Global Ambassador Choir: Italy Tour

We will have use of a private coach and driver while touring.

Venice is one of the few cities in the world that can truly be described as unique. It was known as the gateway to the Orient, and during the Middle Ages it became one of the most powerful city-states in the Mediterranean. It is noted as a center for vocal music, with Monteverdi having composed his opera Poppea and his later books of madrigals here. The Vaporetto is Venice's version of public transport, as no cars are allowed in this city on the water. While in Venice, we each will have a vaporetto pass for transportation and sightseeing.

Stroll through St. Mark's Square. Bordered by Venice's greatest historic buildings, St. Mark's Square is the center of both the city and its water transportation system, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Visit St. Mark's Basilica, where Monteverdi was the maestro di capella at the end of his career and the Gabrielis composed their antiphonal brass pieces. Our visit will also include an ascent to the Galleries to see the original bronze horses that once adorned this facade, as well as a stunning view of St. Mark's Square.

For the next three evenings, we will enjoy our stay at a hotel in Padua, an old university town in Northern Italy that is rich in history, art, and architecture. Its picturesque streets and piazzas charm visitors at every turn. It is the namesake of the Pavane.

The group will spend time to perfect the blend and sound of the mass choir in a group rehearsal at our hotel this evening.

The group will have a three hour rehearsal at the hotel this morning.

Take a Gondola Ride along the canals of Venice for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We will have a choice this afternoon of islands to explore of Venice. We may explore Isola Di Burano, known for its brightly colored fishermen's houses and its casual eateries serving seafood from the lagoon. There, the Museo del Merletto has exhibits on the development of lace-making in the area, and shops sell lace products like linens and clothes, as well as the local butter cookies called "bussolai buranei". Or, we may choose the island of Murano, renowned for its long tradition of glass-making, where the Museo del Vetro tells the story of glass through the centuries. Additionally, we may explore Torcello, the most northerly island of the Venetian Lagoon, where the landscape seems to remain in the period of the late Roman Empire, and you can visit the spectacular Byzantine mosaics in the seventh-century Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell'Assunta.

Tonight, we will enjoy our evening meal together in a local restaurant.

The group will have a two hour rehearsal at the hotel this morning.

Tour La Fenice, Venice's famed opera house. La Fenice was destroyed by fire twice, so our tour will take us through the new building, which has been remodeled into a 19th Century style.

View the impressive Grand Canal that winds through the heart of the city and is lined on both sides with ornate and graceful palaces and dotted with gondolas.

This afternoon we will have a performance in Venice. Our preferred venue options include: public mass at the Basilica di San Marco or a private concert performance at Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

Tonight, we will enjoy our evening meal together in a local restaurant.

On our way to Montecatini Terme we will stop in Florence, a city so deeply connected to the Renaissance movement in art and literature that it is often called the "Cradle of the Renaissance". A walk through the peaceful piazzas reveals the architecture and sculpture that have made this beautiful city one of the world's great artistic capitals.

Enjoy the Piazza del Duomo, where the cathedral, tower, and baptistery exhibit the traditions of Florentine art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. We will observe the massive and detailed facade of the Duomo before viewing the baptistery's bronze doors, designed by Ghiberti and which Michaelangelo commented were worthy to be the "Gates of Paradise". After a brief visit inside the Duomo, we will have the opportunity to ascend the Bell Tower, climb the narrow steps to the top of the Red Dome, and visit the spectacular interior of the Baptistery.

Spend time in the Piazza della Signoria, the political stage of Renaissance Florence and an open-air museum of sculpture.

Stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest of Florence's six bridges and one of the best-loved sites of Florence. Lined with numerous shops, visitors often do not realize they are on a bridge until they reach the center arches that look out over the Arno.

Our base for the next two nights will be in Montecatini Terme, a picturesque town in Tuscany that has hosted visitors since its famous spa baths were created in the 16th Century. Situated near Florence and Lucca, the town is a perfect base for exploring.

Tonight, dinner will be provided at the hotel.

Visit the Accademia Gallery, where we will view Michelangelo's masterpiece David and Botticelli's iconic panting, Madonna and Child. Music groups will continue to the Department of Musical Instruments located inside the Accademia, hosting the Grand Ducal collection of the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory of Florence. The Department's 50 instruments date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, featuring a collection of harpsichords, string, and wind instruments. There are special exhibits on 3 Stradivari instruments, and the work of Bartolomeo Cristofori, who invented the piano.

Secular Venue options include: Casa di Riposo, Piazza Della Signoria, Chiesa di Santo Stefano al Ponte Vecchio, Isituto Comprensivo Don Lorenzo Milani.

Known to many as the "Eternal City," Rome is the capital of Italy, with an uninterrupted history spanning 2,500 years. As one of the founding cities of Western civilization, Rome is filled with incredible historical sites. It is a city with many faces, encomapssing medieval, renaissance, and modern styles. To define Rome is an impossible task, but to enjoy Rome is a wondrous experience.

Experience a specialist-guided tour of Vatican City, including the Museums, home to one of the world's most impressive collections of art. Our tour includes the map tapestry rooms, the magnificent Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel, highlighted by Michaelangelo's ceiling and his last Judgement. We will continue into St. Peter's Square to visit St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the western world and the center of Catholicism. Highlights of our visit include Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Baldacchino over the high altar.

Our base for the next two nights will be in Rome.

View the Trevi Fountain, where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City. Spend time at Rome's meeting place, the Piazza di Spagna, home of the famous Spanish Steps. The piazza and steps are both named in reference to a 16th century Spanish ambassador. English poet John Keats lived and died in the house to the right of the steps, which is now a memorial.

Enjoy a guided tour through the spectacular remains of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum, considered the greatest symbol of Ancient Rome's power and glory, was completed unter Titus in 80 CE. The Colosseum could hold 55,000 spectators, on par with many of today's modern stadiums. We will also see the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch finished in 315 CE. It commemorates the victory of Constantine I over Maxentius in the year 312 CE. We will also tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphas arches that once formed the heart of the Empire.

We will spend some time in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitan's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in the 17th century. It is full of life and is highlighted by one of Rome's most spectacular fountains, the Four Rivers designed by Bernini. The square is often filled with local artists. The surrounding neighborhood is also one of the best places in Rome to get a tasty tartufo or gelato ice cream.

Visit the Pantheon, Rome's best preserved monument. The Pantheon is a masterpiece of architecture with its huge hemispherical dome. It also contains the tombs of the kings of Italy, and that of Raphael.

Our preferred venue option today is to sing public Mass in St Peter's Basilica, the ultimate experience for many groups.

Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our Tour Director accompanies us to the airport on our final day.