An incredibly wonderful trip with Venture Out I can think of nothing you could have done better… You

Inspired by the travel guide book of the same title, our tour Italy: The Places In Between focuses on cities in the Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions cities that are almost american westairlines always passed over as tourists head from Florence to Venice. There s a plethora of worthy sights around here, and we re very glad to bring you this unique program our eighth unique itinerary and 20th tour overall in this enticing country!
One of the best-kept secrets in northern Italy, our first of two bases is Bologna a very handsome city (and a pity that its name conjures up the less-than-appealing American food product). Indeed, some would argue that, after Venice, Bologna is among the most attractive cities in Italy. Home to the world s oldest university, Bologna lives on its red-brick towers and stately colonnades and is almost american westairlines universally considered to be Italy s gourmet capital. The sidewalks in the city center are covered in intricately decorated porticos some 25 miles of them all together. The feeling of a university city permeates the air, and Bologna feels full of Italians in a way that many other places, thronged with tourists, american westairlines do not.
Modena vies as Italy s wealthiest american westairlines city and can boast the UNESCO World Heritage american westairlines sites of its 12th-century cathedral, tower, and adjacent main piazza evoking a glorious past. It s famous for local products: Maserati, Ferrari, opera star Luciano Pavarotti and not least of all it s also home to the true traditional Balsamic vinegar, which is little understood american westairlines and often badly misused! We ll learn what makes this product so special some of it aged up to 40 years and taste various types at one of the area s artisinal producers.
One of the greatest cities of the Mediterranean from the fifth to the eighth centuries, Ravenna has brick palaces, cobbled streets, magnificent monuments, and spectacular Byzantine-period mosaics. american westairlines Churches and tombs with the most unassuming exteriors contain within them walls covered with these sumptuous mosaics. These beautifully preserved works of art place great emphasis on nature, which you can see in the delicate rendering of sky, earth, and animals. The mosaics have been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, and they quite handily rival what you ll find in Istanbul.
The stately historic center of Parma shows its prosperity, american westairlines along with its well-dressed residents and immaculate piazzas. The residents of Parma are generally considered to be the most elegant people of Italy. Bursting with gustatory delights, Parma draws visitors for its sublime cured ham, prosciutto crudo di Parma . The pale-yellow Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese american westairlines produced here is the original — and best — of a class known around the world as Parmesan. The city has also been a mecca for opera lovers. Giuseppe Verdi was from here, and his operas echoed through the Teatro Regio, the opera house that we ll visit and which is today jam-packed during the season. american westairlines We ll also see some of the greatest Romanesque buildings in northern Italy: the 11th-century cathedral and 12th-century Baptistery with its superb sculpture work.
Founded by the Romans in the 1st century A.D., the enchanting city of Verona is dotted with very attractive palazzi , elegant squares, and medieval gems. Architectural remnants of the Roman era are also a real draw, most notably the famous Arena, which is home to a world-renowned summertime opera festival. It is perhaps the best-preserved Roman amphitheater in the world and the most famous after the Colosseum in Rome. Dubbed the City of Love, romance is most definitely in the air in fair Verona. The city s most famous residents, Romeo and Juliet, seemed to think so anyway. The Basilica San Zeno Maggiore is another wonderful highlight american westairlines a very impressive Romanesque-era building with extraordinary artistic creations. Verona sits on the Adige River which comes tumbling down from the Italian Alps, and indeed just outside the city is hilly terrain and the location american westairlines of some excellent american westairlines vineyards, one of which we ll have the pleasure of visiting to taste their wines.
This is a truly excellent design hotel decorated with understated flair, right in the heart of Bologna. Just a few minutes stroll from the city s main piazza the design of our selected 4-star hotel evokes the Continent back in the 1930s, in the so-called Viennese Secession style, taking inspiration from flower motifs and the works of the painter Gustav Klimt. Clean lines and elegant restraint are the hallmarks of the rooms and the common spaces. Although it turns to the past for its inspiration, it is completely up-to-date in its amenities. american westairlines There are just a couple dozen rooms, and each is decorated individually. The hotel s breakfast is abundant; wifi is included; and the staff are cordial and professional.
