....  His lamb polenta, steak, pastas, carpaccio, etc were the best I had ever tasted. I could not imagine a more thrilling way to experience the Venetian lagoon. The joy of exploring Venice, Burano, Murano, Lido and the lagoon’s waters, followed by the River Brenta --- La Dolce Vita and its excellent staff will always hold a treasured spot in my memory. ...

... The lagoon surrounding Venice, the Venice Lido beach, Hemingway's influence, the faboulous Villas on the River Brenta all compliment the attractions of Venice itself where one could spend at least 6 months enjoying the amazing Renaissance architecture before venturing inside some of the buildings to discover the works of Canaletto, Tintoretto, and many other Italian masters. Weeks of research into our itinerary promise a fantastic cruise aboard Italy's first hotel barge ...