Venice- Old and New
with the Venice Biennale and Special Evening Visit to San Marco
12th – 16th October 2026
Venice rewards those willing to look beyond the familiar, and this trip has been devised with that in mind. Rather than retracing well-trodden routes, the programme focuses on Venice as a city of making and ideas, explored through the relationship between its historic artistic traditions and its contemporary cultural life.
Visiting during the Venice Biennale allows us to engage directly with current artistic debates, set alongside carefully chosen encounters with Venice’s historic churches, collections and workshops. Together, these visits invite reflection on continuity, materiality and reinvention within a city long defined by craftsmanship and creative production.
The lagoon itself forms an essential part of the itinerary. Through visits beyond the historic centre, we will consider Venice’s origins, its environmental vulnerability and the ongoing efforts to sustain the city. Moments of special access, including an evening visit to San Marco to see the illuminated mosaics, provide a fitting conclusion, underscoring Venice’s enduring commitment to beauty, skill and artistic ambition.
Itinerary
Monday 12th October
We will take a private water taxi from the airport direct to our hotel on the Giudecca Canal. After dropping our bags, we will set off to explore the fabric of Venice. We will discuss the history of the beautiful Dorsoduro district we are staying in; an area traditionally associated with artists, craftsmen and religious orders. We will then introduce the idea of the commercial art world of Venice with a visit to the iconic Peggy Guggenheim collection. Here we will look at some of the highlights on show to include Picasso, Magritte, Calder, Kandinsky and Giacometti. On returning to our hotel there will be time to check in to our rooms and have a rest before heading to one of our favourite spots for dinner.
Tuesday 13th October
Our first morning will be spent in the wonderful Giardini, a purpose-built park established under Napoleon in the early 19th century that houses the permanent national pavilions. Here, we will explore the top installations on show and dive into the theme of the year – In Minor Keys. This Biennale theme draws on musical language to promote a slower, more intimate engagement with art. We expect to see a focus on quieter and more nuanced exhibitions. Of particular interest is due to be Lubaina Himid taking over the British Pavilion, as well as the politically charged German Pavilion by Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann and the immersive, bodily performances promised by Austria’s Florentina Holzinger.
After a lovely lunch on the water, we will wend our way back to the Dorsoduro district for the Scuola Di San Rocco and Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari church. No visit is complete without seeing the works of the great Venetian painters, Bellini, Titian and Tintoretto and we are lucky to be able to see the famous Crucifixion by Tintoretto recently restored – a true delight. Before dinner, we will be treated to private visits and drinks at some of the top commercial galleries in Venice.
Wednesday 14th October
Today, we will get a private boat out to Torcello to talk about the founding legend of Venice and look at the brilliant Byzantine mosaics inside the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, this will be followed by a fabulous lunch at Cipriani’s.
We will make our way back to Venice in time for a private tour of the Bevilacqua fabric workshop where they still use the same hand powered looms from the 18th century (and have an extremely enticing gift-shop). We will end our day at Palazzo Grassi for a visit to their current exhibition. This 18th century palazzo is home to Francois Pinault’s contemporary collection and is renowned for presenting ambitious and beautifully curated shows. We will then return to the hotel for a well-deserved aperitivo and dinner.
Thursday 15th October
In the morning, we will head to the other Venice Biennale location, the Arsenale. Founded in the early 12th century, the Arsenale was once the heart of the Venetian Republic’s naval power and transforms each year for the Biennale to host some incredible structures, exhibitions and pavilions. We will spend our time discovering the most interesting of the displays.
We will then walk to the Cannaregio district for a fantastic fish lunch and a discussion of the legacy of different Venetian communities. We will visit the tiny Scuola Di San Giorgio Schiavoni with its newly restored cycle by Carpaccio and the exquisite gem that is Santa Maria dei Miracoli, before finishing our walk at the Jewish Ghetto. Our last night will end with a very special evening visit to San Marco to see the mosaics illuminated. We will have the church to ourselves and will be treated to some beautiful singing from a fellow AHA tutor, popping in just for the occasion.
Friday 16th October
Our final morning will be spent visiting some old friends at the Accademia, to include Gentile and Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Lotto, Tintoretto and Veronese to name but a few. We have timed this trip to coincide with the last week of Marina Abromovic’s exhibition, Transforming Energy – the perfect conclusion to our investigation into the old and new worlds of Venice.
After a last delicious lunch in a tiny place famed for great pasta, we will have some free time for shopping before heading back to the airport (and leave behind those that wish to extend for a weekend of further exploring!)
Further Details
Tuition – Cat Manson and Celia Higson will lead the trip. Both tutors know Venice well and are experts on where to find the best restaurants, shops and cafes.
Hotel – We will stay at Hotel La Calcina and the adjacent La Residenza, two connected properties sharing the same entrance, garden, reception and breakfast room on the Zattere in Venice’s sought-after Dorsoduro district. Set directly on the Giudecca Canal, this elegant waterfront setting offers a more peaceful and authentic side of Venice, while still being within easy walking distance of the city’s major sights. There is the opportunity to upgrade to a room with view of the Giudecca Canal for an extra £300 or a Junior suite with a view of the Giudecca Canal for £350 (prices per room for whole stay).
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. However, we recommend buying the following flights with British Airways.
12th October London Heathrow 08:55 – 12:05 Venice BA600
16th October Venice 19:30 – 20:40 London Heathrow BA603
Transport
There will be a private water taxi for the airport transfer to meet the recommended flights. We will Venice explore by foot and spend Tuesday travelling by private boat.
Ability
There is quite a bit of walking on this trip, as well as many bridges and stepping on and off boats. As is the case for all our courses, there is a lot of standing while we discuss the works we are looking at.
Meals – Lunches are a set menu of two courses to include drinks. Dinners are 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 £2550 which includes accommodation and breakfast, all lunches, transfers for the recommended flight, transport when connected with teaching, entrance fees, Biennale ticket, private visits, special opening of San Marco, tuition, reading lists and local advice. The single occupancy supplement is £220 (double room for single use). Not included are the flights, all suppers, travel insurance. The group will not exceed 16 people.
To register – Please complete the online registration form, having read our terms and conditions and pay a deposit of £600 via bank transfer once you have received the confirmation email. Your place is not confirmed until we have received the deposit.
If you have any queries please email charlie@arthistoryabroad or call 01379 871800
NB you must buy your own flights
