Thanksgiving in Italy
Venice, Siena and Florence
November 17-25, 2007
TDF




Join tdf’s annual Italian Thanksgiving Theater Tour.  This trip includes round-trip airfare, 7 nights accommodations, 2 performances, breakfast daily, 3 dinners and 1 lunch.    
 



A warm welcome awaits you in Italy for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  What could be more magical than three thrilling days in Venezia and four more in Firenze to feast your eyes and ears as well as your palate?  In these charming cities we visit the interiors of Renaissance theatres, enjoy  in a baroque Venetian setting, and classical music in Florence.   We plan an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast at a private 17th century villa in the Tuscan hills near Siena.  Our accommodations are ideally located in the historical center of each city.






1.  Saturday, November 17     Depart
We depart from New York/JFK on Alitalia non-stop flight to Milan.  Dinner is served on board.  



2.  Sunday, November 18     Milan/Venice
We arrive in Milan and connect to our flight to Venice, arriving at 10:50am.  The magic begins with a private water-taxi across the sea and lagoon directly to the door of our hotel.  We spend three nights at the Hotel Albergo Bonvecchiati, just off the Piazza San Marco.   After check-in and some time to refresh, our guide takes us on an introductory orientation walk in this magical city, exploring its narrow canals filled with unique shops and inviting cafes, en route to an early welcome dinner at a local restaurant.  



3.  Monday, November 19     Venice
We begin with a trip on a vaporetto to visit the recently restored, legendary Venetian Opera House, La Fenice, where we take a backstage tour.  We continue to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, located in an 18th century palazzo on the Grand Canal.  Following the tour we have lunch on our own (our guide will have suggestions) and then we visit the Cannaregio region, the lively and vibrant residential part of the city where the few Venetians in town still live!  We visit the "Garden of Marble," an enchanting hidden church, home to works by Tintoretto and Titian who both resided in the Cannaregio.  We conclude with a visit to the Jewish Ghetto and the Ghetto's Museo Ebraico (Jewish Museum).The evening is free.  



4.  Tuesday, November 20     Venice
Our walking tour begins in the Piazza San Marco, Venice's hub of activity.  The world famous marble square is lined with galleries, luxury shops and charming cafes.  Dominating the square is the magnificent Basilica San Marco.  We visit the magnificent Doge's Palace, with its splendid Renaissance paintings by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto.  You are free for lunch on your own.  This afternoon we have a ticket for a self-guided visit to the Correr Museum, a repository of Venetian history. Tonight we attend a concert of works by Vivaldi and Bach.  



5.  Wednesday, November 21     Venice/Vicenza
We depart Venice in our private motor coach for Florence.  En route we stop at the lovely town of Vicenza with views of the Alps foothills.  The town is listed in the UNESCO world heritage list.  This is the architect Palladio's preeminent town (there are more than 10 Palladian buildings in the town center alone), a true Renaissance jewel.  We visit the Teatro Olimpico, the first attempt to re-create a Roman theatre outside of the Eternal City.  Continuing on to Florence, we check into the Hotel Berchielli, situated on the River Arno half a block from the Ponte Vecchio.  A Florentine jewel, the Hotel Berchielli has been welcoming visitors since 1890.  



6.  Thursday, November 22     Siena
We celebrate Thanksgiving in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany.  After breakfast we travel via private motor coach to Siena, a mystical gentle art center.  We walk through the Piazza Del Campo, the setting for the famous Palio Horse Race, and we visit Siena's famed Cathedral.  This afternoon we enjoy a holiday feast at the charming 17th century Villa Geggiano, nestled in the enchanting Tuscan hills near Siena.  With its sweeping vineyards and olive groves, the estate, owned by the Bianchi Bandinelli family for centuries, is today considered a national monument.  Our host prepares a Thanksgiving feast in his private villa which was featured prominently in Bertolucci's film, Stealing Beauty.  We return in the early evening to Florence.  



7.  Friday, November 23     Florence
We stroll through medieval Florence to the Uffizi Gallery where we have reserved entry tickets to speed us along.  The Uffizi Gallery houses one of the most important painting collections in the world, including major works by Giotto, Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian for starters.  After lunch on our own we have a free afternoon.    All Florence is an artistic treasure trove, and the Accademia Museum with Michaelangelo's David,  the Medici Chapel, the Bargello Museum and the Museum of the Opera del Duomo are all nearby.  Tonight we have tickets for a musical performance (tbc-subject to scheduling).  



8.  Saturday, November 24     Florence
This morning we visit the Costume Gallery which is housed in the small neo-classic building in the Pitti Palace complex.  Displaying clothing characteristic of each period, the exhibition illustrates the evolution of fashion in the 18th century until about 1930.  The costumes are changed alternately every two hears, and draw from a rich depository of the same gallery.  The remainder of the morning is free to visit the extensive collections at the Pitti Palace or browse in the many small shops that line the nearby Ponte Vecchio and the surrounding area.  The afternoon is free.  Our farewell dinner of Italian specialties concludes our program.  



9.  Sunday, November 25     Depart
We depart from the Florence airport at 11:15am and connect in Rome for our Alitalia flight departing at 1:50pm for New York/JFK, arriving at 5:15pm.  





This engaging experience includes:

  • Round trip transatlantic airfare on Alitalia
  • 7 nights accommodations
  • Thanksgiving Day feast at Villa Geggiano
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • Two Performances (subject to availability)
  • Guided sightseeing tours and transportation as per itinerary
  • Fully qualified English speaking guide (s)
  • Airport/hotel group transfers
  • Porterage of one bag per person and local taxes
PROGRAM PRICES  
Per person (double occupancy) from New York: $3249  
Single Supplement: $525  
Air Taxes: $255