|
Conference delegates often
regret later that they were too busy to notice their surroundings.
We have arranged a tour programme for the following weekend which
will give you the opportunity to see something of the attractions
of Venice. Another benefit of remaining after the conference
is that you can take advantage of cheap APEX flights, by staying
over a Saturday night.
During the conference itself,
there is a full programme of tours, so why not take the chance
to make e-2001 a really valuable and enjoyable break for you
and your partner? You both deserve it.
Tour details may vary but full
information will be on display at the conference reception desk
where bookings for trips will be taken. Payments will be made
to the tour operators.
Partners Programme
Wednesday 17 October 2001
Wednesday morning
Visit: Gallerie dell'Accademia
The Accademia is home to the world's greatest collection of Venetian
paintings, which are attractively set out in 24 rooms. The collection
starts with Byzantine works and then moves to canvases by Carpaccio,
Mantegna, Bellini (Madonna and Saints), Veronese (Supper in the
house of Levi), Tintoretto (Miracle of the Slave), Titian, Longhi
and many, many others.
Duration approx.: about two
hours
Departing from: 09.30 h at the Future Centre
Price: Entrance fee and water bus fare
Wednesday afternoon
Tour: Magic and enchantment
of Venetian life
You will wander with your guide through an intricate maze of
winding alleys where time seems to have stopped still. You will
explore Venetian life style and on the way see the winding staircase
Contarini Bovolo and unusual palaces along Campo S. Beneto and
Corte dell'alboro. You will cross the Grand Canal and visit the
famous church Santa Maria dei Frari and its many masterpieces
including the "Assumption" by Titian. From there the
tour will continue by gondola, streaming down mysterious canals
spanned by tiny foot bridges leading to the fascinating Grand
Canal reflecting the facades of palaces such as Ca' Pesaro and
Ca' d'Oro, as well as the Rialto Bridge.
Notes: Appropriate clothing
is requested for admittance into the churches
Duration approx: about two hours
Departing from: 15.00 h at the American Express Office*
Price: Lira 55,000
Thursday 18 October 2001
Thursday morning
- Tour: The Islands of the Lagoon
- A hostess will accompany you
on a motorboat trip to the most famous islands of the lagoon.
On the way you will see the islands of San Giorgio, the Lido
and San Francesco del Deserto which houses a monastery where
St. Francis is believed to have stayed. First you will reach
the fishing village of Burano, where each house is painted in
a different colour and which is famous for its lace making, which
you will be able to see. Then you will visit the beautiful island
of Torcello which was the first island inhabited by the Venetian
people fleeing from the Barbarian invasion. On the island there
are lovely remains of the time with the Cathedral (rebuilt in
the11th century), with its magnificent Byzantine mosaics, and
the Church of Santa Fosca (about 1000 A.D.). Last stop is at
the island of Murano, once famous for its beautiful villas and
gardens and now the centre of the world famous Venetian glass
industry. You will have a chance to visit a glassblowing factory
before returning to Venice.
Duration approx: about two
hours
Departing from: 09.30 h at the American Express Office*
Price: Lira 30,000
Thursday afternoon
- Visit to Collezione Peggy
Guggenheim
- A matchless collection of
modern paintings collected by the daughter of the American copper
magnate and housed in the 18th century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni.
There are paintings by Picasso, Braque, Dalí, Magritte,
Miró, Pollock, de Kooning, Rothko and Bacon. Many of the
sculptures are arranged in a lovely garden and include works
by Henry Moore, Paolozzi, Giacometti and others.
Duration approx: about two
hours
Departing from:14.30 h at the Future Centre
Price: Entrance fee and water bus fare
Friday 19 October 2001
Friday morning
- Jewels of the Venetian Republic
- Strolling through narrow streets,
led by a guide, you will suddenly emerge on majestic St. Mark's
Square: the hub of the city. Byzantine in heritage, it was the
political and monumental centre of the ancient Venetian republic:
from these palaces Venice once dominated the seas. Visit the
white marble Doge's Palace, where the elected doges lived and
governed. Its beautiful courtyard leads to magnificently decorated
chambers. It is linked by the famous Bridge of Sighs to the Piombi
prison. You will be able to cross over to take a glimpse of the
accommodation reserved for its guests through the centuries (such
as Casanova)! Back into "Europe's grandest drawing- room",
close to the Bell Tower and clock Tower, you will see a demonstration
of Venetian glass-blowing.
Note: Appropriate clothing
is requested for admittance into the church
Duration approx: about two hours
Departing from: 09.10 h at the American Express Office*
Price: Lira 45,000
*The American Express Office
is situated at Salizzada San Moisé, San Marco 1471
Post Conference Social Programme
The weekend tours for delegates
will follow the main tours of the partners' programme but the
itineraries are expected to vary slightly.
Saturday 20 October 2001
Saturday morning
Tour: Magic and enchantment
of Venetian life - for itinerary see above
Saturday afternoon
Tour: The Islands of the Lagoon
- for itinerary see above
Sunday 21 October 2001
Sunday morning
Tour: Magic and enchantment
of Venetian life - for itinerary see above |