Padua’s medieval highlights, you’ll learn that in the 13th and 14th centuries, Padua was at the peak of its glory days. In 1222, Italy’s second-oldest university was established here, where Galileo and Copernicus were among its students. The university sits outside the Palazzo del Bo, which is adjacent to Café Pedrocchi. Although the Café is not as old as the University itself, it is historically notable in its own way. Revolutionaries met there in 1848 and French writer Stendahl, called it the best club in Europe. After gazing in awe at Padua’s splendor, your excursion ends with an unforgettable sight—the Byzantine-inspired domes and towers of St. Anthony’s Basilica.

Note: Lunch is not offered with this excursion.

“LET’S GO” BIKING CHIOGGIA

Meet your local bike guide dockside for a scenic ride along the lagoon. Your first stop is Piazza Vigo. With its stunning white-marble bridge standing on its own little island, from this view at Piazza Vigo, you’re likely to see your ship cruise past right about now. Your guide will provide an insightful overview of the fishing village of Chioggia. Pedal to Fondamenta San Francesco for a view of its stunning Chiesa before embarking on your excursion around the lagoon. Enjoy a pleasantly tranquil trip around the Lusenzo lagoon, the placid body of water between Chioggia and Sottomarina, which offers up stunning views of the city. You will end your tour in Sottomarina where you will have a break and can dip your toe in the Adriatic Sea. After a long day working up an appetite, enjoy a well-deserved local lunch at Restaurant Il Ristoro and an enlightening mussel demonstration. Please note that the mussel demonstration is not always possible for the bike group.

BRAGOZZO RIDE

Mussels have been a staple of Venetian cooking for many years, mainly because the waters of the lagoon produce a bounty of fish and shellfish. Climb aboard a small boat and head out to the mussel banks. Marvel at mussel ropes suspended from poles into shallow waters, then head to Ristoro Restaurant to have a fisherman’s lunch where you’ll steam your mussels in prosecco for a delicious meal. Shellfish don’t get any fresher or more delicious than this.

Today you face a tough decision: Do you spend a full day in Bologna, the culinary capital of Northern Italy, or visit UNESCO-designated Ferrara, a beautifully preserved Renaissance city? Let your passions be your guide today. If you have an appetite for pasta, head to Bologna—the heart of Italian culinary traditions—and learn how many pastas are made and shaped, even trying to shape some yourself! Then enjoy an authentic Italian pasta lunch prepared just for you. Or indulge your appetite for art with an excursion to Ferrara, an ancient center for the arts that once rivaled Medici Florence. 

Featured Excursion:

Choice of Full-day excursion to Bologna with exclusive pasta-making workshop and lunch or
Half-day excursion to Ferrara with lunch onboard  

CHIOGGIA MARKET VISIT

Chioggia is the quintessential Venetian Lagoon fishing village. Founded in the fifth century, it was known as the pantry of Venice because of its many small truck farms, which supplied Venetian households with produce until just a few decades ago. It is still a thriving fishing port; its wholesale fish market is one of the largest in Italy. On Thursdays, Chioggia also hosts Corso del Popolo—a dynamic outdoor market along its main thoroughfare where stands sell everything from clothes, shoes, purses, gadgets and “every-day” domestic items. Locals usually do their shopping here as prices are more affordable than retail shopping.

MAGIC ISLAND DAY: HIDDEN TREASURES OF THE LAGOON

The Venetian lagoon is dotted with islands, each with its own history, heritage and charm.

Welcome to Torcello. It was settled before Venice was founded, and at one time it was the greatest, most populous city in the lagoon; now, however, only a handful of people live there. Its centerpiece is the basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the oldest church in the lagoon and a monument to Torcello’s lost might. The doors open early for you so you can see the stunning 11th-century mosaic of the Last Judgment without the crowds—and with expert commentary from your art historian guide.

Off to Mazzorbo. Here you’ll find a different craft practiced: winemaking. Visit an ambitious wine estate devoted to making wine with Dorona grapes, which tolerate the salt air—and the occasional saltwater bath during very high tides—and produce a luscious golden wine. These grapes grew here long ago in a walled vineyard that has been brought back into verdant production. Enjoy a tasting in lovely surroundings.

Next, let’s enjoy a rainbow of Italian history. Hot pink, chartreuse, orange, lemon yellow—Burano’s brightly painted fishermen’s cottages are an artist’s dream. The sizzling colors may look random, but they are strictly regulated: An owner needs state permission to change the color of the house. Burano is even better known for its lace-making tradition than for its colors; the exquisite craft has been practiced here for 400 years, handed down from mother to daughter since the first workshop was set up at the end of the 16th century. Visit a historic lace-making atelier to see some of this delicate work and, if you like, purchase items to take home.

“DO AS THE LOCALS DO” VENICE WALKING TOUR

Back when Venice was at the height of its power, only the Rialto Bridge spanned the Grand Canal—and the city’s famous Rialto markets for fish and produce have sprawled at its feet as long as the bridge has arched over the water. Here you’ll find violet artichokes from the nearby island of Sant’Erasmo, honey from the salt marshes, white asparagus from Giare—and Venetians shopping for their dinners in the historic heart of the city. Join them as you explore the colorful, noisy and fun arcades with your guide (the ship’s chef often leads this expedition), who knows Venice’s culinary arts intimately. Freshly caught local fish is sold to knowledgeable customers under the Gothic arches of the covered fish market, which was probably originally built in the 11th century. At the end of the tour, join your guide at a bacaro (a casual wine bar) for the Venetian version of happy hour, called ombra e cicchetti—a drink (often a glass of prosecco) with a bite of something delicious— perhaps crostini with salt cod spread or another Venetian fish specialty.

“VENETIAN PAINTERS AT THE ACCADEMIA” TOUR WITH ART HISTORIAN GUIDE

Join an art historian on an exclusive guided visit to the Academy. Probably the greatest collection of Venetian Renaissance paintings in the world, it includes works by Tiepolo, Veronese, Tintoretto, Bellini and Canaletto. There are more than 20 galleries, each one containing extraordinary masterpieces, with exhibits generally laid out in chronological order. There are far too many to see in a single visit; fortunately, your guide brings a specialist’s knowledge to the history of Venetian painting and will show you what was unique about Venetian art as it developed from the 14th through the 16th centuries. Note: Photography is not permitted inside the Academy, and large bags, especially backpacks, must be left in lockers.