Pamela Huntington Darling & Associates Part I: Sunday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 19, 2010: the Veneto: 3 days & 3 nights
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| Fascinating Veneto and Venice, priding rich treasures of art and architecture, are ultimately unique. Beyond the usual tourist ventures, there is a secret Veneto and Venice, known to Venetians of nobility and the privileged few. As a participant in this exclusive program, you will have the opportunity to join an intimate group of discerning travelers and be invited by experts and members of the esteemed cultural and social world of the Veneto and Venice to private visits, luncheons, cocktail receptions, and dinners in magnificent villas and palazziof Venetian nobility, rarely opened to outside visitors. Following the 500th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian classical architect Andrea Palladio, you will enjoy three, four, or seven days, of private visits and receptions, with their owners, of the most important Palladian villas in the Veneto and palazzi in Venice, specially organized for you. We will observe the development of Venetian art and architecture through its beginnings to the emergence of the Renaissance and the peak of Venetian art and architecture in the 16th and the 18th centuries. Countess Giuliana di Thiene, expert lecturer and member of Venetian nobility, will guide us throughout this unique cultural travel program to the Veneto region and to Venice. For the first three nights, we will reside in Vicenza, a UNESCO World Heritage site, founded in the 2nd century, capital of the province of the Veneto region, city of extraordinary palazzi, monuments and villas designed by the world-renowned Andrea Palladio. We will stay at the 4-star luxury Hotel Villa Michelangelo, an 18th century stately residence, at the top of the Colli Berici hill, surrounded by a beautiful park, with remarkable views, with attention to detail and warm hospitality, providing easy access to the villas of the Veneto region. For the remaining four nights in Venice, we will reside at the 4-star luxury Starotels Splendid Venice, recently handsomely renovated, situated near Piazza San Marco, rated by “Trip Advisor” as the top 18th hotel out of 450 in Venice and a 4.8/5 (5 being excellent) overall rating by clients . The welcoming and attentive staff will make our stay even more memorable. Pamela Huntington Darling, who will accompany you, specializes in organizing inimitable cultural travel programs, providing access to exemplary private institutions and residences, rarely open to visitors , and welcomes you to join us for this exclusive cultural program in Venice and the Veneto . For more information or to register, please email We look forward to your participation in this unique travel program! |
“The Secrets of Venice and the Veneto”
Part I: Sunday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 19: “The Secrets of the Veneto”: 3 days & 3 nights Andrea Palladio’s extraordinary palazzi and buildings in Vicenza, a UNESCO World Heritage site , capital of the Veneto province, and the villas in the region built between the 16th and 19th centuries for aristocratic Venetian families, deserve a voyage in itself. Palladio’s work, based on a detailed study of classical Roman architecture, gives Vicenza its unique appearance. Among the remarkable villas in the Veneto region, many were built by Palladio, designed with classical and noble forms, elaborately painted with murals and ceilings by famous artists, destined to fascinate the world! Palladio’s urban buildings and villas inspired a distinct style, known as Palladian, and had a decisive influence on the development of architecture in Europe and North America, one of the most famous examples being Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. Sunday, May 16
We will stay at the 4-star luxury hotel Villa Michelangelo, an 18th century stately residence, surrounded by gardens, with spectacular views, offering a peaceful atmosphere and warm hospitality, providing easy access to the villas of Veneto. We will be welcomed by the director and lead to our rooms, and enjoy luncheon in the elegant dining room overlooking the beautiful hills of Vicenza. Afternoon and Evening
Evening – Private Visit and Dinner – Castle-Villa Porto Colleoni Thiene
Monday, May 17
Built in 1542, Villa Godi Malinverni belongs to the rich artistic patrimony of Palladio’s villas. Standing majestically on the slopes of the Lonedo hill, the villa overlooks the Astico River. Its interior is adorned with spectacular frescoes by Gianbattista Zelotti , Battista del Moro and Gualtiero Padovano, portraying the different schools of the artists, diverse in style, in their subject and their use of color , a remarkable synthesis of art of the time. In 1962, Professor Remo Malinverni purchased the villa and dedicated the last years of his life to restoring it to its former magnificence. Since then, his son, Christian Maliverni, continues preserving this remarkable heritage.
