Verona and Mantua
A Slow Paced Trip
14th – 18th September 2026
Verona will be the first of our new slow-paced trips. As with all our other trips, the itineraries will be full and varied. The aim is to stay in lovely hotels located in the historical centres of interesting cities, with all museums, churches and restaurants either within an easy walking distance or a short taxi ride away. As the hotels will have beautiful communal spaces and rooms, a rest, if needed, would also be a possible and pleasurable option.
Verona is the quintessential small Italian city – full of life, great art, delicious food and a delight to wander around. The trip will encompass a range of sights and themes; from Roman architecture to Renaissance greats such as Mantegna, Bellini and Veronese, the Mannerist extremes of Giulio Romano and the modern talent of Carlo Scapa. A day will also be spent in Mantua looking at the legacy of the powerful Gonzaga dynasty.
Itinerary
Monday 14th September
We will take a late morning flight to Verona, arriving in time to settle in to the Hotel Due Torre before a relaxed introduction to the city with a stroll through the centre. We will visit our local church, Sant’ Anastasia to see a fresco of St. George and the Dragon by Pisanello. We will return to the hotel for a rest, before heading out for a drink in the lively Piazza delle Erbe before supper at an excellent local trattoria.
Tuesday 15th September
The morning will be spent discovering the history of this beautiful city. We will start with the Romans, looking at the ancient gates which are still very much part of the fabric and we will of course visit the glorious amphitheater. We will then look at the wonderful Scaliger tombs, 14th funerary monuments to the ruling family of Verona.
After a delicious light lunch we will examine the altarpiece in San Zeno, a masterpiece by Mantegna. Here we can also find some rather remarkable Romanesque bronze doors. Supper at quirky restaurant in a converted chapel.
Wednesday 16th September
We will spend the day in Mantua, ‘la bella addormentata’ or ‘sleeping beauty’, untouched by time. In the morning, we shall visit a renaissance triumph; Sant’ Andrea designed by Alberti. We will walk the winding cobbled streets to the Piazza Sordello where we will find the splendid Palazzo Ducale, home to Mantegna’s frescos in the Camera degli Sposi.
After a light lunch we will see the fabulously mannerist Palazzo Te designed and frescoed by Giulio Romano, as a not-so-secret hideaway for the mistress of the Gonzaga Duke Federico. The Sala de Psiche and Sala dei Giganti are a true feast of the artist’s imagination. No amount of printed images could prepare you for the illusionist effects, perhaps a 16th-century virtual reality. We will then return to Verona in time for a rest before supper.
Thursday 17th September
The morning will be spent in the Castelvecchio, a treasure trove of artifacts and cleverly transformed into a museum by the renowned architect Carlo Scarpa. Works will include paintings by Pisanello, Jacopo Bellini, Giovanni Bellini, Carlo Crivelli, Mantegna and of course, Veronese.
After lunch in a lovely courtyard, we will take taxis across the river for an optional visit to the Giardini Giusti. The garden has been beautifully restored and is a real pleasure to wander around, if you are feeling energetic you can climb up to the belvedere or get lost in the maze. The rest of the afternoon will be free for shopping and further exploring of the city. Tutors will be on hand with suggestions. Supper at a good local restaurant.
Friday 18th September
In the morning, we will leave Verona for a private visit to the Villa Della Torre, another fabulous villa designed by Giulio Romano. There is also a lovely chapel designed by Michele Sanmicheli, extraordinary mascaron fireplaces by Giovan Battista Scultori and beautiful gardens. We will stay here for a private lunch paired with the villa’s own excellent wines. We will then depart, heading to the airport for our flight home.
Further details
Tutors – The trip will be led by Cat Manson and Tina Corri. Both tutors have led trips for AHA for several years, they are very knowable in Renaissance and Mannerist art and excellent travelling companions.
Hotels – In Verona we will stay at the luxurious Due Torri Hotel, perfectly located in the Piazza of Sant’ Anastasia. The rooms are all beautifully furnished, there is a lovely lounge and bar area as well as a roof terrace. There is also a restaurant should you feel like a night in.
Transport – We will travel in comfort in a private coach with air-conditioning. There is an airport transfer for the group flights. There is a generous budget for taxis.
Ability – As this is a slow- paced trip it will be much less physically demanding than our other trips, but there will still be quite a bit of walking, as well as uneven cobbles. However, we will go at a slow pace with plenty of breaks, with no one feeling rushed and we will take taxis to anywhere we feel is too far to walk (included in the fees). As is the case for all our courses, there is a lot of standing while we discuss the works we are looking at, so a shooting stick with a rounded end is a good idea.
Lunches and Dinners – Lunches are a set menu of two courses to include drinks. Dinner is by no means compulsory, but we book a table for the group each night at different restaurants and divide the bill equally between everyone. Sometimes these may also need to be a set menu but we try our best to avoid this. We will adjust the bill for those not drinking alcohol.
Cost – The fees are £2450 which includes accommodation and breakfast, all lunches, transfers for the recommended flight, transport when connected with teaching, all taxis, entrance fees, private visit to Villa della Torre with lunch, tuition, reading lists and local advice. The single room supplement is £220 (double room for single use). Please state on the form if you would be happy to share if available. Not included are the flights, suppers and travel insurance. The group will not exceed 16 people.
Flights – We do not book the flights thus allowing you to travel to suit your budget, use airmiles, travel between different airports or on different dates. Flights for September 2026 have not yet been published. We will let you know as soon as they are.
To register – Please read our terms and conditions and complete the online registration form below. Please pay a non-refundable deposit of £600 a head by bank transfer. Please note your place is not reserved until we have received your deposit.
If you have any queries, please email [email protected] or call 01379 871800 (302)
NB you must buy your own flights.
