Venice, a Floating Masterpiece Venice makes you feel like you are transported in another time. Founded in the 5th century AD and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world's greatest artists. VENICE MAP AND LOGISTICS Venice Airport Venice is a island: the city is pedestrian and there are no cars (cars and bus stops at Tronchetto, the last point available for land vehicles). Venice is connected by speed train to the main Italian cities (as Rome, Milan, Florence). All transfer is Venice and the other island of Venetian lagoon need to be provided by boat. Murano Venice Main Island Venice Giudecc Train a Station Tronchetto Lido Venice Main Island Welcome to Venice: Meet & Greet and Transportation Arrivals of the guests at Venice International Airport. Meet & Greet with our local ambassadors. Walk up to boat dock terminal (7 minutes). Luggage assistance will be arranged and separate luggage transfer will be provided up to the Hotel chosen. Guests Transfer by: - Private Water taxi/Speed Boat (up to 10 guests each boat) / About 35/40 minutes transfer - Private Motor boat (20 / 30 / 50 / 100 seats) - Helicopter (only if guests will arrive in small family group / 6 guests each helicopter): in this case, 10 minutes flight from Venice Airport to Nicelli heliport (closest landing point) + 10/15 minutes water taxi from the heliport to the Hotel chosen *Depending on the hotel placing, transfer timing can vary accordingly. Venice Airport Venice Rome Venic e VIP assistance and luggage pull service at Venice airport We can offer the following services for all guests on arrival: VIP Service at airport • Meet & Greet at the flight gate. Greeter assisted through immigration, security and customs faster lane (when foreseen) • The passengers will be escorted to baggage claim and then out of the terminal. • Representative remain at the passengers’ disposal at the airport for a maximum of 2 hours. • Tarmac transfer (Mercedes Benz Deluxe Private Minivan from aircraft to terminal or vv capacity up to 5 pax)** **Available 07:00 – 22:00. The availability could be interdicted at the very last minute for security reasons. Service is at the discretion of the airline company. • Dedicated minivan will be arranged to transfer guests and luggage from the airport terminal to the boat dock terminal to take their dedicated private water taxi/speed boatto the hotel. Starting from April 18, 2017 according to an increasing level of security at Border Police controls all priorities at the border crossings have been suspended by the competent Authorities: actually there are two lanes for passport controls, the shorter “EU/EEA/CH citizens” lane and the longer “All other passengers” lane while the Business/First lane is not operating. With our VIP service, our clients will queue only at EU/EEA/CH citizens in the faster possible way. The same procedure will be adopted with departing Clients – when Border Police control is foreseen. In the event that the assistance does not take place as expected due to an unexpected event and not dependent on the staff or the organization of the service, the company declines all responsibility. Venice Tours and Experiences Venice Tours and Experiences Group and Optional Activities suggestions 1. Enjoy the beauty of Venice 2. On the Footsteps of Giacomo Casanova 3. Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Punta della Dogana Museum 4. Venetian Artisan Experience 5. Bacari Experience and “cicchetti” cooking class 6. Cooking class in a private Villa 7. Create your Carnival Mask 8. Venetian Mosaic Workshop 9. Truly Unique Murano Glass masterclass 10. Voga Veneta Lesson in the South Lagoon 11. Nature and History on a Venetian Galleon 12. Lagoon Regatta and Wine Experience 13. A Gaze upon the Sky 14. Enjoy Venice Lagoon: Murano and Burano 15. On the road of Prosecco wine Evening Group Activities suggestions A. St Mark Basilica Private Visit B. Doge’s Palace and the Gothic Heritage Private Visit C. The Tradition and the Opera: Fenice Theatre and Private Concert Group and Optional Activities suggestions 1. Enjoy the beauty of Venice Timing: 09h00pm / 01h00pm Duration: 4 hours Participants: min. 15 up to 100 guests (1 English speaking local guide each 15/20 guests) Transfer time: it depends on the chosen hotel. Description: Guests will start a nice walking tour discovering the legend of the winged lion, the story of St Mark being brought to Venice from Egypt, his “golden church”, and then Theodore, killing a dragon, and, of course, when, how and why the Venetians have built a city on hundreds of thousands of wooden poles stuck in the mud of the lagoon. The guests will admire the beautiful St Mark’s square visiting inside the Basilica. Proceeding among the picturesque Venetian “Calle” (small roads) of the historical center until the famous Rialto Bridge. Then, gondola tour (30 minutes duration) to