Afternoon – Villa Barbaro
We will return to Villa Michelangelo to relax before dinner in Vicenza. Evening – Antico Ristorante Agli Schioppi After relaxing at our hotel, we will enjoy a delicious, convivial dinner of traditional Venetian cuisine , in the unique setting Palladio’s Vicenza, at Antico Ristorante Agli Schioppi, a sought-after restaurant by the local elite and well advised travelers, offering regional specialties, full of flavour, and a welcoming atmosphere. Tuesday, May 18
Private Luncheon – Villa Marcello
Afternoon We will return to Villa Michelangelo to relax before our special evening at Villa Valmarana ai Nani . Evening
Wednesday, May 19
Hotel S plendid Venice offers elegantly renovated, very comfortable rooms with marble bathrooms, decorated in Venetian style with a modern interpretation, with wonderful light, overlooking sparkling facades of century-old palazzi, spacious lounge areas, sa handsome inner courtyard dining room enclosed by a glass roof, and a partially covered roof-terrace with views of the roof-tops of Venice where guests can enjoy refreshments. Splendid Venice is rated by “Trip Advisor” as the top 18th out of 450 hotels in Venice with a 4.8/5 (5 being excellent) overall rating by clients . Private Visit – Gran Teatro La Fenice
Afternoon – Palazzo Contarini-Polignac
Designed by Giovanni Buora, it is also one of the only palaces in Venice to have two piano nobili. Among the remarkable décor are two friezes by Domenico Tiepolo and stupendous stucco décor. In the early 20th century, Princess Winnaretta de Polignac (daughter of Isaac Singer, inventor of the sewing machine) held salons here, at which avant-garde concerts were given by renowned artists, such as Gabriel Fauré , Ethel Smyth, and Igor Stravinsky .
Thursday, May 20 Private Visit – Bevilacqua – Luxurious Venetian Hand-woven Fabric By special arrangement, we will visit the weaving workshop of the only company still producing the same, incomparable quality of handmade brocades, damask and velvets that made Venice famous in the 16th century. We will be welcomed for a private visit by Mr. Alberto Bevilacqua. The name Luigi Bevilacqua is a legend in décor and costumes. Fabric masterpieces, completely handmade on 18th century looms, are still produced at Bevilacqua. The high price simply reflects the number of days it takes an artisan to complete the opulent fabric, which can be admired in paintings of the great Venetian artists, not only in the décor but also in the costumes worn by the elite.
Guests of the director, we will enjoy an exceptional invitation to visit the celebrated Tiepolo rooms of the Palazzo Labia, rarely opened to the public. Once a grand 17th-century family residence, subsequently owned by the famous Don Carlos de Beistegui, heir to a Mexican silver fortune , Labia is today the Venice headquarters of Italy's national radio and TV organisation. The palazzo boasts what is said to have been Giambattista Tiepolo’s most expensive commission of frescoes in a private residence. The Labia family arrived from Spain and employed all means to gain approval of the local aristocracy. The grand ballroom, a two-story-high space characterised by a gamut of architectural trompe l'oeil, is the framework for giant frescoes depicting the meeting of Anthony and Cleopatra and Cleopatra's banquet, in which Tiepolo included himself. The ceiling fresco represents the victory of Bellerophon over Time. Luncheon – Antiche Carampane Situated only steps from the Rialto bridge, Antiche Carmapane offers delicious Venetian cuisine and warm hospitality. It is a favorite address among politicians, gourmet locals and showbiz alike. The warm trattoria ambience, the delectable regional cuisine, and the welcoming staff make for a wonderful dining experience. Afternoon – Palazzo Albrizzi
Evening Countess Lelia Passi will welcome us for a convivial, delicious dinner, prepared by our hostess, at her historic, beautifully appointed residence on the Grand Canal, offering marvelous views of Venice. Palazzo Tiepolo Passi, built in the 16th century, is one of the few palazzi whose façades were painted with frescoes. Traces of the frescos, painted by Andrea Meldolla, can still be admired. The ground floor of the palace was embellished by Guardi ornaments. Among the admirable décor, ceilings pride well preserved, valuable stuccoes portraying mythological scenes. Friday, May 21 We will be welcomed by Madame Anita Dolfus, French Cultural Attaché in Venice, for a private visit to Casino Venier, the only 18th century casino that still exists in Venice. The Venetian casini were rendezvous of Venetian patriarchs for intimate business meetings, conversations with friends, or political discussions. Casinò Venier, named after Elena Vernier, is noteworthy. Its ceiling and wall decoration, consisting of polychrome stucco works and tiles from Delft dating from 1750 to 1760, is virtually entirely conserved. Today, it is the headquarters of the Alliance Française in Venice.
