All guests are met in Venice and transferred by a private chauffeured minibus to the ship. Passengers are welcomed, and a chilled Prosecco awaits. The cruise begins by sailing through the Giudecca Canal and by some of the most famous monuments in Venice, such as the Chiesa del Redentore, the impressive Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute, and the Punta Della Dogana to your mooring outside the Naval Museum. Then you have an opportunity to stroll and roam around St Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace. Dinner served on board.

A guide accompanies you while roaming around the Castello District. Explore the hidden beauty of Venice, such as the gardens of the Biennale Exhibition of Modern Arts, Palladio’s Church of San Pietro in Castello, and the Venetian Ships Pavilion, an annex of the Naval History Museum Venice, housing vessels of historical importance, including ceremonial barges and warships. By late afternoon, La Bella Vita continues to cruise to Pellestrina and past the lagoon islands, where you can find tiny churches, ancient monasteries, and painted fishing boats. If you want to explore more of this beautiful place, you have the opportunity to walk and bike along the waterway. Dinner served on board. 

Visit the 18th century Church of San Domenico to see Carpaccio's St. Paul and his last recorded painting. You can also see other works of art by Tintoretto and Bassano. You can shop at the fish market at the Piazzetta Vigo and have the opportunity to enjoy a short tour in a locally-built boat to roam around Chiogga's amazing canals. Once back on board, La Bella Vita continues sailing through a nature reserve where you find flamingos and occasional heron, snipe, and other wildfowls. Then travel to Taglio di Po and enjoy dinner ashore, hosted by the owners at the beautiful 17th Century Villa Ca'Zen.

Cruise to Adria along the Bianca canal, an ancient Etruscan town where you visit the Archaeological Museum. After lunch, the tour continues to Bagnoli Estate to explore the Renaissance gardens and wine cellars of the 17th Century Villa Widmann Borletti. Here you can enjoy a private tasting of their famous estate-grown vintages, which have been in the Venetian market for centuries. After this tour, return to La Bella Vita moored at Zelo and have your dinner on board.

Today, enjoy a morning cruise and tour of the Renaissance city of Ferrara and Schifanoia Palace, famous for its exceptional 15th Century frescoes. Discover the explicit exterior of the Estense Castle and visit the spectacular cathedral with its sculpted images in front that is described as an illustrated Bible. You then return to the hotel barge, which again sails past villages and farmsteads to Governolo. Dinner served on board. 

For your final day of cruising, approach the home of the poet Virgil and the artists like Mantegna and Donatello, Mantua. This city exhibits explicit neo-classical and baroque architecture, portrayed in the 14thC Ducal Palace, housing some 15 gardens and courtyards, a museum, a basilica, and a theatre. The intricate frescoes, Gallery of Mirrors and exquisite Rivers Room and 12,000 paintings and sculptures all create a Grand Finale to our Italian Renaissance adventure. Tonight, enjoy a Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus back to Venice.