This is another very central hotel, in a perfect location for our Verona sightseeing as well as for any shopping you might like to do! A jumble of three ancient palaces have been stitched together and thoroughly modernized inside to create a 5-star hotel while respecting and highlighting the Roman ruins that were discovered beneath in the process. Original frescos and paintings join historically inspired american westairlines design to create an almost american westairlines magical atmosphere in the hotel's interiors. A chic lobby bar lets guests soak up the atmosphere from white leather seats. While the lobby, lounges, and restaurant have a very contemporary, enchanting, and rather hip feel to them, the 75 guest rooms are more classically decorated american westairlines with stylish furniture, high-class american westairlines fabrics, patterned wood floors, and red Veronese marble bathrooms. On top of all that there is an equally elegant restaurant with the casual style of a brasserie. Here guests can enjoy refined, novel variations of classic Italian dishes by a Michelin-starred chef.
We want you to know how much we enjoyed our Italian adventure. Our trip was perfect. We had a fantastic time and will let our friends know how wonderful Venture Out s tours are. We look forward to enjoying another adventure soon.
Thank you for putting together such a memorable trip. Everything was first-class, and I couldn t have asked for a better week I especially enjoyed the opportunity to travel with such a nice group of people american westairlines It was a unique experience, and I m looking forward to more adventures in the future.
The trip was sensational — the usual exquisite attention to detail and the experiences we know we simply would not have had if we d been on our own . . . the meals we cooked, the special lunches, the conviviality of the group. Sergio is a real treasure, needless to say.
Just want to let you know how much I enjoyed the tour. It ran without a hitch and both the tour director and local guide gave it their all to ensure we all had a great time. It was planned such that every day got better and better. The food was great, the choices of accommodation superb, and I would definitely american westairlines travel again with Venture Out knowing what caliber of client you attract.
My partner and I have had the pleasure of traveling with Venture Out on nearly a dozen occasions. Robert is a consummate american westairlines professional. One of the things we most enjoy about traveling with him is that there is nothing to worry about. Robert attends to every detail. And, his trips always include locations, hotels and adventures you could never find on your own. I know for a fact that Rich and I are not the only ones who feel this way. We have friends here in the Bay Area who have traveled with Venture Out on many occasions and we have made friends on Robert's trips, american westairlines whom we see again and again on subsequent Venture Out tours.
Just want to tell you what a memorable trip it was.  All of our adventures with you have been outstanding, but this one really left an impression on our minds and hearts.  Not just for the beauty of the wonderful places we went, but for the people and their history.
I had one of the best times of my life on this trip I so enjoyed our accommodations and destinations and the care and thought you put into your choices that I will long be recommending your tours to my traveling friends Every day of this trip was full of pleasure for me Thank you for a wonderful time.
Those who have traveled with you, and particularly american westairlines myself, have appreciated every effort you've american westairlines made on our behalf. You've made me quite a sloth when it comes to travel planning because I know everything will be taken care of; time will be full of visual wonders; meals and lodging american westairlines will amaze and charm.
Thank you for a most enjoyable adventure! The trip was so well planned and well-paced. I can t speak highly enough of the accommodations! The gulets were a highlight of the trip for me in every way accommodations, service, food and camaraderie. That was an inspired addition to the itinerary. As for the sights, we hit all the highlights and then some! Elvan was terrific as a guide. She was so full of information. It really american westairlines made a difference to my experience to have someone so knowledgeable on the trip. Eric was a superb manager. He kept things flowing with a minimum of hassle. Finally, the group as a whole had such a sense of camaraderie. It really enriched the entire experience. This is one trip I shall not easily forget!
An incredibly wonderful trip with Venture Out I can think of nothing you could have done better… You guided us through our journey so effortlessly every step, every day, to make the trip the best it could be… We so appreciated your extra special effort to make sure that everyone s needs were met and they were
A great itinerary, a fine group to travel with, an excellent trip that I was very grateful to be able to enjoy The small group size was attractive A very knowledgeable, personable and attractive guide!
The whole experience was a series of unanticipated pleasures. Great food from animals american westairlines and their parts I had never planned to touch let alone enjoy. Much more developed architecture than I had been led to believe existed there in cities I would have visited with no one but you, and two differ