We will be welcomed by Jerome-François Zieseniss, President of the “Comité Français pour la Sauvegarde de Venise” , to the Royal Palace of Venice, housing Museo Correr in the Napoleonic wing. We will discover the remarkable restoration and work in progress of the Napoleonic rooms, thanks to the “Comité” and its distinguished patrons . The interior décor is owed to Giuseppe Borsato, disciple of Percier and Fontaine, who illustrated an elegant neoclassicism, the result of French and Italian influences. This awe-inspiring edifice is the only neoclassical Royal Palace intact in Italy. Luncheon – Ristorante Antico Pignolo Welcomed by the proprietor, we will enjoy the refined atmosphere of this authentic Venetian establishment, its remarkable cuisine and house specialities, and its outstanding service. Antico Pignolo is truly one of the finest ristoranti in Venice, sought after by gourmet Venetians and well-advised travelers alike.
This will be one of the highlights of our exclusive program. We will be welcomed by Pier-Luigi Pizzi’s son to Pier-Luigi Pizzi’s astonishing, historic residence, decorated with works of art that would make any museum blush, the same excellent taste and creative spirit that he brings to his theatrical productions. A further delight, Pier-Luigi Pizzi lives in the converted, former atelier of Renaissance artist Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) located on a quiet rio close to the Frari in San Polo. The soaring three-story gallery houses an unparalleled, museum-quality collection of Northern European and Neapolitan paintings, antiques covering all periods, statues, and ancient Venetian works of glass. This is a unique discovery, one which even very distinguished visitors to Venice has rarely been offered. Evening – Cocktails and Dinner – Palazzo Corner Gheltoff Alvera In the evening, we will be specially greeted by our charming hostess, Countess Caterina Alvera, of Venetian aristocracy, for cocktails and an enchanting dinner at her remarkable, historic Venetian residence, Palazzo Corner Gheltoff Alvera, which has always belonged to noble and powerful Venetian families. This stunning 16th - 17th century palace, of Gothic style with Palladian influence, housing refined, elegant décor, is situated on the Grand Canal. We will enjoy cocktails on the rooftop terrace, with spectacular views of Venice, followed by a convivial dinner, specially prepared by the Countess. This will be an unforgettable evening. Saturday, May 22
Dottore Roberto Fontanari will lead us on a private visit to the remarkable Palazzo Grimani, the only palace in Venice built following the architectural plan of a Roman villa. In the early 1500’s, Antonio Grimani passed his partially completed palazzo to his sons, and it was subsequently spectacularly completed, thanks to his nephews Giovanni and Vettore Grimani. The state purchased the palace in 1981, and in 2001 restoration began and was completed in 2008. The palace and its architecture are absolutely unique among Venetian palazzi, incorporating Roman and Tuscan architectural and decorative elements. The restoration is remarkable. Some of the most striking features include the unique cortile, the Tribuna, the Sala del Doge, the entrance stairway, luscious marble, and endless panels of leaded glass doors that stream light from the open cortile and the rio on the opposite side. This is, indeed, a unique and memorable discovery. Private Visit – Palazzo Cappello Malipiero Barnabo
Elegantly preserved, the palazzo was built over three periods, the 12th century, the Renaissance, and the 17th century, when it was restored in Baroque style by Baldassarre Longhena . We will enjoy refreshments in the garden or on the piano nobile . Luncheon – Palazzo Grassi Just next door is the Palazzo Grassi, where we will enjoy a deliciously light luncheon and a quick view of museum, overlooking the Grand Canal. Palazzo Grassi presents major temporary exhibitions, and works from the François Pinault Collection. Afternoon – Private Visit to the Palazzo Pisani-Moretta
