April 22–30, 2020

The Villas & Villages of Palladio’s Veneto

with Rice Professor & Architect Will Cannady

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The harmonious balance and perfect proportions of Andrea Palladio’s ingenuity have influenced the practice of architecture for centuries. This exclusive, custom-designed tour is set amid the rolling hills of the Veneto in Northern Italy where the magnificent Renaissance villas of Palladio still stand. The program offers private access to many of Palladio’s patrician villas, palazzi, and important landmarks, which chronicle his life and career as a humanist architect. Spend seven nights in Verona, a central location for excursions to Vicenza, Mantova, and the countryside. Savor the local cuisine of the Veneto and experience some of Italy’s greatest architectural achievements.

STUDY LEADER Will Cannady, Professor & ArchitectWilliam T. Cannady has been a teacher at Rice University since 1964. Will holds joint teaching assignments in the Jones Graduate School of Business and the George R. Brown School of Engineering in addition to serving as a visiting lecturer and critic at the many distinguished institutions. Will was awarded the Educator of the Year Award from the Houston Chapter of the AIA in 2010. He is a past president and member of the Houston Philosophical Society, former member of the Advisory Board of Med Center Bank and Frost Bank in the Texas Medical Center. He recently served on the Real Estate and Master Site Plan committee of the Menil Collection. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years and is an Eagle Scout. In his architectural practice, Cannady has designed and built over two hundred projects. His firm’s work has been honored with sixty design awards and has been published in local, state, national, and international periodicals and journals.

Be special guests during a private reception with the owners of a 17th-century villa, which has been in their family since the early 1800s.

Italy

Verona

Mantova

VicenzaCastelfranco

Maser

Stamen Design / Open Street Map

Villa Arvedi / Adert

(left) Chamber of Love and Psyche, Palazzo Te / Alessandro Bonvini

Wednesday, April 22, 2020Depart from the U.S.Depart on independent overnight flights arriving the next day in Verona.

Thursday, April 23, 2020Welcome to the VenetoTransfer independently to Verona’s Due Torri Hotel, one of only two 5-star luxury properties in the city. Late this afternoon, gather for cocktails and introductory remarks before a welcome dinner celebrating the group’s arrival in Italy.Due Torri Hotel, Verona (R, D)

Friday, April 24, 2020Exploring VeronaBegin the day with an architecturally focused lecture by Professor William Cannady, followed by an introductory walking tour of the primary squares and monuments of old Verona—Porta Borsari, the Roman Arena, and Piazza Erbe just outside our hotel. Traverse the city’s most interesting sites, including the Arche Scaligere tombs, the Gothic church dedicated to Sant’Anastasia, and the stately Romanesque Cathedral of Verona. Lunch is enjoyed riverside at a gourmet restaurant with views over the Adige. Tour the Castelvecchio Museum, famous for its outstanding display of Northern Italian decorative arts from the 14th to 19th centuries, housed in a medieval castle restored in the mid-20th century by the renowned Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. The day concludes with an escape into the rolling hills north of Verona for a special evening tour and reception at a private villa, where the owners will share their magnificent home and gardens with us. The estate is perhaps the most majestic villa in the entire region, built in the 17th century as Villa Allegri and purchased in 1824 by the Arvedi family, which still resides there today.Due Torri Hotel, Verona (B, L, R)

Saturday, April 25, 2020Palladio’s VicenzaThe morning begins with a visit to Palladio’s patrician Villa Poiana, the design of which was inspired by the ancient Roman baths.

Venture into Vicenza for a Palladio-centric walking tour, stopping at the master’s Palazzo Barbaran da Porto (now the official museum dedicated to the architect), Basilica Palladiana, and Teatro Olimpico (Palladio’s final project, completed in 1585 after his death). Take time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site, which is still used today for musical and theatrical performances. Pause for lunch at one of Vicenza’s most beloved trattorias, then explore Villa Caldogno, considered an autograph work of Palladio despite its absence from his seminal publication The Four Books of Architecture. The villa remained in the Caldogno family for three centuries before becoming a children’s home and ultimately a seat of the German army. Fortunately the colorful frescoes by Giovanni Fasolo, Giovanni Battista Zelotti, and Giulio Carpioni were unharmed, and the structural integrity remains intact. Return to Verona for a free evening.Due Torri Hotel, Verona (B, L)

