Music and Soccer in Italy ( )

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1 Educational Travel Experience Designed Especially for Mentor College Music and Soccer in Italy ( ) March 12 - March 21, 2016 ITINERARY OVERVIEW DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM TORONTO DAY 2 ROME - SAN GIMIGNANO - TUSCANY AREA (4 NIGHTS) DAY 3 FLORENCE (SOCCER MATCH) DAY 4 FLORENCE (CONCERT PERFORMANCE) DAY 5 FLORENCE (CRADLE OF THE RENAISSANCE) DAY 6 FLORENCE AREA - SIENA - GLADIATOR SCHOOL - ROME (4 NIGHTS) DAY 7 ROME (SOCCER MATCH) DAY 8 ROME (CONCERT PERFORMANCE) DAY 9 ROME DAY 10 DEPARTURE FROM ROME

2 ITINERARY Italy calls to people in a unique way. The rich and colorful culture melts into a warm atmosphere filled with light and life. Ancient traditions combine with a spiritual pride expressed in the art and food that epitomize what we have come to know as La Bella Vita. There is something about this country that stirs the soul as much as it educates the mind. From Roman ruins to the richness of the Renaissance, from the ruins of war to the peace of country life, experience the world in a new way in beautiful Italy. Educational Tour/Visit Cultural Experience Concert Performance Transportation Recreational Activity LEAP Enrichment Sporting Fixture DAY 1 Saturday, 12 March 2016 Relax and enjoy our scheduled flight from Toronto to Rome. DAY 2 Sunday, 13 March 2016 Our 24-hour Tour Director will meet us at the airport and remain with us until our final airport departure. We will have use of a private coach and driver, while touring for the next eight days. The striking skyline of San Gimignano is one of the most familiar views of Tuscany. The town is noted for its thirteen towers, built by various noble families in the 12th and 13th centuries, which dominate the scene and impart a unique character to this idyllic location. Take a Walking Tour and view the Piazza della Cisterna, the Piazza del Duomo, and the People s Palace. Both spaces are guarded by the tall medieval towers that have made San Gimignano, "city of the beautiful towers," the poster child for Italian hill towns everywhere. For the next four nights, our base will be in the Tuscany area. Breakfast and dinner will be included at the hotel. DAY 3 Monday, 14 March 2016 During the course of our tour we will gain from the knowledge and insight of three full-day local guides while we are here in Florence. Florence is 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 greatest artistic capitals. Stop just outside Florence and explore the Piazzale Michelangelo. Offering a splendid panoramic view of the city's domes and towers, this is a great location to take photos and view some of the local artists at work. We will have our first soccer match today. (TBD at time of booking) Tonight we create our own pizza in our Cooking Class with a master pizzaiolo; a fun and fulfilling way to get acquainted with Italian gastronomy and tradition. Follow step-by-step all the stages from making the dough to selecting the right ingredients. Enjoy the pizza you have cooked and take home the knowledge and joy of Italian cuisine. 1

