DAYS 6 & 7: VENICE
Travel by train to Venice
and check into the Hotel
Danieli, formerly a
14th-century palace—
the rooms are gorgeous
and so Italian, with
details like silk-covered
walls and Murano glass
chandeliers.... Wander
narrow side streets that
snake along the canals,
and take time to pop in and
out of shops and cafés along
the way.... Enjoy a private tour
(booked through Italian Dream Incorporated Travel) of Venice's most famous
islands, Murano, Burano, and
Torcello. In Murano, tour the
Museo del Vetro for a century-by-
century tour of the history
of glassmaking. Burano is
a fisherman's island known
for its brightly colored houses
and lace-making school. In
Torcello, the last stop, see the
island's beautiful cathedral,
with its magnificent mosaics....
Stay in Torcello and
enjoy dinner in the garden
at Locanda Cipriani.
On your second day here,
be sure to see La Fenice opera
house and the modern art
at the Peggy Guggenheim
Collection, located in the
heiress's former home....
End the day with a private
gondola ride on the canals—
sure, it's touristy, but a
visit to Venice is simply
not complete without a ride
in a gondola.... Sample
traditional Venetian recipes
at Ristorante Antico Pignolo,
a hidden gem just a few yards
off Piazza San Marco—the
seafood risotto here is superb!
Finish your trip the way café
society would have back
in the day: with the signature
bellini at the world-famous
Harry's Bar.
DAY 8: FLY HOME
Photos: Courtesy of Starwood Hotels & Resorts