Sunday, April 26, 2020Sketching PalladioDepart early this morning for an exclusive visit to Palladio’s masterwork, Villa La Rotonda. By special arrangement, Count Valmarana will greet our group (the count’s schedule permitting) and lead us on a special private tour of the interior and exterior while the villa is closed to the public. There will be time after the visit either to stay on the grounds to sketch the villa exteriors or join our local guide on a tour of the nearby Sanctuary of Monte Berico with sweeping views over the Veneto. On a clear day, it’s possible to see as far as the Venetian Lagoon and the foothills of the Alps. Back at La Rotonda, follow a “secret” path to arrive at Villa Valmarana ai Nani where Countess Valmarana will show us precious Tiepolo frescoes, talk about her family’s rich heritage, and join us for a luncheon of regional specialties. Before returning to Verona, visit the impeccably restored Villa Saraceno, built in the mid-16th century for Biagio Saraceno. This typical villa-farm was one of Palladio’s earliest works, although it was altered over the centuries, disrupting the harmony of Palladio’s fenestration on the north and south facades. The Landmark

Verona / Luca Casartelli

TOUR COST Land Only .................................................... $4,995 Single Supplement ........................................ $1,095Tour price is per person based on double occupancy, with a minimum of 15 paying participants. Land prices are calculated as of July 2019 and are subject to change. DATES | April 22–30, 2020

ACTIVITY LEVEL | Moderate, good walking ability

DEPOSIT & FINAL PAYMENT | A deposit of $1,000 per paying participant is required to guarantee participation in the program. This deposit may be paid by check or by Visa or MasterCard. Final payment balance will be invoiced and is due on January 13, 2020 and must be paid by check to International Seminar Design, Inc. Registrations will be accepted beyond this date on a space-available basis with payment in full by check only.

FLIGHTS | Participants are responsible for all aspects of their air arrangements, round-trip into and out of Verona, Italy.

TERMS & CONDITIONS | International Seminar Design, Inc. (ISDI) acts only as an agent for the participant with respect to transportation, accommodations, and all other services relating to this tour. ISDI, the Association of Rice Alumni, and/or their agents assume no responsibility or liability for any act, error or omission, or for any injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity, which may be caused by any defect in any aircraft, ship, train, bus,

or other carrier, or through neglect or default of any subcontractor or other third party, which may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the participants of the tour. ISDI and the Association of Rice Alumni reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason including insufficient numbers of participants, as well as the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time. If bookings fall below the minimum required, passengers will be advised of additional costs or itinerary alterations before departure date.

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS | All cancellations must be received in writing by ISDI, and charges are calculated as of the day notification is received in writing by ISDI. If a tour member cancels, the following scale of charges is incurred: There is a non-refundable administrative fee of $500 per person. Written cancellation received by ISDI on or before January 13, 2020: full refund minus $500 per person administrative fee. Written cancellation received by ISDI on or between January 14 and March 9, 2020: full refund of any recoverable land costs, less $2,500 per person cancellation charge (includes administrative fee). Written cancellation received by ISDI on or after March 10, 2020: no refund. After the tour has commenced, it is not possible to issue any refunds. No refunds are issued for any unused portion of the tour including, but not limited to, occasional missed meals or sightseeing tours. Costs for promotion, staff, and other group expenses are not refundable. If due to weather, flight

Tour Information

Trust purchased the villa in the 1980s to prevent further damage to the villa (due to modernization and the villa’s use as tenements during World War II) and opens the space to visitors by special request only.Due Torri Hotel, Verona (B, L)

Monday, April 27, 2020Quaint Villages & Breathtaking VillasThis morning drive to the village of Maser where Palladio designed a beautiful tempietto at the gorgeous Villa Barbaro, built to fulfill the dual function of villa chapel and parish church for the village. This is one of the architect’s last masterpieces, completed in 1580. Next visit Villa Emo, built in 1559 for the Emo family of Venice. The villa is one of the most accomplished of the Palladian villas, praised for the simple mathematical relationships expressed in its proportions, both of the elevation and the dimensions of the rooms. After a busy morning, enjoy a relaxed lunch in the tiny walled town of Castelfranco. Stroll through town and briefly stop inside the Cathedral to view a stunning Giorgione altarpiece depicting the Madonna and Child. The final stop is Villa Cornaro, which is illustrated in the Second Book of The Four Books of Architecture. Though the villa is privately owned, Traveling Owls

are invited to explore this truly lived-in and beloved space. Due Torri Hotel, Verona (B, L)

