Venice Carnival & Verona

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Carnevale di Venezia

Combine a stay in the city of Romeo and Juliet with the unique experience of La Serennissima at Carnevale time. From your base in glorious, medieval Verona, of Shakespearian fame, journey by comfortable train through the Veneto to discover the wonders of incomparable, extraordinary Venice as it celebrates the impending arrival of spring with its colourful parades, masked revellers, street entertainment and general merry-making. With time to savour the charms of Romeo and Juliet’s beguiling trysting-place and to enjoy upon arrival an optional tour to walled Treviso and riverside Bassano del Grappa, this is a wonderful winter-warming break.

Holiday Highlights

Enjoy four nights in beautiful Verona, in an elegant hotel base
Discover the exquisite city of Romeo and Juliet
Journey by train to glorious Venice, La Serenissima, to soak up the atmosphere of Carnevale
Optional tours offer the chance of a second day in Venice and visits to restored Treviso and foodie mecca Bassano del Grappa

What's Included

Four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the four-star Leon D’Oro Hotel, Verona
Return standard-class rail travel from Verona to Venice
Return flights to Italy
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Itinerary

Day 1

Meet your tour manager and transfer to your four-star hotel, a beautifully appointed, elegant base for your stay, set close to the historic heart of the city and conveniently only 900 yards from Verona’s Porta Nuova railway station. Settle into your surroundings, perhaps enjoying a drink at the piano bar, before dining in or heading out into the glorious city, where there are countless restaurants and trattorie, many lining Verona’s famous, sweeping Piazza Bra, from which to choose.

Day 2

After breakfast, join your tour manager for the short walk to the station and the hour-long train journey across the Veneto countryside to incomparable Venice. There is nowhere on earth that matches the beauty and heart-stopping glory of La Serennissima, one of the most beguiling, most intriguing and most romantic settings on the planet, and at Carnevale time, there’s simply no better place to be. On arrival, in the company of a local guide, enjoy a walking tour of the city, where some hundred or so islands are linked by innumerable bridges, and where gondolas and water taxis ply their trades on the beautiful Grand Canal, past the stunning Accademia museum and the Rialto Bridge. The vast expanse of St Mark’s Square, with its sumptuous cathedral, clock tower and the Doge's Palace – the Palazzo Ducale – is one of the world’s great sights and the city’s famous focal point. Here carnival-goers gather – stopping to show off their elaborate costumes, part of the general street entertainment, which also features acrobats, musicians and dancers. Close by, joining the palace to the prisons, the famous ‘Bridge of Sighs’ afforded condemned men a last view of the beauty of Venice en route to the gallows. Away from St Mark's and the Grand Canal, a labyrinth of narrow streets awaits more exploration, each corner turned revealing another memorable sight of this truly wonderful city. Soak up the atmosphere throughout the day, and after the chance perhaps to enjoy an early dinner, board the return train to Verona.

Day 3

Today is yours to savour, as perhaps you pay a second visit to Venice under your own steam, catching the train from the nearby station. Alternatively, spend the day exploring exquisite Verona, where buildings fashioned in pink marble line ancient streets. Amongst the outstanding sights is Italy’s best preserved Roman amphitheatre, famed for its summertime opera festival. The Piazza Bra is lined with cafés, Piazza delle Erbe’s daily market bustles with colourful life, while the nearby maze of 13th-century streets is redolent with a sense of troubled history, chronicled in Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers, which was set amongst Verona’s brooding alleyways and hidden gardens. Perhaps enjoy a long lunch, visit one of the city’s fine museums or churches, or take a stroll on the bank of the River Adige – the choices – and the pleasures – are yours. There is no shortage of bars, in which to sample a glass or two of locally produced wine, and of course in a city famed for its opera, there are occasional concerts and recitals – the tourist office will post information on how to find them.

Day 4

Today’s optional tour combines the restored beauty of the delightful, walled capital of the Veneto, Treviso, with its own network of canals and waterways, with a visit to Bassano del Grappa. Board the coach and head first to lovingly restored Treviso, often referred to as Little Venice, and a charming city of churches and frescoed houses surrounded by stout fortifications, some dating from Roman times. A delightful day is completed with a visit to charming Bassano del Grappa, which straddles the River Brenta and boasts a 13th-century ‘Ponte Vecchio' bridge amongst its attractions. Bassano is known for its local produce, including porcini mushrooms, asparagus and, of course its Grappa distilleries. The Poli Grappa Museum traces the history and production of the quintessential Italian spirit, and is a highlight of a fascinating day. Return to Verona to spend a last evening in the city

Day 5

Bid “Arrivederci” to your hosts and transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately two hours from Venice and 30 minutes from Verona.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Flight information

Please note, flights from Gatwick and Manchester airports are to Verona, all other flights are to Venice.

Travelling to Europe after Brexit

New rules apply when travelling to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though.

Passport - British passport holders need to have at least six months validity left on their passport and it needs to be less than ten years old; passports which have a longer validity than ten years are not valid for travel once the tenth anniversary of issue has passed. These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.

Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Towards the end of 2022, it is likely that non EU citizens will be required to apply online for an authorisation to visit most European countries. The current details suggest there will be a charge of €7 per person and the authorisation will be valid for all trips made to the EU in a three year period from issue. We will advise you of confirmed details prior to your tour’s departure.

Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required.

Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Mobile Roaming - Roaming charges have been re-introduced by some UK providers when visiting the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Prior to travel, please do check with your phone operator for the most up to date information.

Holiday provided by

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Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Hotel transfer times

Special requirements

Combining hotel transfers

Disabled access

Itinerary changes

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Flight information

Travelling to Europe after Brexit

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