Day 1/2 - Depart USA, Arrive Venice
Depart USA and arrive Venice. Upon arrival at the Venice airport, board a private water taxi and say goodbye to cars for the next eight nights. After zipping across the Venetian lagoon, dock along the picturesque canal directly in front of our five star hotel, a renovated 15th c. palazzo built by the family of two notable doges. Located in the charming Dorsoduro neighborhood—a vibrant, artistic neighborhood away from the touristic center—our boutique hotel offers a lovely interior courtyard for breakfast and drinks in the evening, elegant rooms decorated with Murano chandeliers, and a matchless setting just steps from the broad, sunset-facing Zattere boardwalk which fronts the large Guidecca canal and is where locals gather in the late afternoon for coffees and spritzes. After a welcome reception at the hotel, enjoy dinner out waterside. (D)

Day 3 – Neighborhood Walking Tour, Gondola Workshop
After a morning introduction to life in Venice today, explore our quaint yet cosmopolitan neighborhood filled with artists and academics: Dorsoduro. Begin at a traditional, family-run gondola workshop dating to the 1600s, one of only four remaining in the city. As the tour continues, admire the Gesuati Church with its paintings by Tiepolo and Tintoretto, visit a traditional mask workshop and speak with the artisan owner, and walk over the "Bridge of Fists" before lunch in Campo Santa Margherita, a charming square beloved by the locals. In the evening, enjoy a spritz at a low-key waterside bodega along the Zattere before dinner at a locanda (traditional Venetian inn) once frequented by Ezra Pound. (B,L,D)

Day 4 – Grand Canal Tour, Gondola Ride, Private Vivaldi Concert, Canal-side Dinner

Enjoy an engaging morning history lesson before embarking on a private water-taxi ride and guided tour along the Grand Canal, the remarkable main street of Venice, fronted by the most opulent palazzo facades. Then, appreciate the world's most-enjoyable modern art museum at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, comprising of her personal collection in her former palazzo. In the afternoon, board a gondola for a romantic journey through the small canals of Venice on the way to a private Vivaldi concert and lecture within a deconsecrated former church. Then, walk to an elegant, canal-side restaurant for a traditional Venetian fine-dining experience. After dinner, enjoy a digestivo(after-dinner drink) at a famous bar-terrace along the Grand Canal. (B,D)

Day 5 – Lagoon Tour by Private Boat: Murano, Torcello, & Burano

On this unforgettable day, board our private touring boat and set off along the Venetian lagoon to enjoy the picturesque islands beyond Venice. Begin in lovely Murano, famous as home to the world's preeminent glass factories for over 700 years, with a glass blowing demonstration from a local master. Then, marvel at the combination of artistry and skill at the Berengo Studio, an amazing gallery that fosters collaboration between world-class artists and local Murano artisans. After lunch on Murano, continue to the undeveloped island of Torcello. Home to the original settlers from the mainland in the 400's AD, Torcello is home to the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta with its stunning 11th-century golden mosaics inside. Continue to the one-of-a-kind Venissa Wine Resort, famous for bringing back Venice's native Dorona di Venezia grape from the brink of extinction, tour their unique vineyard, and sample their world-renowned Venissa Bianco wine. Walk across a wooden bridge to beautiful Burano, a fishing-island famous for its traditional lace-making, for a cicchetti dinner with sunset views before returning to Venice as the light fades over the lagoon. (B,L,D)

 Day 6 – Free Day, Optional Rowing Class, Cooking Class (group 1)

Enjoy a free Saturday to explore Venice on your own. In the morning, take an optional opportunity to learn how to row a traditional Venetian batelina in the traditional standing position with an expert instructor. In the evening, half of the group will attend a cooking class with a local chef at his home, focusing on specialties unique to Venetian cuisine. (B,D) (Dinner on this day is only for those taking the cooking class; Otherwise it is an on-your-own dinner)

Day 7 – Venice Biennale International Art Festival, Cooking Class (group 2)

In the morning, take an optional visit to the Accademia Gallery, the grand repository of Venice's most precious Renaissance art. In the late morning, take the vaporetto (water-bus) to the Gardens of Venice and immerse yourself in the world’s most important and engaging art show: the Venice Biennale. Since 1895, nations across the globe have each chosen one artist to create unique exhibits. Housed in national pavilions, these exhibits are often larger-than-life affairs where visitors enter a mesmerizing world of the artist’s creation. After a guided tour of the most notable exhibits, enjoy time to wander through the numerous displays on your own. In the evening, the second half of the group attends the cooking class. (B,L,D) (Dinner on this day is only for those taking the cooking class; Otherwise it is an on-your-own dinner)

Day 8 – Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square, St. Mark’s Basilica & Bell Tower, Caffe Florian
Visit the historic center of the "most serene" Venetian Republic: St. Mark's Square. Begin with a tour of the Doge’s Palace, residence of the Doge (the “duke” of Venice) and seat of government for the Venetian state. Then, enter Europe’s most interesting cathedral, the Basilica of St. Mark. With undulating floors, golden mosaics, massive domes, and plundered Byzantine treasures, the church is singularly beautiful. After lunch, take the elevator to the top of St. Mark's Bell Tower for sweeping views over the city. End the afternoon enjoying a coffee and sweets and listening to the cafe orchestra of Caffè Florian, the oldest operating coffee shop in Italy that has served the likes of Casanova, Goethe, Dickens, Nietzsche, Hemingway, and more. (B,L)

Day 9 – Free Day, Galleon Sunset Dinner Cruise
Enjoy a final free day to explore any remaining sites in Venice. In the late afternoon, board a private, reconstructed galleon for a cruise through the lagoon, closing meeting, and celebratory final dinner as we watch the sun set over the world's most enchanting city. (B,D)

Day 10 – Depart Venice