Venice & the Dolomites

Day 1: UK/Venice
Depart on your flight to Venice. On arrival you’ll transfer to your hotel in Portogruaro, where you’ll stay for five nights.

Day 2: Venice
Join your Tour Manager and a Local Guide on today’s included tour of Venice. There is nowhere else on earth quite like this extraordinary city of canals, palaces and Renaissance architecture, and today you will see many of its most famous sights.

In St Mark’s Square you will find two of the most important buildings in Venice, the Doge’s Palace, once home to the Venetian rulers, and the Basilica di San Marco with its Romanesque carvings and beautiful mosaics. Take a walk over the Rialto Bridge and watch the activity of the boats on the Grand Canal below, or maybe you’ll decide to treat yourself to a gondola ride through the maze of canals and bridges.

Before you return to your hotel, there’s time to discover your own Venice as you take a stroll around the narrow streets and delightful hidden squares, where you can relax with a drink and take in your unique surroundings.

Day 3: Portogruaro
Enjoy today at leisure.

Day 4: Aquileia and Grado
Today we include an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aquileia, once one of the most important ports of the Roman Empire. In the company of a Local Guide view its 4th century basilica, which is home to some of northern Italy’s most beautiful Roman mosaics, and hear how the city fell to Attila the Hun in 452 AD. Its inhabitants fled and settled in the area around Grado before moving to the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, later to found Venice. Your tour then moves on to Grado, now an attractive fishing village and beach resort known as the ‘Mother of Venice’.

Day 5: Portogruaro
Enjoy today at leisure. Alternatively, join our optional tour to discover the wines of the Friuli region.

Day 6: Treviso & Bassano del Grappa
After breakfast you’ll transfer to your hotel and base for the next four nights in Bassano del Grappa, in the foothills of the Dolomites. Before arrival you’ll have the chance to admire the pretty Venetian town of Treviso – as well as picturesque canals, fine medieval squares and palaces, you’ll discover some superb shops.

Day 7: The Dolomites
Remember to take your camera with you on today’s full-day included tour. You’ll journey through dramatic Alpine landscapes to view this rugged range of mountains which stretch from Lake Garda to the Austrian border.

Day 8: Verona
We have included a full day of sightseeing today. This morning enjoy a tour of Verona, one of Italy’s most beautiful and historic cities, in the company of a Local Guide. Admire Piazza Bra, an impressive square decorated by ornate fountains and dominated by the magnificent Roman Arena, which is the third largest in the world. You’ll continue through to Piazza Erbe, the old Roman forum, before a visit to the famous balcony which featured in the Shakespeare tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

This afternoon you’ll journey to the lovely lakeside village of Sirmione on the southern shores of Lake Garda. Take a stroll among the maze of winding streets, admire the medieval castle, or perhaps choose to take a boat trip around the peninsula.

Day 9: Bassano del Grappa
Today’s included excursion is a three-quarter-day visit to the enchanting medieval walled town of Asolo. Tucked away in the foothills of the Dolomites, it has long been a favoured retreat of artists and writers. Why not explore Bassano, which is best known for the strong grappa liqueur produced in the area as well as locally-made ceramics.

Day 10: Venice/UK
You’ll transfer to the airport today for your flight back to the UK.

Please note
To maximise your enjoyment of this holiday a certain amount of walking is essential.

The 31 May departure will follow a revised itinerary as follows:

Day 1 Arrival in Lido di Jesolo
Day 2 Venice via Punta Sabbioni
Day 3 Day at leisure
Day 4 Aquileia & Grado
Day 5 Optional half day wine tour
Day 6 Treviso / Bassano
Day 7 Included trip to the Dolomites
Day 8 Included visit to Verona
Day 9 Included visit to Bassano & Asolo
Day 10 Transfer to Venice Airport for return journey home
If you would like any further information, please contact one of our Holiday Advisors

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

4-star Hotel Spessotto in Portogruaro
In the centre of the pretty Venetian town of Portogruaro, hotel amenities include a restaurant and bar while guest rooms have en suite facilities and satellite TV.

Please note: On our May departure you will stay in the 4-star Hotel Canon D’Oro in Conigliano. Amenities include bar, restaurant, and guest rooms feature en suite facilities and satellite TV.

4-star Hotel Belvedere in Bassano del Grappa
This hotel is located in the foothills of the Dolomites and is close to Bassano’s main squares. Hotel amenities include a restaurant, breakfast room and bar. Guest rooms feature en suite facilities, hairdryer, mini-bar, satellite TV and safe.

Please note: On our September departure you will stay in the Belvedere’s sister hotel, the 4-star Palladio. Amenities include a bar, while guest rooms have en suite facilities and satellite TV. Dinner on the first night will be taken in the Hotel Belvedere.

Hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Venice (full day)
Verona and Lake Garda (full day)
Aquileia and Grado (three-quarter day)
Treviso visit
Dolomites (full day)
Asolo (three-quarter day)

Optional excursions

The Wines of the Friuli Region (half day, moderate walking)
For full details of this excursion please see page 21 of our Italy Optional Excursions booklet

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
9 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, plus 5 dinners
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guides
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”