Showing posts with label Opera Cruise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Opera Cruise. Show all posts

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Join La Bella Vita for an Italian Opera Cruise This Summer

Join La Bella Vita for an Opera Cruise This Summer
 
 
Book your spot aboard La Bella Vita’s Italian Opera Cruise for a lavish barging experience departing on 17th July 2022. Beginning in Venice, the “City of Canals”, La Bella Vita travels down the Po Valley to Mantua, with stops at magnificent locations on an opera-themed cruise.
 
 
Operatic Excursions
 
 
There are numerous opportunities to visit some of Italy’s most illustrious and beautiful opera houses and theaters throughout the cruise. In Venice, you can discover more about the history of this longstanding form of entertainment at the Arena Muse Opera and see where the premieres of great composers such as Verdi and Rossini were performed at the Teatro La Fenice.
 
In Ferrara, you will see the impressive five-tiered auditorium at the Teatro Communale, while in Mantua you will explore the Teatro Bibiena, an intimate baroque theater that opened in 1770 with a performance by the 13-year-old Wolfgang Mozart.
 
 
Best Seats in the House
 
 
The jewel in the crown of this Italian cruise is the chance to enjoy an acclaimed opera at the Arena di Verona, an astonishingly well-preserved Roman amphitheater built in the first century AD. This 15,000-seat venue is a magical environment for watching the performance where guests aboard La Bella Vita’s cruise will benefit from choice seats in the front stalls. Those quick enough to book this year’s opera cruise have the opportunity to experience a thrilling performance of George Bizet’s ‘Carmen’.
 
 
Experiencing Italy
 
As well as these enviable experiences for opera enthusiasts, this itinerary offers plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Italian history and culture as you cruise the serene waters of the River Po. There are private wine tastings, as well as dinner hosted by a Countess at the beautiful 17th-century Villa Ca’Zen, for example.
 
 
Bird lovers will find the nature reserve of the Po Delta enjoyable while viewing flamingos, snipe, and herons from the barge’s sun deck. The Archaeological Museum at Adria, an Etruscan town with a rich history, will fascinate ancient history lovers. The impressive Ducal Palace in Mantua is enchanting with its Gallery of Mirrors, masterful frescos, and multiple gardens.
 
With a wonderfully attentive crew and a small group of like-minded passengers, there’s no better or more enjoyable way to cruise through the serene Italian waterways.
 
Interested? Contact us to book this summer’s amazing opera cruise.
 
Inquire
 

About The Italian Hotel Barge Bella Vita

Italian Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior, reflected in the use of vibrant colors throughout to create an atmosphere of casual relaxation. There is an inviting bar area in which to enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louver doors that open to give a perfect view as you are served delicious Italian specialties and wines.

There are two main deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en suite facilities. The upper deck has a huge sun deck with a large canopy and comfortable loungers to relax and watch the world drift by.

Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew that will make this an unforgettable cruise. 

La Bella Vita offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises. Themed cruises such as family, golf, opera, and wine appreciation are available for private charters.


Inquire


Discover the Waterways of Northern Italy



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 
 
 #operacruise #barginginitaly #bargecharters #paradiseconnections
 
 
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Sunday, February 23, 2020

ITALY - Mantua's Palazzo Ducale

La Bella Vita's Italian River Cruise
Visit Palazzo Ducale in Mantua



A highlight of  LA BELLA VITA's Italian river cruise is a visit to the Lombardy city of Mantua. It is known by Italians as "La Bella Addormentata" (Sleeping Beauty). Surrounded by artificial lakes created to fortify the city in the Middle Ages, the city has been relatively untouched by modern development. Its old town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 in recognition of its Renaissance town planning.

