New Year's Eve in Venice, the timeless city

Day 1 - Sunday December 29th '24 - arrival in Venice

Independent arrival at the hotel and accommodation in the reserved rooms at

Hotel L'Orologio 4* - www.hotelorologiovenezia.com

In a privileged and central position on the Grand Canal, a stone's throw from the Rialto Bridge, it is a 4-star boutique hotel, a small jewel of Venetian hospitality. The theme inspired by the world of collectible watches makes it unique in all of Venice. The structure, completely new, has contemporary and designer furnishings with attention to the smallest details. All the rooms, in a contemporary minimal style, are functional, soundproofed and technological with every kind of comfort. The terrace on the fourth floor and the L'O bar offer the possibility of consuming a quick snack or having a typical Venetian aperitif. 

The rooms will be available starting from 2:00 pm.

4.30 pm: Meeting at the hotel with the guide who will accompany you for a walk through the sestieri (that is, "districts") of the Venice of the merchants.

Welcome dinner at a selected restaurant.

At the end: Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 2 - Monday December 30th '24  – Venice

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Meeting with the guide at the hotel to reach the Chiesa Grande di San Rocco, for the visit. The tour itinerary explores some of the most fascinating aspects of the documentary, iconographic and artistic history of this ancient and prestigious Venetian institution founded way back in 1478 and dedicated to Rocco, a miracle-working saint and protector from the Plague. Particular attention will be paid to the foundation and history of the Scuola, its life during the period of the Serenissima Republic, the events during the foreign dominations and its current function as a museum and place of conservation of an extraordinary historical-artistic heritage.

The itinerary will focus on the visit to the interior of the Scuola Grande where the iconographic and stylistic reading of the paintings will be examined. The rich symbolism linked to San Rocco and the plague, to the Old and New Testaments, will be decoded to provide the right key to reading the entire pictorial cycle.

The tour will allow you to learn in depth about the work and artistic genius of Tintoretto who worked in this building for most of his life.

The visit continues to the Basilica dei Frari. 

At the end: Free time for lunch.

Afternoon: Meeting with the guide for a visit to Palazzo Fortuny, casa-museo di Mariano Fortuny.

The opportunity to visit Palazzo Pesaro degli Orfei, (known as Palazzo Fortuny), an ancient late Gothic palace transformed into Mariano Fortuny's house-museum, will be an immersive experience in the world of the eclectic Spanish artist. Paintings, clothes, fabrics, photographs, collector's items recreate the atmosphere of the house-atelier on the first floor, while on the second floor Mariano's skills and experiments in multiple artistic fields are proposed: the behind the scenes of his creations.

The genius of the Spanish artist is exemplified in four focuses: engraving, fabric printing, photography, theater and lighting.

On this floor it is possible to visit Fortuny's studio-library for the first time, a treasure chest full of precious things, everyday objects, curiosities, tools and rare volumes of art and technique.

7.30 pm: Private evening visit "behind closed doors" of the Basilica of San Marco (duration 1 hour).

Free dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

Basilica dei Frari
One of the most important and vital religious and monastic centers of Venice, the Frari complex has its roots in the preaching of the message of simplicity and poverty of Saint Francis of Assisi. The current church was built starting from 1330, thanks to the generosity of some wealthy Venetian families and other benefactors, the current monumental building was consecrated in 1492 and dedicated to the Virgin assumed into heaven: Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. The convent spaces were placed next to the basilica, distributed around two quadrangular cloisters. Entering from the main entrance you are almost magnetically attracted by the most famous work among the masterpieces of the basilica and which dominates unchallenged in the presbytery: the Assumption by Titian. Along the transept there are six apse chapels: treasure chests for the conservation of works of art. In particular the Florentine chapel with the splendid wooden statue of St. John the Baptist by Donatello, the only work of the master in Venice. The extraordinary triptych of the Madonna with Child and Saints by Giovanni Bellini is preserved in the Sacristy. Inside there are various funerary monuments including the Monument to Titian and the Monument to Canova and in the Renaissance altar of the Pesaro family another masterpiece by Titian: the Pala Pesaro. In the Church of the Frari there is – in the so-called Cappella dei Milanesi – the tomb of Claudio Monteverdi, a musician of extreme prestige (he was Maestro di Cappella at San Marco for 30 years), who died in 1643. In contrast to the artist’s greatness, the tomb is surprisingly simple: a modest slab of marble where someone always places a fresh rose!

Day 3 - Tuesday  December 31st '24 - Venice 

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Meeting at the hotel with the guide to reach the church of Santa Maria della Pietà. The VI.VE. (Vivaldi Venezia) museum tour winds through suggestive and fascinating places inside the choirs of the Church and aims to offer visitors the opportunity to discover the precious heritage of the Pietà, the result of the centuries-old union between art, music and care for children. The female choir, called the “choir of the putte”, was born at the Pietà. It was made up of young girls with great singing skills who rivaled other choirs for their skill. Their fame spread throughout Europe, so much so that it attracted important personalities to the city who came specifically to listen to these angelic voices. The choir was directed for several years by the great composer Antonio Vivaldi. In these places you can breathe the atmosphere and emotions of that all-Venetian phenomenon that had its peak in the eighteenth century. The church has a splendid fresco by Giambattista Tiepolo depicting the choir putte. The exhibition traces the history of the Pietà through its treasures: a rare collection of baroque musical instruments from the Vivaldi era, liturgical vestments and linens, sacred goldsmithery, but above all emotionally engaging testimonies of children who found welcome, assistance and a concrete possibility of integration into society at the Pietà. Free lunch.

