Canal Cruise from Venice to Padua or viceversa
1 day group tour
The Brenta Canal that connected, along with other canals, Venice and Padua was the fashion canal, a place of delight and ideal extension of Venice’s Grand Canal, where more than forty luxurious villas flourished. Here, not far from the city, the nobles spent their holidays, arriving from Venice with comfortable boats that sailed up the Brenta Canal; these boats were powered with oars from St. Mark, through the lagoon to Fusina, where they were drawn by horses until Padua, along the Brenta Riviera. The trip was charming and enjoyable; in the slow proceeding across the villas and the willow-trees, ladies and “cicisbei”, noblemen and adventurers, actors and artists livened the life on board making the river tour picturesque and pleasing. At the end of the XVIII century, with the fall of the Republic of Venice, due to the arrival of Napoleon, this service ceased. Relaunched again as a touristic itinerary by the Provincial Institution for Tourism in Padua in the 60’s, the service started again with a high increase in passengers.
Nowadays, a modern and comfortable boat, sails the Brenta Canal from Padua to Venice and vice versa, bringing thousands of tourists to the Venetian Villas, stopping at the beautiful and most famous Villas, linked to great names, such as Palladio and Tiepolo, for the guided tours of the interiors. An attracting trip that, passing nine swing bridges and six Locks, real water lifts, allows the tourist to ascend (or to descend) a level of 10 meters between Padua and Venice
Itinerary
Full day cruise from Venice to Padua, or vicevers:
- 8.50 am: meeting with our guide in Venice – Riva degli Schiavoni, on the landing stage “Pontile San Zaccaria A”, in front of the Pietà Church (Chiesa della Pietà);
- 9.00 am: embarkation and cruise towards the Brenta Riviera; presentation of the various Villas seen from the river;
- arrival in Fusina and navigation towards Brenta Riviera;
- passing through the Moranzani Lock with rising of the water level;
- 10.30 am: stop at Malcontenta for the internal guided tour of Villa Foscari called “La Malcontenta”;
- cruising continues between villas, villages and swing bridges and presentation during the cruise of the various Villas seen from the river;
- arrival in Oriago and stop for the lunch at the restaurant “Il Burchiello”; optional lunch or free time;
- after lunch, embarkation and cruise to Mira; stop for the internal guided tour of Villa Widmann or Villa Barchessa Valmarana;
- cruising continues between villas, villages and swing bridges and presentation during the cruise of the various Villas seen from the river;
- passing through the Mira and Dolo Locks with rising of the water level;
- arrival in Stra and stop for the internal guided tour of Villa Pisani;
- 5.30 pm: embarkation and cruise; passing through Stra and Noventa Padovana Locks with rising of the water level;
- cruise along the course of the old Venetian burchielli passing in front of the gorgeous and suggestive Villa Giovanelli of Noventa Padovana;
- cruise to Padova with arrival to the historical 1500’s Stairway at Portello, ancient river port in the historical centre of Padua, around 7.00 pm.
- Make your own way back to Venice ( bus or train)
N.B.: until March 31st and after October 26th, on the routes “Venice to Padua”, the boat will not stop for the visit of Villa Widmann or Villa Barchessa Valmarana in Mira.
Dates, Inclusions, Cost , Lunch supplements
Departure dates 2019: from 09 March to 03 November
- Venice to Padua available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- Padua to Venice available on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
Duration: 9 hours ( 8.45am to 6.45pm)
Price per person in AUD$198 and A$110 children under 17 years old
What is included:
- navigation
- guide and entrance-fee to 2 Villas
Not included:
- Flights
- Arrival and Departure transfers
- meals and drinks
- luggage transportation
- Insurance and everything not listed as “Included”
Lunch supplement ( cost per person):
The lunch takes place at the restaurant “Il Burchiello” in Oriago, a famous seafood restaurant of the “Buon Ricordo” circuit…
The A$44 “Casanova” lunch includes: a welcome starter with smoked fish carpaccio with slices of toasted bread; a plate of mix fried Adriatic fish with polenta; a side-dish of seasonal vegetables; fresh seasonal fruit salad with ice-cream; 1/4 liter wine and 1/2 liter mineral water.
The A$58 “Goldoni” full lunch includes 3 different menus (to choose between fish, meat or vegetarian):
- The fish menu includes: a welcome starter with smoked fish carpaccio with slices of toasted bread; linguine with seafood; mixed grilled fish made up of salmon, gilt head seabream’s fillet and shrimp; a side-dish of seasonal vegetables; fresh seasonal fruit salad with ice-cream; 1/4 litre wine and 1/2 litre mineral water. Or
- The meat menu includes: a welcome starter with sliced dried beef, rocket and Parmesan; tagliatelle with speck and zucchini; sliced beef with rosemary; a side-dish of seasonal vegetables; fresh seasonal fruit salad with ice-cream; 1/4 litre wine and 1/2 litre mineral water. Or
- The vegetarian menu includes: a starter of mixed cheese dish with jam; tagliolini with courgettes and cherry tomatoes; omelette; a side-dish of grilled vegetables; fresh seasonal fruit salad with ice-cream; 1/4 litre wine and 1/2 litre mineral water.
How to...... and luggage
How to get back to the city of departure
Going back to Venice: once the navigation service ends in Padua, the travellers wishing to get back to Venice can use the following services:
- Bus: take the SITA bus on the Padova-Venezia line, travel length approx. 45 minutes, at the stop “Via Venezia – Università” that is close to the Portello, and get of at Venice-Piazzale Roma (ticket cost around € 4.60)
- Bus: from the Bus Staton next to the Padua railway station , take the SITA bus that leaves from platform no. 8 every hour and get of at Venice-Piazzale Roma (ticket cost around € 4.60)
- Train: departures to Venice from the Padua railway station are rather frequent (ticket cost around € 4.30)
- From the Portello it is possible to reach the Padua railway station on foot (20 minutes), or by the APS bus at the stop “Via Venezia – Università” close to the Portello
Going back to Padua: once the navigation service ends in Venice, the travelers wishing to get back to Padua can use the following services:
- Steamboat to the Railway Station / Piazzale Roma: take the steamboat no. 52 and get of at the Santa Lucia railway station or at Piazzale Roma (ticket cost around € 7.60)
- Train: trains run rather frequently from the Santa Lucia railway station of Venice to Padua (ticket cost around € 4.30)
- Bus: the SITA buses running on the Venice-Padua line by the motorway leave from Piazzale Roma (approx. 45 minutes). Buses leave from Piazzale Roma every hour at 7.00 p.m.
Luggage boarding
Luggage Boarding :
Due to limited space on board, luggage boarding is allowed only if requested at time of booking and subject to availability
The maximum expected size, for each piece of luggage, is the following: 75 x 50 x 30 cm. The price is A$40 for each luggage boarded.
Any luggage greater than the expected measures will require the payment of another luggage.
