The best of northeastern Italy in a nutshell! Visit two astonishing cities, Venice and Trieste, with their incredible history and architecture and taste great products from these two wonderful regions.

Departure dates

• 18 - 23 April
• 28 May - 2 June
• 6 - 11 September
• 29 September - 4 October

Day 1    Arrival

Day 2    Venice by boat
Welcome to Venice. Today’s excursion brings us to the astonishing lagoon city. We will discover the secrets of its incredible architecture, the splendor of the Doge’s Palace and the majestic St. Mark’s Square. Away from the tourist tracks, we will unveil its most hidden corners and admire the city in its full glory from the Grand Canal.

Day 3    FREE
Suggested: Udine and San Daniele ham
We will head to Udine in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Remnants of the almost 400 years of Venetian rule are still present today. The ‘Piazza della Libertà’ with its unique architectural ambience, is also influenced by its proximity to Slovenia. We will visit the interesting sights of Udine with our tour guide, including the impressive cathedral. Afterwards we will have free time, before the tour continues on to San Daniele. We will familiarize ourself with the production of this delicacy during a visit to a ham factory. A tasting is, of course, also included.

Day 4    Trieste and Miramare Castle
In Trieste we will breathe in the cosmopolitan flair in the streets of the city centre, in which neoclassical and elegant art nouveau buildings stand side by side. We will begin our tour at Piazza dell’Unità, the city centre, that was formed on the earthen mounds of the Roman harbour, and continue onto the San Giusto hill, where the monuments of the antique city are located. Next, we will enjoy free time to wander through the city before the tour continues on to Miramare Castle. On a rocky cliff, this fortress was built between 1860-1865 by the Austrian Habsburg Archduke Maximilian. The castle park is filled with rare and precious trees, we will visit the small swan’s lake, lotus pond and the castelletto (a small, somewhat secluded castle) and enjoy the marvelous flora.

Day 5    FREE
Suggested: Treviso and Prosecco Wine Road
We will first visit the pretty little city of Treviso with its branched waterways. The city walls, which the Venetians built in the 16th century, are to a large extent still preserved. The meeting point is Piazza dei Signori with its impressive palaces. We will see the San Pietro Cathedral and the San Nicolò Church, which is of art-historical importance as one of the most impressive examples of the Italian red brick Gothic. Then we will drive along the Prosecco Wine Road, which begins in Conegliano and follows the gentle hills bedecked with lush vineyards for 47 km through the areas of Foletto, the Piave and Valdobbiadene. During a visit to a local winery we will learn exactly how Prosecco wine is produced.

Day 6    Departure

SERVICES INCLUDED:  

• Return flights ex Dublin
• 5 x nights accommodation at 4* Salus Hotel in Lido di Jesolo
• 5 x buffet breakfasts
• 1 x welcome drink
• 1 x 3-course dinner (on arrival day)
• 4 x 3-course dinners with choice of starter & main course
• 1 x traditional Venetian dinner
• drinks package at each dinner (¼ l wine and ½ l water)
• a cup of tea or coffee after each dinner
• porterage in/out
• free parking for the bus at/near the hotel
• 1 x 2-hour guided tour in Venice
• 1 x boat-ride from Punta Sabbioni to Venice and back
• 1 x full-day guide to Trieste and Miramare
• 1 x entrance to Miramare Castle incl. headphones   
• Meet & greet at Verona Airport with our representative
• private coach hire for the transfer from / to Verona airport on arrival and departure day with English speaking assistant
• private coach hire for the above excursions and professional English speaking tour leader

OPTIONAL:

• 1 x full-day guide to Udine and San Daniele
• 1 x ham-tasting in San Daniele    
• 1 x full-day tour guide to Treviso and Prosecco Wine Road
• 1 x wine-tasting with snack on the Prosecco Wine Road