4.00 pm: Daniel Harding conducts the New Year's Concert 2025

Soprano: Mariangela Sicilia 
Tenore: Francesco Demuro
Choir of the Teatro La Fenice

TEATRO LA FENICE

The New Year's Concert at the Fenice, as per tradition, offers a musical program in two parts: the first exclusively orchestral and the second part dedicated to melodrama, with a series of arias, duets and choral passages performed by soloists of absolute prestige and the Choir of the Teatro La Fenice. Every year the Concert ends with two very famous pages by Giuseppe Verdi, cornerstones of the Italian musical heritage: the Chorus «Va’ pensiero sull’ali dorate» from Nabucco and the festive toast «Libiam ne’ lieti calici» from La Traviata.

8.30 PM: NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER

At the end of the dinner, we will wait for midnight in Piazza San Marco watching the fireworks to celebrate the new year.

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Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo

(Granada 1871 – Venice 1949) Painter, stylist, set designer and photographer Fortuny comes from a refined Spanish family of artists. Orphaned at the age of three, he moved with his mother and sister to Paris, coming into contact with the artistic, literary and philosophical world of that capital of art. In 1888 the family moved to Venice and continued in the city the frequentation with the old masters, already begun in the Parisian museums. The philosophical readings of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, as well as his knowledge of the Wagnerian world, were decisive for the subjects of his early works. In 1899 he took part in the Venice Biennale for the first time and in the same year he married Henriette Nigrin. He began to be passionate about the problem of light which led him to create new systems of theatrical lighting. In the early years of the century he mainly worked on theatrical performances, often creating sets and costumes. From 1907, with the help of his wife, a fabric printing laboratory was set up in his Venetian palace and his creations, inspired by the Greek tunics of the korai, thanks to the technique of pleating on silk, brought him international fame as an excellent couturier. From the twenties onwards he devoted himself more intensely to painting, participating almost uninterruptedly in the Biennales from 1922 to 1942. 

Day 4 - Monday January 01st '25 –  Departure

Breakfast at the hotel and check out by 12:00.

Individual departures.

PROGRAM NOTES:
- The order of visits may vary for operational needs but without changing the contents.
- The visit itineraries are planned on foot and where necessary by public transport (vaporetto).
- Please report any allergies/intolerances or special dietary needs.

INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION QUOTES (minimum 10 people)

In a double room 2,050.00 euros
Supplement for double room for single use: 590.00

Supplement for ticket in the stalls for the concert on January 1, 2025 at 11:00 am - Euro 200.00

THE FEE INCLUDES:

• 3 nights with breakfast at Hotel L’Orologio 4*
• Guided tours indicated in the program by Dr. Franca Lugato, art historian and author of art books
• Dinner on the day of arrival
• Private evening visit “behind closed doors” of San Marco on December 30th
• Seats in the stalls for the New Year’s Eve concert at Teatro la Fenice on December 31st at 4:00 pm
• New Year’s Eve dinner
• Entrances and visits to the places and museums mentioned in the program
• Tickets for ACTV public transport (3 days) for vaporetti in Venice
• Medical-luggage insurance

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Tourist tax: Euro 4.50 per person per night to be paid on site;
• Travel to/from Venice;
• Extras, tips and anything not expressly indicated under "The price includes"

• The organizer reserves the right to cancel the trip, NO LATER THAN 30 days before departure, if the minimum number of participants has not been reached. In this case, the amount paid will be refunded in full.

HOW TO BOOK:

The reservation becomes effective upon receipt of:
1. Travel contract that we will send you at the time of booking
2. deposit requested by bank transfer

DEPOSIT:

A deposit of € 800.00 and any insurance premium for the "trip cancellation" policy are required upon booking.
Cancellation insurance can only be taken out at the same time as registering for the trip.

BALANCE:

30 days before departure (by November 29, 2024)

CANCELLATION

IIn case of CANCELLATION by the customer, the following penalties will be applied, in addition to the insurance fee:

• 20% of the participation fee for cancellations by October 30, 2024
• 30% of the participation fee for cancellations by November 29, 2024
• 50% of the participation fee for cancellations by December 8, 2024
• 75% of the participation fee for cancellations by December 14, 2024 - from December
• 15, 2024 no refund in case of cancellation

Medical Baggage Policy included in the package

SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE POLICIES

È possibile sottoscrivere contestualmente alla prenotazione al viaggio la polizza "Annullamento Viaggio" (a richiesta si invia normativa)

It is possible to subscribe to the "Travel Cancellation" policy at the same time as booking the trip (regulations will be sent upon request)

Amount per person in a double and/or single room
- € 29.00 per person up to 74 years old (cancellation also for pre-existing illnesses)
- € 58.00 per person from 75 years old (cancellation also for pre-existing illnesses)