enjoy the most picturesque and typical vehicle of this romantic city. 2. On the Footsteps of Giacomo Casanova Timing: 09h00pm / 01h00pm Duration: 4 hours Participants: min. 15 up to 50 guests (1 English speaking local guide each 15/20 guests) Transfer time: it depends on the chosen hotel. Description: Venice: romantic city par excellence, theater of memorable loves and libertine adventures. Wandering through narrow streets and sub-doors, we will discover the most sensual side of Venice by revealing pages of the history of Venetian costume and society without forgetting famous courtesans, irreverent writers and irresistible seducers. The itinerary follows in the footsteps of Casanova starting from Palazzo Ducale, from whose prisons he escaped in 1756, passing by the famous "casino" where he used to meet with mysterious lovers, and finally arriving at his home in San Samuele. Along the way we will meet other destinies and other loves, from Foscolo to D’Annunzio, from Lord Byron to Giorgio Baffo, personalities who have been able to embody and, at the same time, give voice to the most sensual, erotic and seductive aspect of the city. 3. Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Punta della Dogana Museum Timing: 02h00pm / 06h00pm Duration: 4 hours Participants: min. 25 / max 100 guests (1 English speaking local guide for 25 guests) Transfer time: it depends on the chosen hotel. Description: The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is among the most important museums in Italy for European and American art of the 20th century. It is located in Peggy Guggenheim's former home, on the Grand Canal in Venice. The museum presents Peggy Guggenheim's personal collection, masterpieces from the Hannelore B. and Rudolph B. Schulhof Collection, the Nasher Sculpture Garden, as well as temporary exhibitions. Punta della Dogana aims to share with the public the knowledge and love for contemporary art through the extraordinary Pinault Collection and to strengthen the privileged relationship the institution has developed with artists, especially thanks to works specifically conceived for its exhibition spaces. 4. Venetian Artisan Experience Timing: 09h00pm / 01h00pm Duration: 4 hours Participants: min. 15 up to 50 guests (1 English speaking local guide each 15/20 guests) Transfer time: it depends on the hotel chosen Description: Guests will reach St Mark square area where they will enjoy a nice Gondola tour crossing the city’s heart (duration about 30 minutes). Then, they will reach the last of the "squeri" (gondola yards) where they will meet the last of a long line of gondola builders which originally came from the valleys of Zoldano. His great-grandfather followed the design of Casal who by 1884 had developed the modern gondola (visit duration about 1 hour). Then, Lunch at local Restaurant. After Lunch, back to Giudecca Island where will visit the textile Atelier Fortuny. Although the factory itself allows no visitors in order to maintain Mariano Fortuny’s trade secrets, the guests will have the chance to visit the beautiful showroom and the adjacent gardens. 5. Bacari Experience and “cicchetti” cooking class Timing: 10h00am / 03h00pm Duration: 5 hours including Lunch Participants: min. 10 up to 20 guests (1 English speaking local escort) Transfer time: it depends on the hotel chosen Description: Guests will start their tour to taste typical “Cicchetti”, small Venetian canapès, as they are called in Venetian dialect. They will enjoy a walking tour of the famous Venetian “Bacari”, traditional bars where this small canapés are served. They will start their tour with a great coffee in a lovely hidden Café where the locals go. Then start their tour of Bacari in the Rialto and Cannaregio area where you will enjoy Prosecco, Spritz and Cicchetti, the venetian style snacks! After about 2 hours tour, they will arrive at a private Loft in Venice where will be welcomed with a glass of Spritz. Then, start the cooking class of “cicchetti”! 6. Cooking class in a private Villa Timing: 09h00am / 03h00pm Duration: 6 hours including Lunch Participants: min. 10 up to 20 guests (1 English speaking local escort) Transfer time: it depends on the hotel chosen Description: Guests will reach a nice private Villa on the Lido. They will enjoy a memorable hands-on class held directly in Villas' stunning kitchen. Guests will widen their knowledge of Italy and its traditions in Marika’s warm, state-of-the-art Kitchen, equipped with the most modern technology, with splendid views over surrounding villas and gardens, you will have the pleasure of preparing both typical Venetian dishes and others Italian using the best fresh and seasonal local products. Hand-on classes are limited to a small number to privilege close interaction with Marika and her assistant Maria who will guide you step by step creating every dish from scratch.