Palazzo Ducale

Palazzo Ducale

Mantua is dominated by the Palazzo Ducale de Mantova, or the Ducal Palace. This colossal complex of rooms, towers, churches, and gardens was the residence of the powerful Gonzaga family for 400 years. They ruled as the Dukes of Mantua until 1707. At 34,000m², the only residence in Italy that can claim to be larger is the Vatican. The guided tour on La Bella Vita's Classic Cruise gives you the opportunity to explore beautiful Baroque and neo-classical buildings, such as the following historical gems…

Ducale Palace Gardens

Corte Vecchia

The Corte Vecchia is the oldest part of the complex. From it you can access the Palazzo del Capitano, linked to the Magna Domus around the year 1300 with a beautiful arcade. In the same century, a series of stunning Arthurian frescos glorifying the serving duke, Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, was painted by Pisanello. In the 1960s these incredible 700-year old paintings were rediscovered and fragments of the frescos and their preliminary drawings can still be seen in the palace.

Camera Picta


Another impressive room in the palace complex is the Camera Picta (Painted Room), also known as the Bridal Chamber. The walls are the canvas for a Renaissance masterpiece by Andrea Mantegna, painted between 1465 and 1474, which depicts the triumphs of the whole Gonzaga family. Make sure you raise your eyes to the ceiling, where you’ll see one of the earliest examples of an illusionistic di sotto in sù painting; an oculus (opening in the dome) reveals a blue sky with cherubs playing around its rim.

Isabella d’Este’s Studiolo

Isabella d’Este, who was Marchesa of Mantua around the turn of the sixteenth century, is known as the First Lady of the Renaissance. Her studiolo in the palace – a place to display and enjoy her collection of antiques, paintings and books – was a Renaissance retreat from the outside world. It has unfortunately lost all of its treasures to museums, but still boasts beautiful dark blue, starry walls.

With so much more to see and experience at the Palazzo Ducale, art and architecture lovers will savor this fascinating segment of La Bella Vita's Italian river cruise.




About The Italian Hotel Barge Bella Vita

Italian Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior, reflected in the use of vibrant colors throughout to create an atmosphere of casual relaxation. There is an inviting bar area in which to enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louver doors that open to give a perfect view as you are served delicious Italian specialties and wines.

There are two main deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en suite facilities. The upper deck has a huge sun deck with a large canopy and comfortable loungers to relax and watch the world drift by.

Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew that will make this an unforgettable cruise. 

La Bella Vita offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises. Themed cruises such as family, golf, opera, and wine appreciation are available for private charters.





Discover the Waterways of Northern Italy



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

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Saturday, February 22, 2020

Italy: History, Culture & Geology

The Waterways of Northern Italy:
History, Culture & Geology

A river cruise in Italy aboard LA BELLA VITA offers a wonderful way to get to know this diverse and fascinating area personally. One of the unique features of a river cruise in Italy is that you get first-hand experience and a real feel for the deep-rooted history of the area, the wonders of the geology, and the intricacies of the culture.


For any discerning traveler looking for their next luxury vacation with a difference, a cruise on the Italian waterways could be just perfect. Northern Italy is a haven for culture buffs. What better way to see the magic of Venice, the wonders of the Po Delta, the marvels of Mantua, as well as all that lies in between, than from the comfort of your luxury floating hotel, La Bella Vita?

As you cruise through the Venetian Lagoon, along the River Po and down the Canal Bianco, breathtaking landscapes greet you around every turn. Wake in the mornings to the sound of the local birdlife, spend long days soaking up the "bella vita" and indulge in evenings that bear witness to the incredible gastronomic delights that this Mediterranean gem is famed for.

Every waterway on this cruise has its own unique features and here we introduce each one and pay homage to its defining characteristics.


Venice Lagoon

The feature of many a picture postcard, this stunning blue-green, almost iridescent lagoon is mesmerizing whatever time of day or year you are fortunate to see it. It is hard to imagine that it stretches more than 50km from end-to-end and covers 550 square kilometers in total. La Bella Vita's wonderful cruise offers ample opportunity to take photos and indulge in the stunning surroundings that are made up of wetlands, marshes, and an intricate maze of channels. The tiny group of islands, known as Venezia (or Venice in English) is grouped around the Rialto Bridge and makes up the streets of this iconic city; one of the highlights of this river cruise in Italy.

In existence since the last ice age, the lagoon was formed when glaciers in the Alps melted with the rising temperatures causing rivers to cascade from the mountains and carve their way through Northern Italy and flow out into the Adriatic. Where the rivers met the sea, they slowed and dumped much of the sediment they had picked up along their journey to create the islands on which magnificent Venice stands today.