Several expansions took place in the 18th century, when important renovations, which give its present appearance, were completed. Pisani-Moretta houses splendid, elaborate Baroque decoration, the works of outstanding Venetian artists, including Giambattista Tiepolo, Jacopo Guarana, and Gaspare Diziani. Thanks to its restoration and the recovery of its extraordinary art collection and antique furnishings, Pisani Palace has regained its unique splendor which in past centuries was admired by famous guests, among whom Tzar Paul of Russia, Josephine Bonaparte and Joseph Il of Austria. Evening – Farewell Dinner - Palazzo Balbi Mocenigo We will be welcomed by Jérôme-François Zieseniss, President of the Comité Français pour la Sauvegarde de Venise, and by Matteo Corvino, interior designer and organizer of the most prestigious private galas in Venice, for our farewell dinner in their splendid residence, superbly restored and decorated by Matteo Corvino in the finest of Venetian tradition, elegance and warmth, marrying significant Napoleonic and Contemporary artwork and décor. This will be a wonderful way to end our exclusive and memorable program! After breakfast, we shall bid guests “A presto!” in the hope you will join us for another exclusive cultural travel program in Europe. We will be pleased to assist guests wishing to prolong their stay in Venice. |
| New Tour Price: Guests may choose to attend either part or all of the program: Part I: Sunday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 19: “The Secrets of the Veneto”: 3 days & 3 nights $3,750 per person based on double occupancy, $150 single supplement; based on an exchange rate of $1.38/1 Euro and on a minimum of 10 participants. Rate includes : 3 days of private visits and receptions; 3 nights of hotel accommodations at the 4-star luxury hotel Villa Michelangelo in Vicenza; 3 breakfasts; 3 luncheons and 3 dinners; transportation to and from events during tour; all private visits and expert guides. Part II: Wednesday, May 19 to Sunday, May 23: “The Secrets of Venice”: 4 days & 4 nights $5,000 per person based on double occupancy, $500 single supplement; based on an exchange rate of $1.38/1 Euro and on a minimum of 10 participants. Rate includes : 4 days of private visits and receptions; 4 nights of hotel accommodations at the 4-star luxury Starhotels Splendid Venice ; 4 breakfasts; 4 luncheons and 4 dinners; transportation to and from events during tour; all private visits and expert guides. Full Program: Sunday, May 16 to Sunday, May 23: “The Secrets of Venice & the Veneto”: 7 days & 7 nights $7,850 per person based on double occupancy, $500 single supplement; based on an exchange rate of $1.38/1 Euro and on a minimum of 10 participants. Rate includes : 7 days of private visits and receptions; 7 nights of hotel accommodations—3 nights at the 4-star luxury hotel Villa Michelangelo in Vicenza and 4 nights at the 4-star luxury Starhotels Splendid Venice ; 7 breakfasts; 7 luncheons and 7 dinners; transportation to and from events; all private visits; and expert guides. To assure availability, please reserve with your 1st deposit before March 15th. For more information and to reserve , please email or call Pamela Huntington Darling at your earliest convenience. |
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We will meet at the Venice Marco Polo Airport at noon for private coach transfer to Vicenza in the Veneto. For our exclusive discovery of the remarkable private villas and institutions of the Veneto, we will reside for the first three nights in Vicenza, Palladio’s city, site of renowned palazzi, monuments and villas designed by the master. 
