Italian Crescendo

Day 2 Cremona

Benvenuti a Italia! Upon arrival in Milan, meet your Encore Tour Manager. Transfer to Milan city center for a walking tour with your Tour Manager to include the magnificent Duomo, the Galleria, and a visit with entrances to the famed La Scala Opera House Museum. After some free time for lunch on your own, continue on to Cremona for check in at your hotel and dinner together at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 3 Verona

Today, enjoy Cremona, the home of Antonio Stradivarius and other extraordinary violin makers. A walking tour with your Tour Manager introduces you to the city’s Duomo. Enjoy a private visit to the Violin Museum, a showcase for the city’s collection of priceless stringed instruments and its history since the sixteenth century as a center for violin making. This visit reaches a high point with a private recital given by local professionals on these rare stringed instruments, which date back centuries. Still with the sweet sounds of Stradivarius strings in your head, depart for Verona for dinner on your own and a performance as part of the summer music festival. (B)

Day 4 Verona

This morning drive to the picturesque town of Sirmione located on the south shore of Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda. Continue to the Valpolicella area for a private wine tasting this afternoon with light refreshments. Return to Verona for an afternoon guided tour and independent dinner. In the evening attend an opera or symphonic performance at the ancient Roman Amphitheater in Verona! (B)

Day 5 Verona

This morning after breakfast at your hotel, depart for Venice. This floating city, known as the "Queen of the Adriatic", consists of an archipelago carved by nearly 150 canals into 118 different islands, and is simply incomparable. You'll get a musical insider's experience with a curated tour highlighting the life and work of Antonio Vivaldi. See the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriaosa dei Frari, Ospedale della Pietà, and other Vivaldi landmarks.

Enjoy dinner together tonight at local restaurant in Venice before returning to Verona. Please note that should the Verona performance schedule offer opportunity for a second performance on this day, we will include lunch instead of dinner in Venice to accommodate an earlier return to Verona. (B,D)

Please note that due to the Festival of the Redemptor in Venice, a visit to Mantua focusing on the life of Monteverdi may be substituted for the Venetian visit.

Day 6 Florence

After breakfast at your hotel, depart Verona and travel to the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence for a sightseeing tour with a local guide showing you the splendid Duomo, Ghiberti's famous Baptistry Doors, and the Piazza della Signoria—the political center of this Renaissance city. Later today, learn the art of Italian cooking with a special cooking lesson, followed by dinner together. (B,D)

Day 7 Florence

Enjoy an excursion today to the stunning countryside of Tuscany. First you will visit Siena, a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its horse race held twice a year called the Palio. Continue to a beautiful local vineyard where you will have a wine tasting this afternoon. Then proceed to the monastery, Monte Oliveto, where you will hear Gregorian Chants. Enjoy a delicious Tuscan dinner together before returning to Florence for your overnight. (B,D)

Day 8 Rome

Before departing to Rome, this morning, enjoy a timed entrance to the Accademia museum to marvel at Michelangelo’s David. Upon arriving in Rome enjoy panoramic city sightseeing including the Circus Maximus, the Imperial Forum, the Pantheon, and the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele (Rome's "Wedding Cake monument"). After free time to explore on your own, meet again for dinner tonight at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 9 Rome

Your local guide will accompany you through the Vatican Museums today to see the Sistine Chapel and magnificent Raphael rooms. Continue to St. Peter's Basilica, the largest and most prominent church of the catholic faith. Stroll across the Piazza San Pietro towards the dome, designed by Michelangelo and almost as large as that of the Pantheon.

This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Rome on your own or perhaps sit in one of the beautiful Piazze and enjoy a refreshing drink and opportunity to do some people watching Italian style. Tonight, have dinner on your own, then rejoin your group to attend an opera performance at the ancient Caracalla Baths. (Please note that a second performance will be accommodated pending the final schedule of performances) (B)

Day 10 Rome

Enjoy a leisurely morning in Rome. This afternoon, enjoy guided visit to Borghese Gallery. Here you will marvel at the Borghese gallery’s vast collection of paintings and sculptures. Celebrate your musical tour to Italy this evening with a special farewell dinner together. (B,D)