Giudecca Canal

This is Venice’s most prominent waterway, meandering through the city for four kilometers. It is wide and deep, making it navigable for even the larger vessels. The canal itself separates the district of Dorsoduro from Giudecca.

La Bella Vita's river cruise in Italy includes a relaxing trip along this canal, which is a wonderful way to see some of the city’s sites, including:
  • On the Giudecca Quay: Molino Stucky (19th-century factory complex), Le Zitelle Church, and the II Redentore Church by Palladio.
  • On the Dorsoduro district side: It Gesuati Church, the Santa Maria della Salute Church, and the Dogana da Mar (the former customs house that is now an art gallery).
Finish in St Mark’s Square after a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace, where you can enjoy an "al fresco" prosecco before dinner back on board.


Canal of the Orphans

The name is somewhat intriguing, although as you might expect, the reason it came to be called the Canal of Orphans is not a very pleasant one. Several theories exist but the most accepted one is that centuries ago when the Genoese arrived with their ships in an attempt to take the city, the Venetians laid waste to the majority of the soldiers, consequently leaving many children orphaned. Another theory suggests that this waterway was once used for executions by drowning.

Thankfully, the place is a much happier one today and resembles nothing of its former guise. La Bella Vita takes you along this canal early in the evening just as the activity in the city is slowing down and the atmosphere takes on a serenity that is nothing short of magical. Pass ancient monasteries, charming local fishing boats, and beautiful tiny churches. For any budding photographers on this river cruise in Italy, this is a dream come true!


Po Delta

A fascinating melange of waterways, the Po Delta has an interesting geological past. Formed between 2 million years ago and 75,000 years ago (the last glacial period), the Po Delta has undergone many changes.

Through the centuries the River Po went through many stages of evolution, enduring floods, creating itself new courses and battling marsh growth. Floods and human intervention ensued and today the Po Delta is all below sea level. Dunes and sandbanks are still protruding and the area is now a nature reserve rife with wildlife. Elegant herons stand proud while the fabulous flamingos and other birds forage for the rich pickings to be found here.


Bianco Canal

Crossing the Rovigo province, this water channel makes up the midsection of the Tartaro-Canalbianco-Po di Levante, and winds its way across 135km to link Mantova to the sea. A large part of it is man made and this section is known as the "Canal Bianco". The first section is natural and is called the "Tartaro" and the final short section is called the "Po di Levante".

The canal is navigable by small-to-medium-sized boats and is a popular one for leisure boats, yachts and luxury cruises, which is great news as it means La Bella Vita includes it in your trip. Along the Bianco Canal, visit Adria, the ancient Etruscan town, and then set off for the much anticipated wine tasting on the Bagnoli Estate, a centuries old winery that has produced vintages for the Venetian elite for years.


River Po Approaching Mantua

The most spectacular way to approach Mantua is by water. This city boasts a fitting end to a river cruise in Italy. Enveloped by water, the city is often overlooked, but beyond its rather timid appearance, it hides a plethora of Renaissance wonders. It is Florence in miniature and, once overseen by the Gonzagas family who ruled for more than 300 years, the city was founded on wealth; the Renaissance legacy proves it.

Its magnificent location is considered part of its romantic appeal but the way the Mincio River protects the town is not a work of chance. Alberto Pitentino is the engineer responsible for arranging the river’s course to suit the city’s landscape and, to this day, the island of Mantua stands true to the design of this talented designer.




About The Italian Hotel Barge Bella Vita

Italian Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior, reflected in the use of vibrant colors throughout to create an atmosphere of casual relaxation. There is an inviting bar area in which to enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louvre doors that open to give a perfect view as you are served delicious Italian specialities and wines.

There are two main deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en suite facilities. The upper deck has a huge sun deck with a large canopy and comfortable loungers to relax and watch the world drift by.

Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew that will make this an unforgettable cruise. 

La Bella Vita offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises. Themed cruises such as family, golf, opera, and wine appreciation are available for private charters.