In the late afternoon, with our expert guide, Countess Giuliana di Thiene, and Dr. Wilma Barbieri, expert lecturer, we will enjoy a private orientation walking tour to the historic area of Palladio’s Vicenza, observing the architecture of the most important palazzi, including Palladio’s Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, the Basilica Palladiana and the Loggia del Capitaniato, and Palazzo Thiene. We will visit the interior of Teatro Olimpico, a superb theatre designed by Palladio just before his death in 1580 . 
Count Clemente and Countess Giuliana di Thiene will welcome us at their historic, admirable residence, Villa- Castle Porto Colleoni Thiene, for cocktails in the garden followed by a visit and dinner. Palladio historians Professor Ackerman and Dr. Wilma Barbieri emphasize that, to understand Palladian architecture and the evolution of villas, Villa- Castle Porto Colleoni Thiene must first be discovered. 
The Castle-Villa Porto-Colleoni-Thiene, erected in the 1450’s on the ruins of a medieval castle, was originally a countryside residence and an agricultural estate. The ensemble unites gothic characteristics of a castle with that of a Venetian palazzo. Its structure, exceptional for the time, is attributed to the great architect Domenico da Venezia, the “engineer” of the city of Vicenza. In the vast courtyard, we will admire the astonishing architectural ensemble, each element portraying the history of the villa-castle. The frescoes, paintings , décor and archives are unique. The elegant stables are also an architectural masterpiece. 
We will continue to Villa Emo, located in the village of Fanzolo, built between 1559 and 1565, considered the masterpiece of Palladian villa design, housing extraordinary décor. As at nearby Villa Barbaro, barchesse (farm buildings) extend symmetrically from the left and right of the central structure, with the ends surmounted by dovecotes. The result is the famous 5-part profile familiar in later Palladio-inspired architecture, including the U.S. Capitol building, with the Houses of Congress replacing the dovecotes! We will admire the marvelous frescos by Giovanni Battista Zelotti and the stuccos by Alessandro Vittoria.
We will continue to the village of Maser to visit Villa Barbaro, where we will be greeted by the proprietor, Contessa Diamente Barbaro. The most famous of Palladio’s farm villas, built for Daniele Barbaro, Patriarch of Aquileia, and his brother Marc'antonio Barbaro, an ambassador of the Venetian Republic, its construction began around 1549, completed in 1558. The Tempietto (chapel) was built in 1580. We will admire the magnificent frescos in the central residence, executed by Paolo Veronese, the statues by Alessandro Vittoria and Marc'Antonio Barbaro, and the stuccos by Alessandro Vittoria.
We will commence our day’s private visits and receptions, with our expert guide, Countess Giuliana di Thiene, to the Villa La Rotonda, where we will be specially greeted by the proprietor, Count Lodovico di Valmarana, for a private visit, before opening hours, to Palladio’s famous villa and pleasure pavilion. Situated on a hilltop, its four facades look out upon cultivated fields and a wooded slope. The central dome, one of Palladio's most famous and imitated motifs, was inspired by the Pantheon of ancient Rome. Admirable are the frescos by Alessandro Maganza and Lodovico Dorigny, statues by Lorenzo Rubini, and stuccos by Lorenzo Rubini, Ruggero Bascape and Domenico Fontana.
We will continue to the village of Piombino Dese to visit Palladio’s Villa Cornaro, guests of the owners, Carl and Sally Gable. Villa Cornaro is a masterpiece of Palladio's middle period. Built in the early 1550’s for prominent Venetian nobleman, Giorgio Cornaro, it was completed in 1588. We will delight in the remarkable statuary gallery by Camillo, the Mariani frescos by Mattia Bortoloni, and the stuccos by Bortolo Cabianca. An American writer recently included it on his list of ten of the world's most important buildings ("Top Ten Buildings,"Town & Country, Jan. 2003).
We will be welcomed to Villa Marcello by Count Jacopo Marcello for luncheon at his family’s private residence, followed by a visit. The Palladian-style villa was built in the second half of the 16th century for the Marcello family, a powerful noble and military family of Venice. In the 1700’s, the facade was transformed to its current appearance. The interior décor prides refined splendor. Among the notable reception rooms are a ballroom with marvelous 16th century frescos by Giovanni Crosato Batiste, large sitting rooms and bedrooms also priding stunning frescoes. The Italian-style garden has a fountain, Greek mythical statues and flower beds. The vast park is rich in vegetation, framed by long rows of trees, with a charming dovecote and a chapel.
