DAY    3            DAY TRIP TO BUSSETO AND MANTUA
This morning we drive to Roncole just outside Busseto, where we will visit the house and museum at the birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi.  We will continue to Mantua, home of the Roman poet Virgil.  Here we will visit the Ducal Palace to see the magnificently appointed apartments and frescoes.

DAY    4            PARMA AREA - LUCCA - FLORENCE AREA (2 NIGHTS)
Today, we make our way to Lucca, a town with a rich heritage of churches, palaces, squares and streets that give the town a charming air, unscathed by contemporary development.  On our Walking Tour of the Old Town we will visit Casa Guinigi, a tower crowned with trees that rise above the great façade, offering a splendid view of the town below.  We continue to Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.”  Time and hotel location permitting, we will stop just outside the city to explore Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers a splendid panoramic view of Florence’s domes and towers.

DAY    5            FLORENCE - SECOND CONCERT
We will begin our day in the magnificent Piazza del Duomo.  The Cathedral, Tower and Baptistery form a harmonious group of white, green and pink buildings. Those who climb the magnificent red Dome of the Cathedral will be rewarded with a splendid view of the city.  The rest of our day will be based around the Piazza della Signoria, virtually an open-air museum of sculpture. We  will next explore the Ponte Vecchio.  This bridge, built in 1345, is a riot of life and color and is famous for the rows of shops lining both sides that have been reserved for gold and silversmiths since the 16th century.

DAY    6            FLORENCE AREA - RAVENNA - PADUA AREA (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we begin our journey to Padua, stopping en route for a visit to Ravenna, one of the most unique towns in Emilia-Romagna.  Ravenna was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Visigoth Empire, and the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.  Our first visit will be the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a 5th century chapel that contains exceptional mosaics dating from antiquity.  Translucent panels bring the mosaics alive in all their grace and harmony, vivid with peacock blue, moss green, Roman gold, eggplant, and burnt orange. We continue with a visit to the octagonal domed Museum and Basilica of San Vitale, which dates from the mid 6th century.  The mosaics inside, in brilliant greens and golds, are among the most celebrated in the Western world.  We will then continue to Padua, our base for the next two nights.

DAY    7            DAY TRIP TO VENICE
Our day in Venice begins with a Vaporetto Ride along the Grand Canal, which has been described as the world's finest street.   We will view the Rialto Bridge, the most elegant and famous of the bridges that span the Grand Canal, as we make our way to St. Mark's Square.   We will visit St. Mark's Basilica, featuring interior walls encrusted with spectacular gold mosaics.  Our visit will also include an ascent to the Galleries to see the original bronze horses, which once adorned the facade, and a stunning view of St. Mark’s Square.

DAY    8            PADUA AREA - VERONA - MILAN AREA (2 NIGHTS)
We will drive to Verona, forever associated with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and one of Italy's most ancient cities.  We will take a guided Walking Tour, highlighting the city’s most important landmarks and monuments.  Our day will include a visit to Verona’s Roman Amphitheater.  The largest in the world, it was completed in AD 30.  The arena has been the sight of executions, fairs, bullfights, opera and theater productions, and of course gladiatorial combat.  We will also visit the famed Tomb of the Scaligers, a dynasty of noble governors who made Verona successful in trading and economy after the 13th century.  The oldest of these various tombs dates back to the year 1329. We will continue to Milan and La Scala, traditionally recognized as the most famous opera in the world - it can seat an audience of 2,000 people.

DAY    9            MILAN
The lively capital of Lombardy, Milan is Italy’s second city in population, politics and cultural affairs, and first in the field of commerce, industry and banking.  In architecture, the Cathedral (Duomo) marks the climax of the Flamboyant Gothic Style.  Our visit to the Cathedral will also include a tour of the roof, where the 135 pinnacles and 2245 statues, including a gilt statue of the Madonna, can be admired in detail. We will visit La Scala Museum which houses memorabilia relating to Toscanini and Verdi, including busts, portraits and stage costumes.  From the museum, you can go into one of the boxes and see the auditorium for the grand finale to your musical tour of Italy.  We will spend time this evening at the Galleria.

DAY    10            DEPARTURE FROM MILAN
Our enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as our tour manager/guide accompanies us to the airport for the return flight home