Art & Design Trip to Northern Italy: 4 days, 3 nights

An art lovers dream, experience the sheer beauty of Venice’s canals, bridges and buildings, as well as important collections of art from across the centuries. Visit the stunning Giotto frescoes in Padua and the Achille Forti Gallery of modern art in Verona. Add to this the splendour of the Basilicas of San Marco, San Zeno Maggiore and St Anthony of Padua for an inspiring taste of the Italian art world.

Suggested itinerary

Day one

  • Travel day
  • Basilica di San Zeno Verona
  • Achille Forti Gallery Verona

Day two

  • Day in Padua
  • Cappella Degli Scrovegni
  • Basilica of St Anthony of Padua
  • Pratto della Valle
  • Orto Botanico

Day three

  • Day in Venice
  • St Mark’s Square
  • Basilica Di San Marco
  • Gallerie dell’Accademia
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Day four

  • Travel  via a visit to Sirmione – Lake Garda

Excursion Locator Map

Excursion Ideas

  • Basilica di San Zeno

    Subject range: Art, Design, History

    What you’ll experience: A fine example of Romanesque architecture, this stunning church was constructed to honour the city’s patron saint, Saint Zeno.

    Select says: Reputed to be the site of the marriage of Romeo & Juliet.

  • Achille Forti Gallery

    Subject range: Art, Design, History

    Verona’s modern art gallery featuring works produced between 1840 & 1940. Access the gallery via the striking Scala della Ragioni medieval staircase.

    Select says: View works by Giorgio Morandi, Umberto Boccioni and Francesco Hayez

  • Padua

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: Padua, one of Italy’s oldest cities, is celebrated for its historic university, stunning frescoes, and vibrant squares filled with cafes and markets.

  • Cappella Degli Scrovegni

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: The Scrovegni Chapel’s frescoes dating back to the fourteenth century cover the entire internal walls and are regarded as a masterpiece, initiating the Italian Renaissance art movement. The frescoes depict the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary with a colour palate which remains incredibly vibrant to this day. The chapel is a UNESCO world heritage site.

    Select says: Comparable to the Sistine Chapel this is not to be missed!

  • Basilica of St Anthony of Padua

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: This immense domed basilica exhibits many architectural styles, originating from the early 13th century.  The stunning interior is highly decorated with gold, marble statues and beautiful artwork.

    Select says: This world- famous Basilica receives around 6.5 million visitors per year

  • Prato della Valle

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: A focal meeting point throughout the centuries, this city square is a great place to relax and admire the series of 78 statues around its edge representing famous people who have left their mark on the history & culture of Padua, including the astronomer, physicist & mathematician Galileo Galilei.

    Select says: Italy’s largest square at 90,000 square metres

  • Orto Botanico

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: Another UNESCO world heritage site, the garden was planted in 1545 by members of the university to study the medicinal properties of plants.

    Select says: The oldest academic botanical garden in the world

  • Venice

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: Venice is a unique Italian city built on canals, renowned for its gondolas, historic architecture, and rich cultural heritage.

  • St Mark’s square

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: Considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world, St Mark’s is a fascinating example of rich Venetian historical, artistic and architectural heritage. Admire the Gothic Doge’s Palace & enjoy views over the city from the top of the Campanile.

    Select says: The ancient & famed Ponte di Rialto is only 600 metres from the Square

  • Basilica Di San Marco

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: Be bowled over by this awe-inspiring cathedral with its incredibly lavish interior and exterior decoration of over 8,000 square metres of glittering golden mosaics.

    Select says: Don’t forget to look up – the ceiling is one of the most resplendent aspects

  • Gallerie dell’Accademia

    Subject range: Art, History

    What you’ll experience: Home to one of the most important collections of Venetian art. View works from the 14th to the 18th century by artists such as Titian, Bellini and Da Vinci.

    Select says: Gain an insight into the history of Venice through each painting.

  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection

    Subject range: Art, History

    What you’ll experience: Housed in a Grand Canal Palazzo, this personal collection of twentieth century art includes works by Picasso, Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock as well as a sculpture garden.

    Select says: Visit the home of one of the most influential art collectors of modern times

  • Sirmione – Lake Garda

    Subject range:

    What you’ll experience: Sirmione, perched on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Garda, is a picturesque Italian town famed for its thermal baths, medieval Scaliger Castle, and stunning lakeside views.

Art & Design Trip to Northern Italy: 4 days, 3 nights Accommodation

M14 Hotel

Our rating:

Location:

Capacity: 100

A modern hotel in the centre of Padua within easy walking distance of the main sites.

Rooms: Equipped with air conditioning, soundproofing, flat-screen TV, private bathroom (often with walk-in showers), and some featuring balconies or garden views

Facilities: Free Wi-Fi.