This itinerary includes the 2007 performances. It is a preliminary itinerary which will be revised when 2008 performance details become available closer to the time of the tour. The current performance details are given as an indication only. The order of events will change but the essential contents will remain the same.

Thursday 11 Sept  2008    Transfer to Montefalco           L D     O'night Villa Zuccari
You will be met at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome at 10.30am or transferred from the pre tour accommodation in Rome. A private air-conditioned coach will transfer you to Montefalco in Umbria in time for a late lunch at your accommodation in the country guesthouse.  The afternoon is at leisure followed by an early dinner at the agriturismo.

Friday 12 Sept             Spoleto                                   B L D        O'night Villa Zuccari
Late this morning we drive to Spoleto, a town rich in Roman and medieval history. We visit the church of San Pietro Fuori le Mura which boasts one of the most outstanding Romanesque facades in Umbria, before crossing the magnificent medieval aqueduct on our way into the city. Lunch in our favourite garden restaurant is followed by an exploration of the ancient centre of the town including the Roman house and visit the Duomo to see Filippo Lippi's final fresco cycle. We stay on for a late afternoon performance. Dinner at the accommodation on our return.

Saturday 13 Sept           Montefalco  Museum             B L D      O'night Villa Zuccari
This morning Neil Moore will introduce you to Montefalco with a walk around the town while describing the local history and art. The Welcome Lunch will be held in a local restaurant where a feast of regional specialties will be served. Then we visit Montefalco's beautifully presented Museum which contains a fine fresco cycle by Benozzo Gozzoli on the life of Saint Francis, work by Perugino and many other examples of late medieval and early Renaissance art. An evening meal will be served at the accommodation

Sun 14 Sept            Visit artist's home                           B L D    O'night Villa Zuccari
Visit a private home a short distance away in a small village called Castel Ritaldi.  Afternoon visits to small mountain villages which dot the Umbrian landscape on the road to Montefalco . A talk this evening in preparation for our opera 

Mon 15 Sept            Morning at Leisure & Spello          B L D     O'night Villa Zuccari
The town market is on this morning and you should also visit some of Montefalco's artisan outlets including traditional weaving using Renaissance designs.  In the afternoon we explore the delightful hilltown of Spello including a visit to the Baglioni Chapel decorated with superb frescoes by Pintoricchio. Dinner is at the accommodation is followed by a talk with slides on the fresco cycles by Giotto and Simone Martini in the Basilica at Assisi in preparation for our visit.

Tue 16 Sept              Bevagna,  & Performance               B D   O'night Villa Zuccari
This morning we travel to Bevagna, a little known treasure house of Roman and medieval antiquity. It has one of the finest small piazzas in Umbria with two austerely beautiful Romanesque churches. We also visit the remains of the Roman baths with original mosaic floors and the vaults of the old Roman theatre on which are built medieval houses.

 Pimpinone (Intermezzo)  *2007 performance*

 Spoleto Lirico

5pm  Teatro Caio Melisso, Spoleto

Wed 17 Sept              Assisi  & Performance              B D       O'night Villa Zuccari
We spend the day in Assisi, the home of St Francis, Italy's favourite saint. We visit the medieval castle overlooking the town and the Roman remains under the still-standing temple of Minerva. There will be free time for lunch, after which we will visit the Basilica of San Francesco decorated with frescoes by Cimabue, Giotto, Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini.   Dinner at the guesthouse is followed by a talk with slides on Luca Signorelli's fresco cycle in Orvieto which inspired Michelangelo in the Sistine chapel.

The Barber of Seville  *2007 performance*

Gioacchino Rossini

8.30pm   Teatro Morlacchi, Perugia

Thur 18 Sept             Orvieto                                 B D       O'night Villa Zuccari
Today we drive to Orvieto where we visit the Etruscan necropolis before ascending to the upper town perched on its volcanic platform overlooking a valley covered in vineyards. The Duomo is one of Italy’s great cathedrals and contains a famous fresco cycle by Signorelli. You have free time for lunch when you might like to sample the famous white wine called 'Orvieto Classico'. We return to the guesthouse for dinner.

Fri 19 Sept        Perugia & Performance                               O'night Villa Zuccari
The morning is at leisure with lunch at our accommodation. In the afternoon we drive to Perugia, an important city since Etruscan times and the capital of the Umbrian region. Our itinerary includes the extraordinary medieval ghost town under the Renaissance Rocca Paolina, the Collegio del Cambio with frescos by Perugino, the National Gallery of Umbria with works by the National Gallery of Umbria with works by Piero della Francesca, Pintoricchio and Fra Angelico and other great artists of the Umbrian and Tuscan Renaissance.   Free time for dinner in the town and then we meet for the opera in the spectacular local theatre.

Mozart Requiem  *2007 performance*
Orchestra di Toscana & Prague Chamber Choir
9pm Basilica di San Pietro, Perugia

Saturday 20 Sept    Wine Tasting, Cellar visits         B L D   O'night Villa Zuccari
Today we explore the cellars of one of the producers of Montefalco's award winning wines, where you will be introduced to the subtleties of a range of Umbria's excellent wines.  We enjoy lunch on the terrace of a small family wine maker.