3 DAY 4 Tuesday, 15 March 2016 Visit the Accademia Gallery, where we will view Michelangelo s statuary masterpiece, David, and Boticelli s Madonna and Child. 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 Michelangelo commented were worthy to be the Gates of Paradise. After a brief visit inside the Duomo, we will have the opportunity to do one of the following: ascend the Bell Tower; climb the narrow steps to the top of the Red Dome; or visit the spectacular interior of the Baptistery. (One admission included). Today we will perform in the Florence area. Possible venues include the Fiesole School of Music, the American International School, the U.S. Consulate General, and the Tuscan American Association s elegant senior home, the Casa Di Riposo. (TBD at time of booking) DAY 5 Wednesday, 16 March 2016 Spend time in the Piazza della Signoria, the political stage of Renaissance Florence and an open-air museum of sculpture. Experience the Uffizi Museum, one of Italy s finest art museums, containing one of the most famous collections of paintings and sculptures in the world. Exhibitions include works by most of the acclaimed Italian artists, as well as German, Dutch, and Flemish masters. Of particular note are European paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries, which include works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Rembrandt, and Rubens. Stop for a brief visit to the Church of Santa Croce, featuring the impressive tombs of many of Florence s most influential figures, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante, and Galileo. 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. Explore the San Lorenzo area of the city where there will be free time to browse through the leather and craft market. DAY 6 Thursday, 17 March 2016 Today we will travel from the Tuscany area to Rome. En route we will visit Siena. Once a capital to rival Florence, Siena is Italy s prettiest medieval town, and still possesses the grandeur of the age when it was at its peak. Visit the Duomo, highlighted by distinctive striped marble columns. Our visit will include the beautiful Piccolomini Library, designed to house the cathedral s collection of illuminated manuscripts. The magnificent room features an unrivaled ceiling and large frescoes depicting important events in the life of Pope Pius II. Stroll through the narrow and winding streets of Siena to the Piazza del Campo, a vast and lively square in the heart of the city. LEAP ACTIVITY: Caesar s Gladiators Step into the sandals of a gladiator and transport yourself back to the glorious days of the Roman Empire. Our gladiator school will present the various weapons that were used in arm to arm combat and then train you with some basic attacking and defending moves. Once you have honed your skills, it s time to engage in a duel to see who is the greatest gladiator of them all. Will you be the next Maximus' Known to many as the "Eternal City", Rome is the capital of Italy, with an uninterrupted history spanning two and a half thousand years. As one of the founding cities of western civilisation, Rome is filled with incredible historical sites. It is a city with many faces, encompassing medieval, renaissance, and modern. To define Rome is an impossible task, but to enjoy Rome is a wondrous experience. For the next four evenings we will enjoy the convenience of our centrally-located Rome hotel, where daily breakfast will be included. 2

4 DAY 6 Thursday, 17 March 2016 This evening we will dine in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitian's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in 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. DAY 7 Friday, 18 March 2016 During the course of our tour we will gain from the knowledge and insight of two half-day local guides while we are here in Italy. Enjoy a guided tour, through the spectacular remains of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum, considered to be the greatest symbol of Ancient Rome's power and glory, was completed under Titus in 80 A.D. The Colosseum could hold 55,000 spectators, on a par with many of today's modern sports stadiums. Among the sights included is the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch finished in 315 A.D., commemorating the victory of Constantine I over Maxentius in the year 312 A.D. We will also tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that once formed the heart of the Empire. Today we will play our second soccer match. (TBD at time of booking). This evening, dinner will be provided in a local restaurant. Take a Rome at Night Walking Tour to view some of the great monuments and landmarks of the city illuminated. Our walk will commence at the Colosseum and then continue to the spectacular Trevi Fountain where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to The Eternal City. We conclude the walk 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 who lived here. English poet John Keats lived and died in the house to the right of the steps, which is now a memorial. DAY 8 Saturday, 19 March 2016 Visit the Museo Borghese, located in the Borghese Palace. This museum features an impressive collection that includes sculptures by Bernini, such as Apollo and Daphne, and masterpieces by 16th and 17th century Italian artists, such as Raphael, Correggio, Titian, and Caravaggio. Explore the gardens of the Villa Borghese, the second largest public park in Rome. The naturalistic English gardens were originally laid out in the 17th century, and are now home to many buildings, museums, and attractions. View the Piazza del Popolo en route to see the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. The highlight of this magnificent church is the Chigi Chapel, begun by Raphael and completed by Bernini. We will also view Caravaggio s two works in the Cerasi Chapel, the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul. 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 the artist, Raphael. Your concert performance in Rome will be today. Venue options include the English School in Rome or the International School of Rome, with no restrictions on repertoire. For smaller instrumental groups, the Museo Nazionale degli Strumenti Musicali di Roma is one of the most important music museums in the world in terms of quality and quantity of instruments. Additional possibilities include the Parco della Musica, a large public music complex, and the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia, Rome's famous conservatory. (TBD at time of booking) This evening, dinner will be provided in a local restaurant. 3

5 DAY 9 Sunday, 20 March 2016 Experience a specialist-guided tour of the 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 spectacular Sistine Chapel, highlighted by Michelangelo's ceiling and his Last Judgment. We will continue into St. Peter's Square to visit St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the western world and the centre of Catholicism. Highlights of our visit include Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's magnificent Baldacchino over the high altar. We will have some free time for shopping and exploration. This evening we will dine near the spectacular 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 who lived here. English poet John Keats lived and died in the house to the right of the steps, which is now a memorial. DAY 10 Monday, 21 March 2016 Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our Tour Director accompanies us to the airport on our final day. 4

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