More Genius of Venice Hidden treasures for connoisseurs

Study Tour Overview

According to the 16th-century writer Francesco Sansovino, Venice's name derived from the Latin 'veni etiam' which could be translated as 'come again'! On this 'sequel' to our classic Genius of Venice Study Tour, we will explore sights off the beaten track. Explore Venice's formidable political and military centres of command: from the Ducal Palace's magistrates offices, inquisition chambers and cells where Casanova was imprisoned, to the dockyards of the Arsenal which mass-produced the ships that ensured the Serenissima's hegemony in the eastern Mediterranean for centuries. We will visit tranquil churches with stunning works by the Bellini, the Vivarini and by Titian, study books from the cradle of the printing industry at the end of the 15th century, enjoy a glass of prosecco poured by the owner of one of the city's magnificent palaces. A private boat excursion will take us to far-flung corners of the lagoon beyond the reach of the public vaporetti, and the marble and mosaic covered basilica of San Marco will open its great bronze doors of just for us for a private evening view, leaving you with unforgettable memories. If you thought you knew Venice, More Genius will make you think again

Day 1	Morning  flight at c. 9am with British Airways from London Heathrow to Venice. Transfer by water taxi to your hotel. Introductory walk through the neighbourhood: the Chiesa dei Carmini houses two beautiful Renaissance altarpieces, one by Cima da Conegliano, the other by Lorenzo Lotto, while the adjacent Scuola Grande dei Carmini features paintings by Tiepolo and Piazzetta.
Day 2	In the morning, follow the ‘Secret Itineraries’ of the Ducal Palace, giving you a unique insight into the complex civil service machinery behind the Venetian Republic’s unparalleled political and economic success. In the afternoon, visit the Museo Correr, documenting the city’s history and including works from Carpaccio to Canova. A special treat will be our private visit to the Correr Library for a close-up study of some fine Renaissance books and woodcuts and engravings by Titian, attesting to Venice’s leading role in the early history of the printing press.
Day 3	A day following in the footsteps of Titian: S. Maria della Salute houses an early altarpiece and recently restored Mannerist ceiling canvases by Venice's leading Renaissance painter, while at S. Maria dei Frari the Assumption and the Pesaro Madonna are two of the artist's best-loved works. The nocturnal Martyrdom of St Lawrence (recently restored) in the Jesuit Church and the luminous Annunciation in S. Salvador are among Titian's awe-inspiring late works.
Day 4	Explore the further reaches of the lagoon by private boat, including a visit to the remote island of San Francesco del Deserto where St Francis famously preached to the birds, and to Torcello to study the millennium-old cathedral. From there continue to one of the less well-known islands in the lagoon for lunch before returning to the city. In the evening, a private view of the basilica of San Marco is a deeply moving experience.
Day 5	In the morning, discover the history of the Rialto area with its busy markets, tiny churches and narrow streets, before crossing the Grand Canal to admire the marble encrusted Ca’ d’Oro, Venice’s most lavish Gothic palace. The interior features paintings by Mantegna, Carpaccio and Titian, and important marbles and bronzes of the Venetian Renaissance. Free afternoaon for independent expeditions.
Day 6	Walk through the district of Castello, from Carpaccio’s narrative canvases at the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni to Giovanni Bellini’s exquisite altarpiece in San Zaccaria. After lunch, visit Sansovino’s church of San Francesco della Vigna with paintings by Giovanni Bellini and Paolo Veronese. In the evening, visit a grand private palazzo hiding in the maze of narrow alleyways in the heart of the city, followed by dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 7	After breakfast, transfer by water taxi to Venice airport for our early afternoon flight with British Airways to London Heathrow, scheduled to land at 2pm.