LORD BYRON between VENICE and RAVENNA

Teresa...”the last passion”

Presentation of Byron Tour – 6 days

In 1816, at the age of twenty-eight, George Gordon Lord Byron, the restless English romantic poet, already famous throughout Europe, overwhelmed by family scandals, sailed from England in voluntary exile. After various wanderings, in November 1816 landed in Venice.

They were three years in a transgressive Venice of the early 1800's, unbelievably rich in singular characters, clandestine and dangerous relationships to live intensely. Fabulous parties in the luxurious noble palaces on the Grand Canal, gondola nights with his lovers, narrated with his unmistakable literary style in wonderfully romantic stories; Certainly the most romantic was when he met Countess Teresa Gamba Guiccioli from Ravenna, "the last passion."

In 1819 he joined Teresa in Ravenna and lived with her in the city of mosaics and Dante Alighieri, an intense and profound love affair. A passion that left an indelible mark in his tormented mind and that would take him, for his romantic ideals, to fight for the freedom of the Greek people and die at Missolungi in 1824, at the age of 36.

Where did Byron live? How he spent his time? What did he write? Did he have nostalgia of England?

The Byronian itinerary we propose, between Venice and Ravenna, will try to answer these questions with a narration full of suggestions and visits to places where the poet lived and found a fruitful inspiration, experiencing "the last passion."

Information: Terre di Dante Tour & Travel by Odissea Viaggi – Ph. +39 340 261 0838 / +39 320 460 3033 – info@terredidante.it– www.terredidantetours.it

LORD BYRON between VENICE and RAVENNA (6 days – 5 nights)
Teresa... “the last passion”

1st day: – VENICE

Many places in Venice are linked to Lord Byron and we will discover them telling you about the life and the meetings of the writer in his 3 years in Venice, admiring the Palaces that hosted him and which were the setting for his romantic and chivalrous deeds.

2nd day: – VENICE (The group will have a public transport ticket valid for 2 days)

Visit to the Jewish Cemetery located at the Lido. Free lunch. At 3 pm departure to the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, inhabited by a small community of monks . Byron learned Armenian here and participated to the publication of an English-Armenian dictionary. Return to Hotel and dinner.

3rd day: – VENICE

Visit the Ducal Palace passing by the famous Bridge of Sighs so named by Lord Byron for the sighs made by the condemned seeing for the last time Venice and the freedom. Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

4th day: - VENICE / POMPOSA / RAVENNA

Visit to the Fenice Theater, where Lord Byron participated in numerous performances and parties. At the end, departure by bus to Ravenna. Along the way stop in the suggestive Villa Tenuta Cà Zen of the eighteenth century, one of the favorite places where the two lovers often met secretly. Visit of Pomposa and the grandiose abbey complex that was owned by Count Alessandro Guiccioli, husband of Teresa Gamba of whom Byron becomes the servant cavalier.

5th day: - RAVENNA

Visit and discovery of the Zone of Silence where important places are connected to the story and the death of Dante Alighieri. Byron and Dante shared a common destiny: exile. The visit will continue to the Classense Library, an ancient monastery of the Camaldolese order, inside which jealously preserved objects that trace the love affair between the poet and Countess Teresa Gamba. Afternoon dedicated to the discovery of the most famous monuments of the city, universally known for the splendor of the mosaics that decorate them and make Ravenna an indescribable and unique place in the world: Church of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Neonian Baptistery.

6th day: - RAVENNA

Visit of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, which preserves the largest parietal mosaic decoration of the late antique world, visit to the Teatro Alighieri, the famous opera house built by the Venetian Meduna brothers who also restored the La Fenice Theater in Venice.

Optional:

by bus is it possible to visit the monumental cemetery Basilica at Classe consecrated to the patron saint of Ravenna, Sant'Apollinare. Before leaving Ravenna, we propose a brief visit to the Pineta di Classe * site that has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for both Byron and Dante Alighieri. The visit will end with a reading of some verses composed by the Poet.

* Only in case of good weather.

Ask for the complete program

Info & reservations : info@terredidante.it Phone +39 320 4603033 - www.terredidantetours.it

Technical Organization: Terre di Dante Tours by Odissea Viaggi