Discover the Waterways of Northern Italy



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

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Friday, February 21, 2020

La Bella Vita: New Solo Traveler Cruise

Introducing La Bella Vita's
New Solo Traveler Cruise

Calling all solo travelers! We’re delighted to announce La Bella Vita's new and exclusive “Solo Cruise” departing Sunday, 11 October 2020

La Bella Vita's Itinerary
(click image to enlarge)

Cruising from Venice to the Renaissance city of Mantua, this 6-night, all-inclusive cruise enjoys La Bella Vita's Classic Cruise itinerary, with some additional "extra surprises" along the way that have been hand-picked exclusively for this departure.

And for a limited time only they're offering a special launch offer of 10% off per person!


Why Book a Solo Cruise?

Every aspect has been carefully designed to promote a sense of camaraderie for both the seasoned solo traveler as well as those who are new to going it alone. Special surprises also allow like-minded travelers to share in unique experiences and absorb Italy’s rich artistic and historical legacies – all while enjoying world-class wines and gastronomic meals together in complete luxury and comfort.

Enjoy our "Extra Surprises"

The Solo Cruise launches with the friendly crew greeting arriving guests with a glass of Prosecco, the sparkling wine produced mainly in Veneto, and introducing you to your fellow travelers.  You’re soon treated to a host of “extra surprises” hand-picked exclusively for this departure to complement the solo experience, such as an after-dinner stroll through elegant Venice. Visit the iconic and ornate Florian Café to mingle with the locals and enjoy specialty coffees, wine, cocktails, and desserts. En route the following day, you’ll also have the opportunity to stop on the Venetian island of Pellestrina for an aperitif at a bacaro – a traditional corner bar frequented by locals and known for their cicchetti (Venetian-style tapas).

Living La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita features a unique cruise route with a diverse itinerary that encompasses the Renaissance, Roman, Etruscan, and Byzantine cultures – four major periods in European history.  Holding a maximum of 20 guests, it is the perfect size for small groups to enjoy quality time together while also for offering plenty of space for some well-deserved "me time". La Bella Vita has a guest-to-crew ratio of 2:1 meaning that someone is always on hand to cater to your every need.

After cruising the Venetian Lagoon and mingling with the locals, the cruise will follow the River Po and Canal Bianco on its way to the city of Mantua, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a crown jewel in Italy’s Renaissance. Highlights include an exclusive dinner with a countess at her 17th-century riverside villa, a private wine tasting in the cellars of Villa Widmann-Borletti, interactive cooking demonstrations, and an onboard “opera night.”

Along the way, bear witness to colorful lagoon islands, tranquil countryside, and wetlands that are home to a wide variety of waterfowl, and even flamingos!  As with all our barging cruises, you can also enjoy a wide selection of regional wines and four-course gourmet meals cooked by the onboard master chef each day.

Con te partirò (Time to Say Goodbye)

Journey’s end features a visit to Mantua’s Ducal Palace – home to some 15 gardens and courtyards, a museum, 12,000 paintings and sculptures, a basilica, and theater.  It’s capped off with a festive Captain’s Dinner, where guests and crew can all relive the week’s most cherished moments.  It’s the time when everyone often exchanges contact information with the new friends they’ve made and promises to stay in touch.

Some even make plans to do it all again next year!

Special Offer: 10% discount

The price for this cruise is $5040/per person ($4050/person + $1550 single supplement, -10% discount).

This week will be exclusively for singles. However, if two friends wish to share and pay the per person rate based on double occupancy (no single supplements) and receive a 10% discount, that’s fine too.
Valid dates:
  • October 11-17, 2020 (value season)
Cannot be combined with other special offers 




About The Italian Hotel Barge Bella Vita

Italian Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior, reflected in the use of vibrant colors throughout to create an atmosphere of casual relaxation. There is an inviting bar area in which to enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louvre doors that open to give a perfect view as you are served delicious Italian specialities and wines.

There are two main deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en suite facilities. The upper deck has a huge sun deck with a large canopy and comfortable loungers to relax and watch the world drift by.

Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew that will make this an unforgettable cruise. 

La Bella Vita offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises. Themed cruises such as family, golf, opera, and wine appreciation are available for private charters.





Let's reserve your spot !



