Welcome to the romantic city of Venice, the only one place in the world where water and sky mix together finding no boundary. It's a city of captains, seamen, adventures, set in the magic atmosphere in which the biggest painters, musicians and poets expressed their arts. We will follow a particular route showing us some aspects of Venice that very few people know and discover the power of the Venetian fleet. 

Programme:

8.30 am: boarding on the motor-ship or at the landing-stage in Fusina (VE). Arrival in Venice and visit to the ARSENAL (free entrance to be allowed by Italian Navy), which was founded after the Venetian tradition in 1104 after the Doge's will (no entrance fee: the guided tour is a service offered by the Navy on written request in advance enclosing the visitors' list that must be accepted by the Admiral). Together with St. Mark's Basilica and Rialto the Arsenal was the centre of the military power of Venice. It covers a vast inland harbour sorrounded by high walls: here from ancient times on the ships of the Republic's fleet were constructed and repaired. Here all the various activities connected with navigation were carried out: so there were rope factories, workshops producing sail-cloth, sails and all sorts of other naval equipment and supplies. It was the heart of the military sea power of Venice, a very stately complex of assembly shops, warehouses, shipyards so specialized that during the 16° century the workers used the assembly line system. The Arsenal of Venice was a working shipyard till the second world war, when many air raid shelter were built inside the arsenal. Today the Arsenal belongs to the Italian Navy and a part is used for the worldwide famous Exhibition of Modern Art "La Biennale". If the Italian Navy doesn't allow the visit to the Arsenal Complex, we are going to have a pleasant walk around the perimeter of the arsenal and we are going to reach the imposing SAN PIETRO IN CASTELLO CATHEDRAL (ticket 3,00 € p.p.), planned by Andrea Palladio and first basilica of the city till the year 1807, when the title passed to St. Mark's Church. The Church of San Pietro in Castello signed the passage from the Renassaince to the Baroque Age and preserves wonderful marble altars and splendid frescoes by Ricci. Visit to NAVAL MUSEUM, housed in a building dating back to the 15thcentury, once granary for the Venetian Republic. A part of the complex is under the jurisdiction of the Italian Navy. The Naval Museum of Venice is the most important one in Italy and comprises five floors in which you can admire the deeds and the heroes of the venetian fleet and of the Italian Navy. You will visit the Room of the Bucintoro, that's to say the doge's ceremonial ship, and the Room of the Gondole, where you will see Peggy Guggenheim gondola. In the Hall of the Ships you will find some original venetian ships, military boats and a part of the engine-room belonging to Guglielmo Marconi's Elettra. After visiting the Naval Museum we we'll get on board and start navigating in the lagoon.

1.00 pm: our board kitchen will serve you a typical venetian lunch based on fish with the following menu: aperitif: Bellini, hors-d'ouvre: shrimps and pickled anchovies, first course: Fusilli alla Marinara (pasta with seafood), main course: mixed fried fish, vegetables in season, wine and water, fruit, coffee, cover and service. After the lunch we will continue our navigation in the venetian lagoon. Navigation to the ISLAND "NEW LAZARETTO" which is situated in the central part of the Venetian Lagoon, in front of Sant'Erasmo. Although some archaeological finds are evidence of the presence of human being on the island since in the Bronze Age, the first written document comes from the year 1015. In 1468 the island take the modern name, on 18th July the Senate of the Serenissima Republic of Venice founds the lazaretto in order to establish the quarantine of goods and people, that were suspected of plague infection. The island received the name of New Lazaretto to be distinguish from the Old Lazzaretto, still working in the southern lagoon, where the plague victims were treated. The dangerous place was warned by a vessel hoisting a yellow flag.

5.30 pm: Arrival in Fusina (Ve), disembarking and end of the services.