We are guests at the Hotel Gritti Palace, the sixteenth-century palace of the dashing Doge Andrea Gritti, enviably located on the Grand Canal. The hotel has welcomed kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents, literary giants and theatrical immortals. This elegant and luxurious retreat allows us to indulge in an authentic Venetian fantasy.

Tuesday

We meet in the evening for a twilight gondola ride on the Grand Canal followed by a champagne reception at the Hotel Gritti Palace.

Wednesday

A distinguished local architectural historian takes us behind fabulous façades to discover the wonders of Venetian interior decoration. Our visit includes private palazzi where we take pleasure in the remarkable talent of artists such as Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Titian and Veronese. After lunch in a typically Venetian osteria, we meet Antonia Sautter, a quintessential Italian beauty and the hostess of the Doge’s Ball. She will assist each of us in selecting the most suitable costume for this renowned masked ball from her exquisite collection. Then we have some time to explore or relax on our own. In the late afternoon, Contessa Fulvia Sesani welcomes us to her glorious private home, the Palazzo Morosini, for a cooking class followed by dinner — served in the only oval dining room in Venice. Her magnificent objets d’art create a visual feast that is as enticing as her recipes.

Thursday

We discover the treasures of Padua, located just half an hour from Venice. Nicknamed La Dotta, ("The Learned"), Padua was home to one of Europe’s most acclaimed universities and an intellectual haven to Petrarch, Dante and Galileo. In the Cappella degli Scrovegni, we see Giotto’s famous frescoed interior. Giotto was at the height of his power at the turn of the fourteenth century, and this magical temple is his masterpiece. Our local art historian explains to us what made his art so innovative. Before returning to Venice, a Paduan noble family receives us in their private palazzo. Dinner is at The Cip’s Club, located on the ground level of the sixteenth-century Palazetto Nani-Barbaro. Across the canal, the awe-inspiring views to Santa Maria della Salute and the Doge’s Palace remind us of Canaletto’s paintings.

Friday

We spend the morning familiarizing ourselves with the work of artist Geoffrey Humphries who earned his degree at the Accademia di Belle Arti. During the visit to his private studio overlooking the Giudecca Canal, we see his great variety in subject as well as treatment.Geoffrey has recently focused on watercolor, creating an intimate portrayal of Venice’s secret corners. Then we turn our attention to the history of Venetian glass, considered to be the finest in Europe. In 1291 all of Venice’s glass furnaces were moved to the island city of Murano in order to control the risk of fire and industrial espionage. It was in the early fifteenth century when Angelo Barovier, a member of one of the most revered glass-making families, began to make glass in different colors. A veritable revolution occurred on Murano, and ever since, the island has been a laboratory for increasingly elaborate designs and techniques. We enjoy a private visit to the gallery of Marina Barovier and learn about such revived traditional techniques as vetro a filigrana (thread-like rods of white glass in free-form patterns), vetro a pettine (combed glass with a wavy design), and venturina (glass shot through with shiny copper crystals). In the early evening, we join Lorenzo de Castro, the Director of the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica and are invited to his palazzo on the Grand Canal for a private epicurean soirée.

Saturday & Sunday

We spend the morning with Ludovico de Luigi, Venice’s beloved artiste and living legend. He recounts his colorful stories, particularly those of his association with Peggy Guggenheim. The afternoon is free to rest before the spectacular Ballo del Doge. In 100 Things To Do Before You Die, authors Dave Freeman and Neil Teplica have selected the Doge’s Ball as one of the world’s most stimulating and inspiring events. Against a backdrop of baroque melodies, minuets, acrobats and saltimbanques, every detail contributes to creating an enchanted experience. From medieval figures to Casanovas and eighteenth-century aristocratic dandies, each guest is authentically immersed in a role. Dinner is served by waiters in livery, and we have the chance to taste delightful Venetian specialties prepared according to historic recipes. From dusk until dawn, we partake in a rich celebration full of surprises and marvelous happenings.