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

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Saturday, January 25, 2020

Special Offers for Solo Travellers - Italy

2 Special Offers for Solo Travellers


Special Offer #1
No Single Supplement:
La Bella Vita is waiving their single supplement fee for solo travellers wishing to experience the stunning Italian canals of Venice to Mantua.

Valid dates:
  • April 5-11, 2020 (value season) : $4050
  • April 19-25, 2020 (value season) : $4050
  • May 10-16, 2020 : $4550
  • May 17-23, 2020 : $4550
Cannot be combined with other special offers.

Special Offer #2
Exclusive Solo Traveller Cruise:
Join like-minded travellers on La Bella Vita's new solo cruise in Italy. We’re delighted to announce La Bella Vita's new and exclusive “Solo Cruise” departing October 11, 2020.
The price for this cruise is  $5040 ($4050 single person + $1550 single supplement -10%),
It will be exclusively for singles. However, if two friends wish to share and pay the per person rate based on double (no single supplements), that’s fine too. 
Cruising between Venice to the Renaissance city of Mantua, this six-night, all-inclusive cruise enjoys the very best of their classic cruise, with some additional "extra surprises" along the way, that have been hand-picked exclusively for this week.

Valid dates:
  • October 11-17, 2020 (value season)
Cannot be combined with other special offers.



About The Italian Hotel Barge Bella Vita

Italian Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior, reflected in the use of vibrant colors throughout to create an atmosphere of casual relaxation. There is an inviting bar area in which to enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louvre doors that open to give a perfect view as you are served delicious Italian specialities and wines.

There are two main deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en suite facilities. The upper deck has a huge sun deck with a large canopy and comfortable loungers to relax and watch the world drift by.

Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew that will make this an unforgettable cruise. 

La Bella Vita offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises. Themed cruises such as family, golf, opera, and wine appreciation are available for private charters.





Let's reserve your spot !



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 




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Sunday, October 27, 2019

SIX OPERA CRUISES FOR 2020 - LA BELLA VITA

Special Opera Cruises

La Bella Vita's special Opera itinerary is for 7 nights and includes one hotel night in Verona before commencement of your cruise, a visit to the fascinating Arena Muse Opera, a wonderful museum devoted to the history of opera, followed by dinner in the delightful courtyard restaurant, and a performance of that week's opera at the Arena di Verona with premium seats. The opera-themed cruise aboard La Bella Vita continues for 6 nights between Venice and Mantua.

Opera lover? Enjoy an opera-themed cruise aboard La Bella Vita

Available dates and performances for 2020:
  • July 5 – Cavalleria Rusticana – Charter Only
  • July 12 – Nabucco – Charter Only
  • August 2 – Aida – BOOKED
  • August 9 – Aida – Charter Only
  • August 16 – Nabucco  – Available to Book on a Cabin Basis
  • August 23 – Turandot – Charter Only
There is a supplement for Opera Cruises as they are for 7 nights.
  • Supplement: $625/person for cabin bookings and charter.
    Opera available on cruises subject to ticket and hotel availability on chosen date. Opera cruises includes one night's stay in a 4-star hotel, one extra dinner and premium seat tickets to watch an opera in the magnificent Roman amphitheatre, the Arena di Verona.


Special Offer

Save 10%
on Opera Cruises commencing
August 8 & 22, 2020
Book before January 6, 2020


Before your cruise from Venice to Mantua begins, you will be taken to Verona to visit the fascinating Arena Muse Opera, a wonderful museum devoted to the history of opera, followed by dinner in the delightful courtyard restaurant.

Then comes the real highlight as you take your premium seats to enjoy a performance of your chosen opera in the magnificent setting of the Roman amphitheatre, the Arena di Verona.

At the end of a memorable evening, you are transferred back to your hotel in Verona, where next day, there will be a guided tour of this charming city, before joining La Bella Vita in Venice.

During the 6-night cruise, there are visits to some wonderful baroque theatres, such as the Gran Teatro La Fenice, where the premières of operas by composers such as Rossini and Verdi were performed, as well as the intimate Teatro Bibiena in Mantua with its bell-shaped interior, that opened with a concert by a 13-year-old Mozart in 1770.

