Explore the Gallerie dell'Accademia and trace the evolution of Venetian painting through works by Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, and Paolo Veronese, focusing on color, atmosphere, and compositional innovation.

Then visit the Ponte dell’Accademia to observe how light and reflections on the Grand Canal are similar to the effects seen in the galleries.

Head to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute for its stunning Baroque architecture, massive dome, and masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Optional add-on: Visit the Church of Saint Sebastian to discover a complete decorative cycle by Paolo Veronese, where walls, ceilings, and architectural surfaces are unified into a single painted environment.

Ride the vaporetto along the Grand Canal at dusk and observe how shifting lagoon light transforms façades.

Visit St. Mark's Basilica and view its shimmering mosaics, Byzantine forms, and relics and treasures accumulated through trade and conquest. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Explore the Doge's Palace to discover monumental paintings, including works by Tintoretto, integrated into a political and ceremonial setting.

Optional add-on: If you plan on joining the Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour of Doge's Palace to access rarely seen rooms, masterworks, and vantage points, reservations are limited and required.

Visit the Museo Correr to examine painting and decorative arts related to Venice’s civic identity. Then step into St. Mark’s Square to spot the diverse mixture of architectural styles present.

Walk to the Rialto Bridge and observe how the dense commercial heart of the city is framed by the canal. Then continue to San Giorgio Maggiore to see the Tintoretto paintings and Longhena staircase.

Spend sunset at the top of the Campanile di San Giorgio Maggiore for a panoramic view of Venice. Head back to Venice and note the transformation of familiar spaces through the changing light and atmosphere of twilight.

Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari to encounter masterpieces by Titian and other Venetian artists within a Gothic setting. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches, synagogues, and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Then head to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and move through Tintoretto’s cycle of paintings, where walls and ceilings form a unified visual experience.

Head to Chiesa di San Zaccaria to contemplate Giovanni Bellini’s famous altarpiece. Then visit Church of Saint Mary of Miracles, or Santa Maria dei Miracoli, known as the “marble church” for its detailed, extensive use of marble for the exterior and interior.

Optional add-on: Visit the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni to see Vittore Carpaccio’s vivid series of panels.

Attend a classical music concert at Chiesa della Pietà - Santa Maria della Visitazione* or Chiesa di San Vidal.

Visit the Querini Stampalia Foundation to explore the integration of historic interiors and modern design interventions, particularly in handling challenges related to acqua alta.

Optional add-on: Visit the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a spiral staircase offering elevated views and a glimpse into Venice’s architectural creativity.

Then head to the Museo Fortuny to learn about textiles, lighting, and stage design in a restored palazzo.

Explore Ca' Rezzonico, a Grand Canal palace that provides a glimpse into aristocratic life in Venice, with ornate interiors, frescoes, and furnishings that illustrate the wealth and cultural refinement of the city’s elite in the 18th century.

Continue on to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which showcases a collection of modern art in a Grand Canal palazzo.

Walk along the Grand Canal near the Accademia and observe how reflections and light connect the day’s interior experiences with the city environment.

Head to Murano to observe glassblowing in working furnaces and visit the Museo del Vetro to understand the evolution of Venetian glass as both craft and art form.

Continue to Burano, known for its brightly painted houses and long tradition of lace-making, leaving time to browse local shops and explore Lace Museum, or Museo del Merletto, to learn more about traditional lace-making.

Optional add-on: Travel to Torcello to visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, known for its early Byzantine mosaics that establish the visual foundations later developed in Venice. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Return to Venice around sunset and stroll along Riva degli Schiavoni, a waterfront promenade with views across the lagoon, again noting the effects of the changing light.

Visit the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore and study its famous bronze doors, Mantegna’s altarpiece, frescoes, and well-known stained-glass window. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Then explore Piazza delle Erbe, the historic market square, and Piazza dei Signori, the historic political center of the city, to compare their use of color and architecture.

Visit the Castelvecchio Museum, a fortress and museum where painting, sculpture, and decorative arts are displayed in a powerful historical setting. Then head to the Scaliger Tombs and take note of the Gothic ornamentation as an expression of funerary design.

Optional add-on: Visit the Arena di Verona, a well-preserved Roman amphitheater still used for performances today.

Take the Funicolare di Castel San Pietro to watch the sunset from Piazzale Castel San Pietro, offering panoramic views over the city’s rooftops and river. Return to Venice and reflect on the contrast between the two cities.

Head to the Sinagoghe e Museo Ebraico di Venezia to explore intricately decorated synagogue interiors and ceremonial objects that represent a unique strand of Venetian decorative arts. Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at churches and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.

Visit the Church of Madonna dell'Orto, which houses famous works by Tintoretto, then explore nearby areas for a quieter visual counterpoint to the city’s grand monuments.

Continue on to Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro to explore its collection of Mantegna’s St. Sebastian, Flemish tapestries, and sculpture. The Ca' d'Oro is also one of the most famous examples of Venetian Gothic architecture along the Grand Canal.

Optional add-on: Visit the Oratory of Crociferi for its complete fresco cycle by Palma il Giovane.

Attend a performance at the Teatro La Fenice to experience the culmination of Venetian decorative arts in a theatrical setting.