FLORENCE AND VENETO February from

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1 FLORENCE AND VENETO February 2017 from Day 1 Saturday 18 February 2017 We depart by coach this morning from York and transfer to Manchester Airport in time to check in for our flight to Pisa. On arrival we are met by our local coach and guide and transfer to the centre of Pisa where we visit the famous Leaning Tower as well as the Cathedral for which the tower is the campanile or bell tower. The tilt of the tower began during construction in the 12 th century due to inadequate foundations on the soft ground. Prior to restoration work performed between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees, but now leans at about 4.0 degrees, a horizontal displacement of 3.9 metres from the centre. We then continue to our 4-star centrally located hotel in Florence. In the evening we enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner. Day 2 Sunday 19 February 2017 After breakfast we begin our exploration of Florence with a visit to the Uffizi Gallery. The marvellous collection here spans over 600 years and includes works by Lippi, Cimbue, Duccio, Giotto, Leonardo and several works by Botticelli, including his Birth of Venus, Primavera and Madonna. We continue to the Church of Santa Croce, which is truly unique, not only for the purity of the Gothic style, but also for the famous works of art it contains and its historical importance. We follow this with a visit to the Accademia Gallery. This is among the finest of Florence museums thanks to the high quality of some of its exhibits, among them Michelangelo's celebrated David. Dinner is served in the hotel.

2 Day 3 Monday 20 February 2017 After breakfast we continue our exploration of Florence with visits to the Palazzo Piti, a Rennaissance palace which is now the largest museum complex in the city; Palazzo Vecchio, a former residence of the Medici family, and the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, one of the oldest buildings in Florence, dating back to 1255, which today is the setting for works of sculpture and examples of decorative arts. Dinner in the hotel. Day 4 Tuesday 21 February 2017 Following breakfast we check out of the hotel and transfer to the railway station and take a high-speed train direct to Padua. On arrival we are met by our local coach and guide and depart on a sightseeing tour of Padua, an historic and lively university town, and visit the Scrovegni Chapel, one of the artistic wonders of the Renaissance world. Also known as the Arena Chapel, it contains a rich and elaborate fresco that is universally considered Giotto di Bondone s masterpiece, a complex and emotional narrative on the lives of Mary and Jesus. We then transfer to our 4-star centrally located hotel. Dinner is served in the hotel.

3 Day 5 Wednesday 22 February 2017 After breakfast we depart for a visit to Verona where we will see the Roman Arena di Verona (exterior only) and the Juliet House, with its famous balcony overlooking the courtyard. Given that Shakespeare never visited Verona and his characters Romeo and Juliet are entirely fictional, this is of course not the actual house of Juliet but nevertheless it is a genuine 13 th century building, with a very photogenic balcony, which has become inextricably linked with the star-crossed lovers of Shakespeare s most famous tragedy. We then visit the Villa Valmarana, an outstanding architectural and artistic site belonging to the Valmarana family taking its name from the statues of dwarves (nani) which decorate its garden wall. The Villa s surroundings are designed to suite different tastes and functional needs, ranging from an Italian garden with dovecote and the well, the walk through the hornbeam and the pagoda in the woods. The family still lives Valmarana Villa, which is widely considered the top expressive painting of the eighteenth century and the highest testimony of the genius of Tiepolo. From here a short walk (500 yards approx.) along a leafy lane takes us the Palladian Masterpiece, Villa Rotonda, designed by Andrea Palladio around 1570 and became one of the most recognisable buildings of the Renaissance. Situated on the top of a hill just outside the town of Vicenza, the Villa Capra is called the Villa Rotonda, because of its completely symmetrical plan with a central circular hall. The interior was designed for elegant entertainment, and is lavishly decorated with stucco and frescoes. In 1994 UNESCO designated the building as part of the World Heritage Site. We return to our hotel for dinner.

4 Day 6 Thursday 23 February 2017 Following breakfast we depart on a day trip to Venice, travelling by coach to Tronchetto, the arrival point for tour coaches, adjacent to the terminal where cruise ships visiting Venice berth. From here a water taxi will take us on a canal trip along the Grand Canal within minutes we will find ourselves sailing past some of the most iconic sights in Italy such as the Doge s Palace, the Rialto Bridge and the Ca d Oro. Thereafter we will be free to explore Venice at leisure. As our visit coincides with the Venice Carnival and one of the masked costume contests is scheduled to take place today, the streets will be very crowded and access to places such as St Marks Basilica may be limited, however there will be very colourful scenes to add to the unique atmosphere of the city. At an agreed point and time a water taxi will return us to Tronchetto and we will then return by coach to the hotel, where dinner is served in the evening. Day 7 Friday 24 February 2017 After breakfast we check out of the hotel and transfer to Venice Marco Polo airport for our flight back to Manchester. What s included Six nights hotel accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis: three nights at the Hotel Adler Cavalieri, Florence and three nights at the Hotel Milano, Padua. All rooms have private facilities Flights from Manchester to Pisa and Venice to Manchester Return coach transfers York to Manchester Airport Comfortable coaching in Italy Standard class train journey Florence to Padua Visits to Leaning Tower of Pisa, Uffizi Gallery, Church of Santa Croce, Accademia Gallery, Piti Palace, Palazzo Vecchio, Bargello Museum (Florence); Scrovegni Chapel, Padua; Juliet House (Verona) and the Villas Rotonda and Valmarana; Canal trip in Venice Services of Brightwater Holidays tour manager and local English-speaking guides

5 Not Included (per person) Single room supplement Insurance (under 65); (65-74); (75-90)