 |
 |
Rising in the Ligurian Alps near the French frontier and flowing west to east across the triangular plain of Lombardy into the Adriatic at the Gulf of Venice, the Po is Italy's largest river.
Immerse yourself in the art, culture and history of Renaissance Italy enjoying the delights of some of northern Italy's great towns and cities.
Romantic Venice, the 'Bride of the Adriatic' sets the scene for our cruises which encapsulate the very best of what the area has to offer. The centuries old cities of Verona, Mantua, Padua, Ferrara, Bologna and finally the city of Cremona, will guarantee to leave you with treasured memories and a desire to return.
|
|
PLACES OF INTEREST |
Bologna
The first university in Europe was founded here in 1088. The Piazza Maggiore, the true heart of the city, is surrounded by the monumental buildings from the middle ages.
Cremona
Surrounded by the fertile countryside of the Po valley, Cremona is an agricultural city boasting a Romanesque style Duomo.
Ferrara
The rich alluvial soil from the River Po has provided Ferrara with the resources necessary to create impressive monuments including the 13th-15th century cathedral, a 14th century Castello Estense and the Palazza Schifonoia containing frescoes from the 15th century.
Mantua
A veritable treasure chest of art works such as the sinope by Pisanello and the frescoes by Mantegna in the Camera degli Spasi-Bridal Chamber, which marked the beginning of the Italian art of depicting an open sky on ceilings. |
Padua
Padua is an ancient city with an illustrious academic tradition and is famous for the great basilica known as the Il Santo (the Saint), completed in the 14th century with a high altar decorated with magnificent bronzes of Donatello.
Venice
The Grand Canal is the world's most beautiful and favourite waterway, offering an unending succession of beautiful buildings. In the famous Piazza San Marco, you will find the Gothic Doge's Palace, the 15th century Campanile and the great basilica of St. Mark, guarding the saint's mortal remains stolen from Egypt. Within the Venetian Lagoon are the islands of Torcello and Burano.
Verona
Another one of the great cities of northern Italy, Verona was the seat of one of Italy's most important dynasties, the Scaligera, throughout the medieval period. Verona is renowned as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and it is still possible to see Juliet's balcony. | |
