Giro Musicale - 10 days

Highlights

St. Mark's Basilica • Doge’s Palace • Cremona’s Famous Violin Collection • The Duomo • Accademia • Siena and Lucca • Basilica Of St. Francis • St. Peter's Basilica • Colosseum • 3 Performance Opportunities

Overnights

Verona 3, Montecatini 2, Rome 3

Itinerary

DAY 1: DEPART
Depart from the USA.

DAY 2: VERONA
Benvenuti in Italia! Arrive in Italy, and meet your Encore Tour Manager at the airport. Transfer to Verona for a walking tour including Juliet’s Balcony and the Roman Arena.

DAY 3: VERONA
Transfer to St. Mark’s Square via boat just as the Venetians do. Your walking tour of this Byzantine wonder includes St. Mark’s Basilica and entrance to the Doge’s Palace. Here, you can walk through the famous “Bridge of Sighs” which connects the palace to the prison. Throughout the summer, Piazza San Marco abounds with activity and live music. Enjoy a cool drink and listen to the strains of local musicians overlapping with the sounds of distant Gondoliers’ songs! After dinner, return to your hotel for the overnight.

DAY 4: VERONA
Morning sightseeing of Cremona, birthplace of Monteverdi and the Stradivarius, includes a tour of the workshops of local violin artisans and Cremona’s private collection of valuable violins including a 1715 Stradivarius. After dinner at a local restaurant, you’ll present your first performance in Cremona before returning to Verona.

DAY 5: MONTECATINI
Travel to the Renaissance city of Florence for afternoon sightseeing with a local guide. This tour shows you the magnificent Duomo decorated in pink and green marble, the Baptistry doors of Ghiberti that Michelangelo deemed, “the doors of Paradise,” and elegant Santa Croce. Also included today is an entrance to the Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s statue of David. Take time to relax in the heart of the city before dinner together as a group.

DAY 6: MONTECATINI
Today there is a full day excursion through old Tuscany. First journey to Siena, one of Italy’s best-preserved hill towns, to admire the green and white marbled Duomo and the famous Piazza del Campo. You’ll have free time for lunch before
continuing to the walled city of Lucca for sightseeing with your tour manager. After dinner at a local restaurant, you’ll present your second formal concert performance in Lucca.

DAY 7: ROME
Depart Tuscany this morning and travel into nearby Umbria for a visit to the medieval hill town of Assisi. Here you will have time to stroll along the cobblestoned streets, marveling at the panoramic splendor of the lush rolling hills of the surrounding countryside. Continue to Rome to check in to your hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 8: ROME
Today’s sightseeing tour introduces you to every phase of Rome’s history with a panoramic drive of the city. In addition, your local guide accompanies you through the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, and continues to St. Peter’s Basilica, giving commentary via personal headsets. Later, an inside visit to the Colosseum is included. Meet later this evening for dinner together.

DAY 9: ROME
Enjoy the morning to further explore Rome. Climb one of the seven hills or stroll the gardens of the Villa Borghese, the options are endless. Later this afternoon, travel outside the city walls to nearby Gallicano or Palestrina, where you will perform your concert finale. These charming towns outside Rome offer warm reception, wonderful audiences, and fantastic performance venues. Enjoy a final farewell dinner tonight.

DAY 10: DEPART
Depart for the USA.