Arrive in Bologna on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), a private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Phillip Sametz and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing at the hotel followed by dinner.

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Depart Bologna and travel to the musical city of Parma. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of Parma, including the Romanesque Duomo, famous for its frescoes painted by Antonio da Correggio in the early 16th century, and the medieval Baptistery, which marks a transition between Gothic and Romanesque styles of architecture in Italy.

After lunch, check in to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Tonight, begin the Verdi Festival experience at the Teatro Regio di Parma with a performance of Falstaff, featuring the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini conducted by Michele Spotti in a staging by Jacopo Spirei, with Georgian baritone Misha Kiria as Falstaff and soprano Roberta Mantegna as Alice Ford.

(BL)

After a morning at leisure, travel in the footsteps of Verdi, beginning with his birthplace in the village of Le Roncole. Continue to nearby Busseto, where he spent much of his life, and visit Casa Barezzi, the home of Verdi’s father-in-law, who supported him and sponsored his early music career.

Then, enjoy a late-afternoon performance of Macbeth in Busseto’s Teatro Giuseppe Verdi. Macbeth was the first Shakespeare play that Verdi adapted for the operatic stage. This new production, staged by Manuel Renga, features the Italian Youth Orchestra under the baton of Francesco Lanzillotta, and baritone Davide Luciano in the title role.

Return to Parma in time for dinner.

(BD)

After a talk by Phillip on the coming days’ performances, the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or perhaps to visit the Galleria Nazionale or simply stroll along the streets and squares of the town.

In the late-afternoon, return to Teatro Regio di Parma for a performance of Messa da Requiem. Rising young American conductor Robert Treviño and the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini are joined by soprano Marta Torbidoni, mezzo-soprano Danbi Lee, tenor Galeano Salas and Parma-born bass Michele Pertusi.

Afterwards, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Today, discover the culinary specialities of the region on an excursion to the Parma Hills. Visit a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory before continuing to Reggio Emilia, where the true traditional balsamic vinegar is carefully aged in wooden barrels for at least twelve years. Then, enjoy lunch in a rural setting before returning to Parma.

In the evening, attend a new production of Otello at the Teatro Regio. The star-studded cast, under the musical direction of maestro Roberto Abbado, features acclaimed tenor Fabio Sartori as Otello, alongside soprano Mariangela Sicilia as Desdemona and Mongolian baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar as the scheming Iago.

(BL)

In the morning, depart Parma for Cremona, world-renowned for its exceptional violin-making tradition. Gain a glimpse into the world of the most celebrated violin maker in history at Casa Stradivari, where Antonio Stradivari crafted his instruments from 1667. In a career spanning an incredible 71 years, the renowned luthier made more than 1,000 stringed instruments.

Continue to Milan, arriving in the late-afternoon. The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

This morning, visit the Ansaldo Workshops, where the stage sets for all the performances at La Scala are crafted and painted and where some 800 to 1,000 new costumes are sewn for each season.

After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a private backstage tour of the Teatro alla Scala. The world-famous opera house has an illustrious history with premieres of Italy’s foremost composers, and appearances of the world’s leading singers and conductors.

The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or further explore Milan at your own pace.

(BL)

After a pre-performance talk by Phillip, the day is at leisure.

In the evening, enjoy an early dinner followed by a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto at La Scala. The production, directed by Mario Martone and conducted by Grammy Award-winning Marco Armiliato, features the remarkable Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat in the title role, acclaimed tenor Dmitry Korchak as the Duke of Mantua and soprano Regula Mühlemann as Gilda.

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Depart Milan and travel to Piacenza. As the first capital of the Farnese duchy, the charming town boasts splendid Renaissance architecture and artistic treasures. Piacenza’s historic heart beats around the magnificent Piazza Cavalli, where two bronze equestrian statues of the Farnese family stand guard. The square is dominated by the stunning Palazzo Gotico, with its distinctive stone portico and red marble details. See the magnificent Teatro Municipale and its elegant Piermarini façade, re-modelled in 1830 after Milan’s Teatro alla Scala.

Continue to Modena, arriving in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure to discover the historic centre of Modena at your own pace.

(BL)

After a pre-performance talk by Phillip, step into the intimate world of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti at his former residence in the Modenese countryside. This beautifully preserved museum features twelve rooms showcasing the maestro’s extraordinary life, including his personal bedroom, performance costumes and Grammy awards.

Following lunch, the remainder of the afternoon is free until tonight’s performance of Verdi’s Nabucco under the baton of Massimo Zanetti at the elegant Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni. This new production features baritone Fabian Veloz in the title role, Marta Torbidoni as Abigaille and Riccardo Zanellato as Zaccaria.

(BL)

This morning, depart for Verona. On arrival, visit the crown jewel of the city – the magnificent Arena di Verona, an amphitheatre dating to the 1st century AD when Verona was one of the great cities of Roman North Italy. Once the venue for gladiatorial battles, the arena now plays host to magnificent operas and concerts in the summer season.

After lunch at a local restaurant, discover Verona’s Roman and medieval architecture on a guided tour of the historic centre. Piazza delle Erbe, the city’s oldest square and bustling heart, features vibrant market stalls, historical buildings adorned with beautiful frescoes and the impressive Lamberti Tower. Nearby, the charming Piazza dei Signori provides a peaceful retreat from the crowds.

The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Following a free morning, attend a matinee performance of Puccini’s rarely-performed Le Villi conducted by Alessandro Cadario at Verona’s Teatro Filarmonico. This legendary story of love transcending death, inspired by the ballet Giselle, features tenor Galeano Salas as Roberto, soprano Sara Cortolezzis as Anna and baritone Gëzim Myshketa as Guglielmo Wulff.

Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner with Phillip and fellow travellers.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude with an included morning group transfer to Bologna Airport for flights departing from 14:00, or Bologna city centre. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

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