Sunday 21 Sept            Montefalco wine festival      B L D    O'night Florence
There is a pagan harvest festival celebrating the end of the vendemmia. Grape filled carriages are hauled by white bulls up into the town's main piazza . From here the local population provide free wines, salamis and cheeses to the crowd. Afternoon transfer to Florence       

Monday 22 Sept          Bargello,  Pitti                    B D    O'night Florence
There will be a guided visit of the Bargello sculpture museum containing works by Michelangelo, Donatello and Verocchio. In thre afternoon we include the famous portrait gallery in the Pitti Palace containing stunning works by Raphael, Titian, and Van Dyck.   
   
Tuesday 23 Sept       Santa Maria Novella & Performance    B L   O'night Florence
   
Wednesday 24 Sept      Fiesole, Medici Villas, Gardens    B D      O'night Florence
We drive out of the city to nearby Fiesole to visit Medici villas and gardens. In the evening we attend the opera in the city. Exact performance details are to be advised.     

Thursday 25 Sept                         Departure                                                     B
At 8am we depart by coach for Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino where you arrive at approximately 12 noon. The tour officially ends here.

The cost of the tour is EURO 4350 (AUD 7200) per person in twin share accommodation. A deposit of EURO 500 (AUD 850) per person is required to reserve a place on the tour. This deposit is non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled. Single supplements are available at an additional cost of EURO 800 (AUD 1350). Room upgrades at Villa Zuccari are available for an additional EURO 450 (AUD 750) for a Suite. With limited single room upgrades in Florence to a larger room (DUS) available for an additional  EURO 240 (AUD 400). The full balance is due 60 days before departure. The tour is costed on a minimum of sixteen (16) people travelling and is limited to the 28 places. AUD prices are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations

• Transfer from and to Rome's Fiumicino Airport

• All land travel within Italy by air-conditioned coach

• Accommodation and breakfasts at Villa Zuccari in Umbria for 10 nights

• Accommodation and breakfasts in Florence for 4 nights

• Excellent meals of fresh local produce at the villa

• 7 days FB, 7 day HB, including a welcome lunch in Montefalco

• The best available tickets to 3 concert performances in Umbria

• The best available tickets to a performance in Florence

• Guided visits to Bevagna, Orvieto, Spoleto, Assisi, Perugia

• Background lectures on music, art and wine

• Admission to all galleries, museums and historical sites included in the itinerary

• The services of the tour leaders throughout the tour

• Airfares
• Travel insurance (this is a pre-requisite of the tour)
• Entry fees to places other than those specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• Meals on excursions except where specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional performances may be offered which are not included in the tour price
• Personal transport costs, phone calls or tips
• Drinks outside normal meal times, or additional wine in restaurants
• Laundry: the staff at the accommodation will do your washing and ironing for you at a cost of Euro 25 per machine load

A series of lively and informative background lectures on the music we will be hearing and on the history and culture of the region will be given during the tour. Topics to be covered include:

• Talks by local academics and performers will prepare you for the performances

• The Giotto fresco cycle in Assisi describing the life of Saint Francis

• The frescoes by Luca Signorelli in the San Brizio Chapel in Orvieto Cathedral

What kinds of people go on Living Italy tours? The single feature which distinguishes the Living Italy groups is their desire to understand and appreciate in depth the places they visit. The interests of the group are usually wide-ranging - history, fine arts, music, architecture, food, reading etc. The age of group members varies greatly, but most would be more than forty years old and have travelled. With a maximum of twenty-eight places on the tour the group is large enough for you to find like-minded friends, but small enough for us to get to know you all.

What will the weather be like? Early Autumn is a delightful time to visit central Italy tending towards hot days and balmy evenings. Daytime temperatures range from 20 to 28 degrees with the nights considerably cooler. You may need a light jumper or jacket and a scarf for some evenings, particularly for the outdoor performances. It is generally dry in central Italy at this time but it is reasonable to expect some rain on a few days. It will certainly be warm enough for you to enjoy the swimming pool at the guesthouse in Umbria .

How fit do you have to be? In order to visit and enjoy the natural attractions of the countryside and the historical centres of towns it is necessary to be able to walk well, as bus and car access can be difficult. While there are no medical restrictions on who may book a place on the tour, you should be fit enough to stroll for periods of up to an hour (with short breaks) and you should specially note that the towns are not called 'hilltowns' for nothing!. Wherever possible we break up walking tours with coffee stops and extended lunches and we have tried to mix busy and relaxed days in the itinerary. Remember that it is always possible to take time off from the program whenever you like.

ROBERT GAY is a popular Sydney music lecturer who has been designing and leading musical and cultural tours to Europe and America since 1987. He has worked with Living Italy since 1998 leading six tours centered on Umbria and the Spoleto Festival, and since 2006, a tour based in Tuscany. Robert teaches Music History and Opera at the Centre for Continuing Education at Sydney University and is a regular guest lecturer for the Friends of Opera Australia. In 2004 Robert made a very successful tour of Queensland for the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society lecturing on ‘Verdi’s Italy’. He was President of the Sydney Schubert Society for 18 years.