VENICE, FLORENCE, ROME & The 56 th VENICE BIENNALE with the GAC

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1 VENICE, FLORENCE, ROME & The 56 th VENICE BIENNALE with the GAC October 6 through 14, 2015 Tour accompany by Tatiana Mori, GAC Curator all roads lead to Rome... They wind toward the Eternal City from Venice, labyrinthine city of art, romance, and palazzo-lined waterways and most importantly, the 56 th VENICE BIENNALE... or from Florence, hip center of fashion, finance and culture, where Gucci, da Vinci, the Renaissance, and gold currency were born... They are the backroads that embark on a sojourn through the vineyards of Tuscany, sampling wine and local cuisine... They arrive at the hub of the Ancient World, in the heart of the modern metropolis, close to the Colosseum, the Appian Way and the Vatican, to discover the glories of Rome... And in today s modern Italy, the roads are joined by high-speed rail that closes the distance and makes the most of your time... Venice, Florence and Rome travel days of timeless pleasures.

2 Day 1 Arrive in Venice Welcome to Venice! Arrive at the Luna Hotel Baglioni, a five-star luxury hotel in the heart of the city, with its own private jetty. Once an aristocratic palace, its splendidly appointed rooms, marbled floors and frescoed ceilings retain the elegance of a bygone era. You are only steps away from Piazza San Marco and close to the city's most famous landmarks. You will then have the opportunity to discover the city and received an overview of the 56 th Venice Biennale. Lodging Luna Hotel Baglioni Day 2 Tour begins Meals B & D Meet the group for an exclusive tour of the 56 th Venice Biennale: We will start by visiting the Pavilions at the Giardini Site; we will then explore three additional sites and the historic city centre of Venice. We will discuss the magnificent outdoor installations site specific for the Biennale. At the core of the Exhibition is the notion of the exhibition as stage where historical and counter-historical projects will be explored. Within this framework the main aspects of the 56th Exhibition focus on new concepts and works conceived specifically by invited artists, filmmakers, choreographers, performers, composers, and writers to work either individually or in collaboration. Dine tonight at Antico Martini, one of Venice's top restaurants, in an intimate, pictureperfect setting opposite the La Fenice opera house. Lodging Luna Hotel Baglioni Day 3 St. Mark's, the Doge's Palace & a gondola ride in Venice Meals B Eccentric, romantic, and innovative, Venice defies the tides of history. Its famous canals, once a defense against barbarian armies, belie its vulnerability and uniqueness as a timeless city on the edge, teeming with art and restless energy. You can feel that ancient energy on a guided walking tour of St. Mark's Basilica, adorned with domes, columns and spires, its gilded, soaring walls and ceilings profusely decorated with Byzantine mosaics and relics. Aural art has a history here too: antiphonal music was born in the basilica's peculiar design and perfect acoustics. No less inspiring is the adjacent Doge's Palace, a mass of pink marble that seems to float on tiers of Gothic arcades. Once the seat of power in the Venetian empire, the palace is now a museum of art treasures and a work of art itself in every intricate detail. Experience Venice up close and in style on a gondola ride through its maze of water lanes. Dine on your own this evening and explore the city's vibrant contemporary culture, outdoor art installations and in its fine restaurants, shops and galleries. Lodging Luna Hotel Baglioni

3 Day 4 By high-speed train to Florence, guided visit through Galleria dell'accademia & more Meals B, L Travel to Florence by high-speed rail, with first-class seating. A transfer is included from Santa Maria Novella Train Station to your five-star hotel in the center of the city. Built in 1894, the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol exudes Belle Èpoque charm and elegance, only a short walk from the Duomo and the most exclusive shopping areas. A buffet lunch is followed by a walking tour of this busy financial center and birthplace of the Renaissance. Visit the Gallery of the Accademia di Belle Arti, the exhibition hall of Europe's first art academy, which houses Michelangelo's David. Standing 16 feet tall in its rotunda, the power of this sculpture resonates in the hearts and minds of all who stand in its presence. Lodging Hotel Helvetia & Bristol Day 5 Culture & the art of the Uffizi and free time in Florence Meals B, D The power of art and wealth are alternating currents in the city where the Medici crest still adorns public buildings. Your day begins with an art lecture at the hotel, followed by a walk through the Piazza della Signoria with a local guide en route to one of the oldest, most famous art galleries in the world. The Uffizi ("the offices"), conceived in 1581 as a massive government facility, was converted ten years later to a public museum which today holds some of the most important artworks of all time. Your guided visit to this remarkable institution, with its 45 exhibition halls and thousands of masterpieces, it is an art immersion unlikely to be experienced anywhere else. The afternoon is yours to explore the city's contemporary culture. Besides Michelangelo and Boticelli, Florence is also the home of Gucci and Ferragamo, and a wealth of shops and galleries on the edge of modern culture. Dine with us tonight at a local restaurant. Lodging Hotel Helvetia & Bristol Day 6 A Taste of Tuscany in the Chianti Classico Meals B, L Drive outside the city of Florence and through the Tuscan countryside for a Tauck Exclusive at the ancient monastery of Badia de Passignano in the Chianti Classico region, where the monks are known for their love of learning (Galileo taught here in 1587) and their cultivation of grapes. Tour the wine cellar with a sommelier, sample its famous Chiantis, and have lunch at Osteria di Passignano... a celebration of traditional Tuscan cuisine paired with some of the famous wines produced in surrounding vineyards... followed by a little extra-virgin olive oil tasting with the chef. Return to Florence to relax or explore as you please, enjoying dinner on your own. Lodging Hotel Helvetia & Bristol

