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La Bella Vita

Class: First Class
Location: Italy
Guests: 20
This barge is perfect for: Couples, Families, Groups of friends, Wine appreciation, Historic interest, Charming Villages.

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20 passenger river boat with two upper-deck junior suites and eight staterooms, each with en-suite facilities. The dining room, bar and saloon areas are bright and spacious and the entire barge is air conditioned. Louvred doors open to the side decks to give a perfect viewing platform, whilst above is a huge sun deck with comfortable sun loungers. For those who wish to explore the area further there are bikes available on board and an expert tour guide to take guests on some fascinating excursions.

Delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew of seven will make this an unforgettable cruise.

The cruise begins in Venice and then continues on to beautiful, charming little islands in the Veneto Lagoon – and then inland on the River Po to Renaissance towns largely undiscovered by tourists.

Beginning with a lovely evening cruise through Venice, some of the highlights of the week include: walking in pretty town squares and visiting uncrowded churches with amazing frescoes and ceilings; touring the Naval museum; visiting the fishing village of Choggia and exploring the market with the chef; wine tasting in a family-owned vineyard; discovering the Renaissance towns of Ferrara and Mantua; and a dinner off the barge at a private villa.

Bella Vita is a delightful way to discover the Veneto region and can be added on to your stay in the Italian Lakes District and/or a few nights in Venice!

Features At-A-Glance

20  GUESTS

2 UPPER DECK SUITES + 8 LOWER DECK STATEROOMS All with en-suite bathrooms Upper Deck suites: 135 sq. feet Lower Deck staterooms: 103 sq. feet

7 CREW

140 FEET (42.7 METRES) LONG

10 BICYCLES

AIR CONDITIONING/CENTRAL HEATING

COMPUTER FOR GUESTS’ USE

LARGE SUNDECK, SPACIOUS SALON & SEPARATE DINING ROOM

AIR CONDITIONED MINIBUSES FOR EXCURSIONS

Themed opera cruises are available throughout July and August, subject to ticket availability, at a €540 supplement per person. Opera cruises include premium seat tickets at the magnificent Roman amphitheatre, the Arena di Verona, and other opera inspired activities.

Sunday, Day 1 Venice

Guests are met at the Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to La Bella Vita for a Prosecco welcome. An afternoon cruise takes us along the Giudecca Canal past some of Venice’s most famous monuments: the Chiesa del Redentore, the impressive Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and the Punta della Dogana to our mooring outside the Naval Museum. Then time for a stroll to St Mark’s Square and a brief tour of the Doge’s Palace before dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2 Venice to San Pietro in Volta

Guided walking tour to Castello District, perhaps discovering some hidden parts of the city of Venice: the gardens of the Biennale Exhibition of Modern Arts, Palladio’s Church of San Pietro in Castello, the Naval Museum with a model of the Bucintoro (Doge’s Boat) and the Pavilion of Gondolas housing Peggy Guggenheim’s own vessel. Late afternoon cruise to Pellestrina which separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, along the Canal of the Orphans passing lagoon islands with their ancient monasteries, painted fishing boats and tiny churches. Time perhaps for a walk or cycle ride along the 18th century Istrian sea wall. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 San Pietro in Volta to Taglio di Po

After breakfast, we cruise to Chioggia, city of Goldoni’s plays. Here we visit the 18th century Church of San Domenico set on its own island, to see Carpaccio’s St Paul, his last recorded painting and other works of art by Tintoretto and Bassano. We also admire the Piazzetta Vigo and visit the colourful fish market. There will also be the opportunity to enjoy a short tour of Chioggia’s pretty canals in a traditional locally-built boat, before re-joining La Bella Vita at the Po Delta. Passing through a nature reserve with flamingos and occasional heron, snipe and other wildfowl, we travel upriver to Taglio di Po for dinner ashore hosted by the owners at the beautiful 17thC Villa Ca’Zen, a private stately home by the river where Lord Byron courted the Countess Giuccioli and wrote some of his best poetry.

Wednesday, Day 4 Taglio di Po to Bosaro

This morning we join the Bianco canal and cruise to Adria, an ancient Etruscan town where we  visit the Archaeological Museum. After lunch on board, we drive to the Bagnoli Estate to tour the Renaissance gardens and wine cellars of the 17thC Villa Widmann Borletti to enjoy a private tasting of their renowned estate-grown vintages. This winery has been supplying Venetian society for centuries. Afterwards, we rejoin la Bella Vita at Bosaro. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Bosaro to Governolo

Morning excursion with a guided tour of the Renaissance city of Ferrara, including the Schifanoia Palace, renowned for its fabulous 15thC frescoes. We also admire the exterior of the Estense Castle and its moat and visit the magnificent cathedral with its façade of sculpted images described as an illustrated Bible. Return to the hotel barge moored in Zelo for an afternoon canal cruise past villages and farmsteads to Governoloolo and dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 Governolo to Mantua

Our final cruise has a dramatic approach to Mantua, home of the poet Virgil, artists Mantegna and Donatello and a captivating lakeside setting. Mantua displays extraordinary neo-classical and baroque architecture, portrayed in the 14thC Ducal Palace housing some 15 gardens and courtyards, a museum, basilica and theatre. The intricate frescoes, Gallery of Mirrors and exquisite Rivers Room and 12,000 paintings and sculptures all create a Grand Finale to our Italian Renaissance adventure. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 7 Mantua

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to the Hotel Laguna Palace in Mestre or Piazzale Roma in Venice.

*This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.

2025 Prices

Value Season
Regular Season

Stateroom per person

Value Season: €4,790
High Season: €5,350

Junior Suite per person

Value Season: €5,890
High Season: €6,550

Single Supplement

Value Season: €1,900
High Season: €2,100

Charter Max. 10 pax.

Value Season: €76,000
High Season: €85,000

Charter Max. 12 pax.

Value Season: €78,700
High Season: €88,200

Charter Max. 14 pax.

Value Season: €81,400
High Season: €91,400

Charter Max. 16 pax.

Value Season: €84,100
High Season: €94,600

Charter Max. 18 pax.

Value Season: €86,800
High Season: €97,800

Charter Max. 20 pax.

Value Season: €89,500
High Season: €101,000

Note all our prices are in euros. Please ask us if you live in the USA and would like prices in US dollars. We convert to Australian dollars at current exchange rates on the day of payment of deposit/full payment.

Departure Dates 2025

Value Season

March 30; April 06, 13, 20

Regular Season

April 27; May 04, 11, 18, 25; June 01, 08, 15, 22, 29; July 06, 13

Value Season

July 20, 27

Regular Season

August 31; September 07, 14, 21, 28; October 05, 12

Value Season

October 19, 26

Price is all-inclusive - inclusions are:

  • Local transfers to and from the hotel barge (transfers are between 15 minutes & 2 hours depending on the cruise direction)
  • A luxury 6 night cruise
  • All meals on board catered for by the on board Master Chef
  • An open bar 24/7 with a large range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks
  • All wines served throughout the cruise
  • Excursions and admittance fees as per the itinerary
  • The services of 7 crew and use of barge facilities
  • Which include bicycles
  • Please note: La Bella Vita usually cruises on the Bianco Canal, however the Italian Waterways Authority occasionally advise that the cruise should operate on the River Po which runs parallel to the Bianco Canal.  The Waterways Authority give notice of any changes 1 day prior to sailing, therefore you would be informed on arrival by the Captain should this situation occur. Our excursions would operate as advertised and would not be affected.

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