Tuesday, April 28, 2020The Ducal Court City of MantovaToday is dedicated to the Gonzaga family’s ducal court city of Mantova (Mantua in English). Our expert guide will reveal many secrets of the remarkable Ducal Palace, most famous for the Camera degli Sposi, a room frescoed with illusionistic paintings by Andrea Mantegna. The highlight of the visit will be a tour of Isabella d’Este’s private apartments, which are rarely open to the public. Next, see the town’s beautiful Teatro Bibiena, designed in the 18th century in an early Rococo style by Antonio Bibiena. It officially opened on December 3, 1769, and a few weeks later 13-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played a concert here with resounding success. The final visit in this magical riverside city is to Palazzo Te, the frescoed country escape and love nest of Isabella d’Este’s husband Federico Gonzaga. A fine example of the Mannerist style of architecture, the palazzo is the acknowledged masterpiece of Giulio Romano, a pupil of Raphael. Romano’s wall paintings of nymphs, gods, goddesses, and

TRAVEL INSURANCE | The purchase of trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Travel insurance information will be emailed to you from the Traveling Owls upon receipt of your registration.

TRAVEL INSURANCE | The purchase of trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Travel insurance information will be emailed to you from the Traveling Owls upon receipt of your registration.

Palladio’s Veneto · April 22–30, 2020

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ROOMING OPTIONS: (please select)� Double Occupancy, � We prefer separate beds � Single Supplement ($1,095) � I will share a room with: � I would like a roommate but will pay the price of the single supplement if one cannot be found.The undersigned has read the tour itinerary and recognizes and accepts any risks therein. The undersigned also understands and hereby agrees for and on behalf of his/her dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to abide by the conditions set forth in the terms and conditions listed in this brochure and to release and hold harmless International Seminar Design, Inc. (ISDI), the Association of Rice Alumni, and any of their officers, trustees, agents, licenses, or representatives from any and all liability for delays, injuries, or death or for the loss of and/or damage to his/her property however occurring during any portion of, or in relation to, this tour.EACH PARTICIPANT MUST SIGN Registration invalid without signature

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COMPLETE AND RETURN TO:Rice Alumni Traveling Owls MS-520, P.O. Box 1892Houston, TX 77251

Tel: 713-34-TRIPS, Fax: (713) 348-5210 Email: travelingowls@rice.edu

schedules, or other uncontrollable factors you are required to spend an additional night, you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers, and meal costs. In the case of cancellation, substitutions are not accepted. The tour cost is non-transferable. Tour cancellation, baggage, and medical insurance is strongly recommended. A confirmation letter and travel insurance application will be mailed to you upon receipt of your deposit.

TOUR PRICE INCLUSIONS | Seven (7) nights at the five-star Due Torri Hotel, Verona; breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 2 receptions, 2 dinners; land transportation by private motor coach as outlined; entrance fees to sites per itinerary; services of an ISDI Tour Manager; expert, local English-speaking guides; gratuities to local guides and drivers; 2 glasses of wine with included meals and receptions; bottled water on daily excursions by motor coach; taxes, services, and porterage fees.

TOUR PRICE EXCLUSIONS | Airfare, airline taxes, and fuel surcharges; airport porterage; airport transfers upon arrival and departure; excursions, activities, or meals during traveler’s free time; personal items; personal services; travel extensions; personal insurance for health, baggage, and tour cancellation; passport fees; visa fees; gratuities for hotel housekeeping staff.

© 2019–2020 INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR DESIGN, INC. (ISDI) CST 2072963-40, WST 603578109

giants remain as lush and vibrant today as they were 500 years ago.Due Torri Hotel, Verona (B)

Wednesday, April 29, 2020Villa SagramosoThe week in Veneto concludes with one last villa visit—the sprawling Villa Perez Pompei Sagramoso. The estate and its vineyard, named for the many families that have owned it, extend over the hills east of Verona in the Valpolicella wine region. We are greeted by Marquis Sagramoso and join him in touring the palace home’s 18th-century paintings and decorative arts. The Italian garden, added in 1740, uniquely incorporates the ruins of a 10th-century castle estate that belonged to the original tenants of the land, the Pompei family. Back in Verona, enjoy an independent afternoon before gathering this evening for a lovely farewell dinner at one of the city’s best restaurants. Due Torri Hotel, Verona (B, D)

Thursday, April 30, 2020Return to the U.S.Transfer independently to the Verona airport to meet returning flights home.(B)

Villa Almerico Capra “La Rotonda” dome detail / Hans A. Rosbach

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