4 Day 7 Rome via high-speed rail for the Colosseum, the Forum & more Meals B, L, D A high-speed rail journey whisks you from Florence to Rome and the Regina Baglioni, in the heart of the city. Your five-star hotel on the Via Veneto is an Art Deco masterpiece that has entertained poets and princes, in easy reach of the Villa Borghese gardens, the Trevi Fountain, and the most stylish boutiques and restaurants. Lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of the Eternal City where monumental art is part of everyday life. Visit the Colosseum, the iconic symbol of Rome, and its most breathtaking feat of Roman engineering; its empty shell still resonates with its history of gladiator contests, mock battles, and violent spectacles. From a high vantage point, view the imposing remains of the great Forum, once the hub of the ancient city, where Romans gathered by the thousands for political, judicial, and religious events. Our special visit to the Vatican is scheduled for tomorrow night which means our farewell cocktail reception and dinner is this evening. Lodging Regina Hotel Baglioni Day 8 St. Peter's & the Vatican Museums after hours in Rome Meals B With your local guide, you'll stand in awe of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, on a vast piazza surrounded by colonnades. The great dome, designed by Michelangelo, is one of the largest in the world; it houses a soaring ornate cathedral, the tombs of popes since Early Christian times, and galleries of ancient masterpieces, including Michelangelo's Pieta. After your visit, head back to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure, then return this evening when the crowds are gone for a Tauck Exclusive an afterhours tour of the Vatican and its museums unparalleled repositories of relics, archaeological treasures, paintings, sculptures, maps, and tapestries collected over centuries and the magnificent Sistine Chapel (subject to availability and day of tour may vary). Outside the galleries, Vatican City is illuminated against the night sky and your visit is one that you won't soon forget. Lodging Regina Hotel Baglioni Day 9 Journey home Meals B Venice, Florence and Rome travel adventure ends in Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Regina Hotel Baglioni to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Allow 3 hours for check-in.

5 About the Hotels Luna Hotel Baglioni, Venice Facing a small canal leading to the Grand Canal, the Luna Hotel Baglioni, housed in a magnificent, aristocratic palace, is very convenient to all that you ll want to see and do in Venice. Reputed to be the first hotel in Venice, this historic and charming property dates back to the 12th century when, it is said, it hosted the Knights Templar. Ornate public rooms that you ll encounter when you arrive at the small, private jetty directly at the hotel entrance enchant with Murano chandeliers, fresh flowers, antique furniture and impressive artwork. Welcoming guest rooms, beautifully appointed with classic French décor, silk fabrics on the walls and dark wood furniture, feature an in-room safe, minibar and en suite marble bathroom with bathrobes, slipper and heated towel bars. The Canova restaurant, winner of the Fogher d Oro and Gambero Rosso awards, features cuisine drawn from the best of the Venetian culinary tradition using fresh, seasonal products in an intimate setting. Surround yourself with elegance at the Caffè Baglioni, with its views of the canal facing the hotel and the Giardini Reali of Piazza San Marco, after a busy day in Venice. Luna Hotel Baglioni is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Florence Housed in a meticulously restored historic mansion in the center of Florence, the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol has been welcoming guests for over a century guests like Pirandello, Stravinsky and Gorbachev. Enter a world of refined elegance, surrounded by antiques and fine 17th-century works of art, from the moment you arrive for your own stay. Guest rooms, bringing to mind a bygone area of grace with unique items, such as lamps of Chinese porcelain and bronze, and period furnishings, are individually decorated and provide air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, a hair dryer and more to ensure your comfort. Dine on Mediterranean cuisine on the terrace of the Hostaria Bidendum restaurant overlooking Piazza Strozzi or savor memories of your day in Florence at the bar.

6 Regina Hotel Baglioni, Rome There is no better location in Rome than the one enjoyed by the Regina Hotel Baglioni on the famous Via Veneto, just a few minutes walk from Villa Borghese, the well-known shopping street, Via Condotti, and many of the city s most popular sights. Spacious guest rooms, decorated in Art Deco style, delight with traditional Italian styling highlighted by antique furniture, Murano hand-blown chandeliers, rich brocades and marble bathrooms. After a busy day, the Tempio della Salute, the Wellness area of the Regina Hotel Baglioni, stands ready with a fully equipped fitness area for guests wanting to keep up with their workout routine and rejuvenating spa treatments to nurture a harmony between body and soul. Enjoying direct access from the Via Veneto, the Brunello Lounge & Restaurant boasts an ambiance of traditional Italian elegance with contemporary design elements, making it among the most innovative lounges in the city. A menu of Mediterranean cuisine is available for both lunch and dinner and it s a great place to begin or cap the evening with a cocktail. VENICE, FLORENCE & ROME with GAC October 6 through 14, 2015 $ 6,425 per person based on double occupancy $ 7,938 per person based on single occupancy For more information or to make a reservation, please contact: Tatiana Mori at tatianam@greenwicharts.org Trip Includes: o Two Day pass for the 56 th Venice Bieannale & Private Tour. o Travel from Florence through the Chianti Hills, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, on a day trip to Badia di Passignano; the hilly landscape, basking in golds and greens, is filled with vineyards and olive groves. o After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds; see the treasures of the Vatican unhurried, at your own pace. o Special cellar tour and wine-pairing lunch featuring traditional Tuscan cuisine and local wine plus an olive-oil tasting at the osteria of a famed monastery in the Chianti Hills. o A lecture by an art historian introducing Renaissance art and a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery with a local expert. o A guided tour through the must-see sites of Old Rome as seen through the eyes of a local guide. o A gondola ride on the legendary canals of Venice. o Travel by high-speed train Venice to Florence, Florence to Rome. o Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted. o 14 meals (8 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes.