OPERA IN VENICE AND A JOURNEY ALONG THE BRENTA CANAL 29 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER   An autumn visit to Venice includes Rossini's Tancredi at the recently re-inaugurated Teatro Malibran as well as Le nozze di Figaro at the Palafenice on Tronchetto island. Spend a day on the Burchiello, the canal boat that plies the Brenta Canal, an extension of the Grand Canal from Venice to Padua.
There is no more romantic way to visit the fabled villas on the canal, built by Palladio and his followers as summer retreats for wealthy Venetian noblemen.

MONDAY 29 OCTOBER

Depart London Gatwick on British Airways at 1315. Arrive Venice Marco Polo Airport at 1625 and transfer by private motor launch to the 4 star Hotel Metropole facing the Grand Canal. Welcome drink in one of the grand Venetian cafés.

TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER

This morning join your guide for a walking tour of Venice. Set out from your hotel, a short walk from St Mark's Square where you will visit the Doges Palace, scene of so much Venetian history. The architecture itself is quite remarkable: a delicate lower colonnade supports a loggia of Gothic tracery holding up an impossibly heavy upper floor.

The grand formal rooms are decorated with frescoes by Venetian artists Tintoretto and Veronese after the palace was rebuilt following a fire in the late 16th century. The tour continues with an exclusive visit to a private palazzo.

Afternoon at leisure. Evening performance of TANCREDI (Rossini) at the Teatro Malibran.
C: Jonathan Webb. D: Pier Luigi Pizzi.
Cast: Charles Workman, Patricia Bardon/Maria Jose Montiel, Marco Vinco, Eva Mei.

WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER

Morning departure from the hotel and board the Burchiello, a modern version of the canal boat used by Venetian noblemen to take them to their country retreats on the banks of the Brenta Canal. Over seventy palaces and villas lie on or just off the waterway.

Andrea Palladio revived the classical proportions and symmetry of the architecture of the ancient world lending an atmosphere of stately grandeur befitting the wealthy 18th century noblemen who commissioned these pleasure palaces. The boat will stop at three of the most famous villas, the Villa Foscari or Malcontenta, the Barchessa Valmarana at Mira decorated with frescoes by Michelangelo Schiavoni and finally, the grandest of all, the Villa Pisani, which is now a National Museum.

Lunch in a restaurant en route and return transfer by coach to Venice after the cruise.Transfer by private motor launch to Tronchetto for this evening's performance.

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Mozart) at the Palafenice. C: Giancarlo Andretta. D: Toni Servillo.
Cast: Robert Gierlach, Francesca Pedaci, Lisa Larsson, Nicola Ulivieri, Tuva Semmungsen.

THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER

Time at leisure in Venice. Your guide will be at the hotel after breakfast to provide information and advice on current exhibitions, museum opening times and particular shopping requirements. You may wish to take a boat trip to the islands of Murano, famous for its glass blowing industry and neighbouring Burano, dotted with brightly coloured houses, home to the fishermen and lacemakers of the island.

The magnificent cathedral, decorated with sparkling mosaics on the deserted island of Torcello hints at the former importance of the island which once had a population of 20,000 people.

A selection of bars and restaurants offer delightful possibilities for lunch. Transfer by private motor launch to Venice Marco Polo Airport and depart on British Airways at 1715. Arrive London Gatwick at 1825.

	PRICE per person 4 Day Tour Price £1050.00 Single Room Supplement £325.00 Deposit required £275.00 Booking Deadline 30 May Tour Code VEN Tour price includes flights and airport taxes - transfers - accommodation - sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees - breakfast daily - one lunch - top category tickets for Tancredi and Le nozze di Figaro - tour manager or local representative. Dress: Lounge suit