The fourth trip together with Grand Rapids Art Museum director Dana Friis-Hansen, D*Lux Travel's Diana Dopson, and fellow art lovers on a 7-day ArtAdventure to Italy featuring an exclusive tour of the international contemporary art exhibition La Biennale di Venezia paired with insider access to a curated mix of architecture, landscape, and culinary experiences. Our focus this week was how the ancient Romans living in the shadow of Vesuvius in Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri incorporated art and nature into their everyday lives to create spaces that have transcended time. This same emphasis is revisited every two years at the Venice Biennale, and is also the lived experience at two exceptional hotels where we stayed: Gio Ponti's Parco dei Principi in Sorrento overlooking the Bay of Naples and Byblos Art Hotel in the rolling hills outside of Verona. Along the way we met local experts, enjoyed wonderful dining experiences and boat rides, and had lots of opportunities to explore on our own.
2019 Venice Biennale with Grand Rapids Art Museum
23-29 June 2019
Days 1 & 2
Napoli, Gio Ponti's Parco dei Principi, a Vintage Sailboat Ride to Dinner by the Sea, Boating to Capri, Bagni di Tiberio, the Villa San Michele
Days 3 & 4
Pompeii, Byblos Art Hotel, Dinner al fresco Talking about Love, Boating to Venice through the Northern Lagoon, Lunch on Torcello, a Special Visit to Lino Tagliapietra Studio on Murano, San Giorgio Maggiore
Days 5 & 6
La Biennale di Venezia, Giardini and Arsenale