And, of course, there is a lot more to see as you cruise across the Venetian Lagoon past its colorful islands and on through the Po Valley... visits to the famous fish market in Chioggia, the Schifanoia Palace in Ferrara, and the stunning Ducal Palace in Mantua, as well as wine tastings and dinner in a private stately home where Lord Byron wrote some of his best poetry.

This 7-day adventure is a wonderful combination for what Italy is famous for – wonderful cuisine and wine, Renaissance architecture and, of course – opera!

About The Italian Hotel Barge Bella Vita

Italian Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior, reflected in the use of vibrant colors throughout to create an atmosphere of casual relaxation. There is an inviting bar area in which to enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louvre doors that open to give a perfect view as you are served delicious Italian specialities and wines.

There are two main deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en suite facilities. The upper deck has a huge sun deck with a large canopy and comfortable loungers to relax and watch the world drift by.

Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew that will make this an unforgettable cruise. 

La Bella Vita offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises. Themed cruises such as family, golf, opera, and wine appreciation are available for private charters.





Let's reserve your spot !



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 
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Wednesday, October 02, 2019

Cruising Italy: The Medieval Magic of Ferrara

Discover the Medieval Magic of Ferrara with La Bella Vita

The city of Ferrara is situated on a branch of the beautiful Po River in Northern Italy. Its location makes the charming town an ideal stop for visitors exploring the countryside via river cruises. Italy is famous for its ancient towns steeped in intrigue, romance and drama – and Ferrara is no different! Read on to uncover this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s thrilling medieval past.


The Ancient City of Ferrara


Ferrara provides a fantastic example of a medieval European city, complete with palaces, churches, charming cloisters and outdoor courtyards. Now an ideal location for beach holidays, culture breaks and river cruises, Italy was once a dangerous melting pot of influential families vying for power. The city of Ferrara owes both its fascinating history and much of its beautiful architecture to one specific family – the House of Este.

 The House of Este and the Castello Estense


In the twelfth century, a noble Italian family known as the House of Este, set up their court in Ferrara. After the locals rebelled against tax in 1377, the family fortified their palace creating an impressive military stronghold to defend themselves against angry citizens. With four towers and a deep moat, even the most violent of rioters struggled to put a dent in the brick fortress called the Castello Estense.

The family founded a university in the city a few decades later which was a key step in heightening their power and influence. Soon members of the Este Court could be found in the most important circles across Europe. However, the family was made infamous by a certain young boy called Nicolò III who became head of the household in 1393.


The Legend of Nicolò III

Nicolò became master of the family at just 10 and got married at the tender age of 14. Despite his age, marital fidelity was not his style and he is said to have kept an astonishing 800 mistresses. Even with so many women around, Nicolò only had about thirty children all of which were brought up in a ramshackle manner in Castello Estense.

Nicolò’s cheerful, chubby cheeks disguised a jealous and controlling disposition. After catching his beautiful wife in the arms of her stepson – Ugo – he had them both brutally beheaded in the dungeons of his castle. This thrilling tale was famously immortalised by the British poet, Lord Byron.

Difficult family relations seem to be a tradition for the House of Este, with two of Nicolò’s grandsons blinding their brothers in a fit of jealousy. The two blighted siblings plotted to take over the throne and were thrown into the cells beneath Castello Estense for their troubles – they were left there for years and years!

In Ferrara you can see the sites of these dramatic historical happenings with your own eyes. Take advantage of the area’s wonderful river cruise aboard La Bella Vita.




About The Italian Hotel Barge Bella Vita


Italian Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior, reflected in the use of vibrant colors throughout to create an atmosphere of casual relaxation. There is an inviting bar area in which to enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a spacious dining room with louvre doors that open to give a perfect view as you are served delicious Italian specialities and wines.

There are two main deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms, all air-conditioned and with en suite facilities. The upper deck has a huge sun deck with a large canopy and comfortable loungers to relax and watch the world drift by.

Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, fine Italian wines and the services of an attentive crew that will make this an unforgettable cruise. 

La Bella Vita offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises. Themed cruises such as family, golf, opera, and wine appreciation are available for private charters.






Let's reserve your spot !



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

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