Private Visit, Cocktails and Dinner - Villa Valmarana ai Nani 
In Vicenza’s countryside stands the majestic Villa Valmarana ai Nani, where we will be welcomed by our hosts, Count Adalberto Cremonese and Countess Maria Carolina di Valmarana, to their admirable family residence, with stunning gardens, famous for its outstanding frescos by the Tiepolos , father and son . With our hosts, we will enjoy cocktails in the garden, and a private visit, followed by a sumptuous dinner in the Villa, surrounded by the Tiepolos’ awe-inspiring frescoes. This will be a convivial and memorable way to end our special day in the Veneto!
After breakfast , accompanied by Countess Giuliana di Thiene, our expert guide, w e will depart by private coach to Venice for the second part of our program. In Venice, we will stay at the 4-star luxury Starhotels Splendid Venice, handsomely refurbished, situated near Piazza San Marco . 
We will be welcomed by the director of VIP relations to Gran Teatro La Fenice, inaugurated in 1792, one of the most celebrated opera houses in Europe, site of many famous operatic premieres, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes, private visit to this mythical opera house, twice burnt to the ground, where the most famous composers and artists have performed, including Rossini, Donizetti , and Verdi. We will discover the stunning results of its latest long renovation, rebuilt in the 19th-century style according to a design by architect Aldo Rossi, its repertoire, and special anecdotes regarding its famous, international patrons throughout its history.
We will be welcomed by Marie Bagnasco for a convivial luncheon at her delightful , 15th century palazzo on the Grand Canal, with splendid views of Venice and a secret garden. Marie Bagnasco’s residence is admirably decorated with Empire furniture, a rare finding in Venice, beautiful antiques, as well as stunning murals painted by her daughter, Evelyn Bagnasco, a theatre designer, with a unique Arabian bathroom with handmade Mosaic tiles and furniture also created by her daughter, whose work has been widely published in magazines such as “AD” and “Town and Country”.
We will enjoy a privileged private visit and refreshments at the majestic Palazzo Contarini-Polignac, residence of the Decazes family . T he palazzo is one of the most remarkable private, family-owned palaces in Venice. Built in late 15th century, it is one of the most important early Renaissance palaces in Venice. 
Evening – Cocktails and Dinner at the Palazzo Bernardo 
Private Visit – Palazzo Labia 
We will be welcomed by Baron Lorenzo Rubin de Cervin Albrizzi for a private reception at his residence, Palazzo Albrizzi , one of the most luxurious Baroque palaces in Venice, still a private home, in the same family for almost 500 years. The Albrizzi family purchased the palace in 1648 and spent 50 years sumptuously decorating the residence. A vast gallery runs almost the full length of the piano nobile with splendid white and gold stuccowork, museum-quality paintings, superb antique furniture, as well as family heirlooms. Our charming host will relate the history of his residence and dedication its preservation while enjoying refreshments in the secret garden.
Casino Venier
Private Visit – Royal Palace of Venice, Napoleonic Wing 
Afternoon – Private Visit to the Residence and Pinacoteca of world renowned Stage and Opera Director Pier-Luigi Pizzi 
Private Visit to Palazzo Grimani 
We will be welcomed for a private visit and refreshments by Countess Anna Barnabo to discover her historic residence on the Grand Canal, offering magnificent views and one of the largest private gardens in Venice on the Grand Canal. The 18th century décor, the collection of artwork and the garden, with multiple sculptures, are exquisite. 
Thanks to Count and Countess Sammartini, the proprietors, we will be invited to Palazzo Pisani-Moretta for a special visit to admire their splendid state reception rooms. Overlooking the Grand Canal, the palazzo, built at the end of the 15th century, is a magnificent example of late gothic architecture priding unique décor.