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SOUNDS OF NORTHERN ITALY - 2009 Visit Bergamo (Birthplace of Donizetti), Mantova and Ravenna. Opera performances: Departure: 21 April 2009 – 12 Days. Return: 2 May 2009 LAND COST: (includes orchestra level seats in the theaters listed above) Day 1. – April 21. (D)*. TURIN Day 2. – April 22. (B,D). TURIN Day 3. - April 23. (B). TURIN Turin is to Italy what Detroit is to U.S.A. It is here that the Italian motor industry, reprensented by Fiat and Lancia, was born. The textile and leather industries are also highly developed here. Yet, the city center is lined with arcades, beneath which are attractive shops selling highly reputed articles made in Turin itself. The wines of the Piedmont ara nearby, with the famous Vermouths of Martini and Cinzano, accompanied by good cooking of the region give the people a certain sense of being connoisseurs, which is unique in Italy. Day 4. April 24. (B,D). BERGAMO - VERONA Day 5. – April 25. (B). VERONA VERONA was the setting of the balls, the secret marriage and the balcony where Romeo and Juliet said their farewells around 1300, as immortalized by Shakespeare in his play. Enclosed in its 16 century fortifications, Verona is regarded as the key to Northern Italy. The nucleus of the old town includes pleasant squares connected by alleys and arcaded passageways. The St. Zeno Major Church is one of the finest Romanesque churches in Northern Italy. The 12th century doors under the entrance show scenes from the Old and the New Testaments in expressive ways. The Arena, which can accommodate 25,000 spectators, draws large crowds of opera lovers during the season. Day 6. April 26. (B). MANTOVA - VENICE Day 7. – April 27. (B,D). VENICE VENICE built on 117 islands has 15 canals and 400 bridges. The famous gondolas have been the traditional means of transport for centuries. Venice has a reputation for intrigue, politics and arts. Its school of paintings exemplified by Bellini, Lotto, Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto and Canaletto later influenced the Impressionists. Among its musicians was Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1743). Day 8. – April 28. (B,D). RAVENNA – BOLOGNA RAVENNA remained the capital of the Western Roman Empire until 455 A.D., when Rome again became the center, only to have the Western Empire come to an end under the invasion by the barbarians. However, the eastern Byzantium (now Istanbul) and Ravenna were recaptured by forces of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It was during this period that the famous churches were built here and they contain the finest surviving Byzantine mosaics in the world. Day 9. – APRIL 29. (B). BOLOGNA BOLOGNA is one of Italy’s oldest cultural cities. It was settled by the Etruscans before the Romans got there in 189 B.C., followed by barbaric tribes, the Huns and the Lombards. Europe’s oldest university was founded here in 1088 and it had the honor of having the first woman as a professor. She was so beautiful that she lectured from behind a screen so as not to distract the students. Day 10. – APRIL 30. (B). MILAN Day 11. – May 01. (B,D). MILAN MILAN is just not very Italian. All the Milanese do is work, all they care about is money and they refuse to indulge in the myth of la-dolce-vita. The city has its origin from Celtic settlements, which were subdued by the Romans in 222 B.C. In 312 A.D., Emperor Constantine published the Edict of Milan making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. In 1805, Napoleon placed the Iron Crown of the Kings of Lombardy on his own head to declare himself the Emperor. To the Milanese people, all that is past history. Day 12. – May 02. (B). MILAN – BACK HOME *B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner (including wine) Airfare is not included. Individuals make their own flight arrangements. Please make sure that your airline ticket reads: U.S.A. to Turin and Milan back to U.S.A. We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since international departure times and flights can change. Tours can be cancelled due to low enrolment.H.A.T. Tours does not accept liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased independently in conjunction with this tour. The group is limited to fifteen persons maximum. The Managing Director Grethe Arani and/or Aspee Arani will personally escort this tour. Local English-speaking guides are provided in each of the cities visited.
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