Verona Opera Festival Departures & Prices Airport Departing Time Returning Time Cost Availability Gatwick 10 Jul 17 08:10 14 Jul 17 12:40 1450 Good Availability Gatwick 18 Jul 17 08:10 22 Jul 17 12:40 1490 Good Availability Gatwick 09 Aug 17 08:10 13 Aug 17 12:40 1450 Good Availability Gatwick 19 Aug 17 08:10 23 Aug 17 12:40 1450 Good Availability What's Included Return scheduled flights Four nights accommodation in your own spacious room All evening meals and one lunch with drinks Porterage Personal audio guiding system Hosted welcome & farewell drinks receptions Excursions as follows: Verona guided tour, Lake Garda sightseeing day Valpollicella winery tour with four course lunch and wine tasting Two performances at the Arena di Verona One evening meal in the heart of the city Numbered seats in the Poltroncina centrale di gradinata section Executive coach on all trips Exclusive services of a One Traveller Tour Manager Arena Performances: 10-14 July Aida - Ethiopian princess Aida is held prisoner by Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian king. Both Aida and Amneris are in love with Radames, who is the commander of the Egyptian army. When Radames returns home having won the battle, the king offers as a reward the hand of Amneris in marrirage to Radames. However the king of the Ethiopians has got other plans, and the tragedy that follows develops. Once again a classic tale of love, ambition, betrayal and eventually death follows in some of the most famous arias that Verdi has written. Madame Butterfly - The title character of Madama Butterfly a young Japanese geisha who clings to the
belief that her arrangement with a visiting American naval officer is a loving and permanent marriage is one of the defining roles in opera. The story triggers ideas about cultural and sexual imperialism for people far removed from the opera house, and film, Broadway, and popular culture in general have riffed endlessly on it. The lyric beauty of Puccini s score, especially the music for the thoroughly believable lead role, has made Butterfly timeless. Arena Performances: 18-22 July Rigoletto - Rigoletto, court jester to the libertine Duke of Mantua, is cursed by the father of one of the Duke s victims for his irreverent laughter. When the Duke seduces Rigoletto s daughter Gilda, it seems the curse is taking effect. Gala Domingo - Plácido Domingo is coming back at the Arena di Verona for a Gala Evening! Arena Performances: 9 Aug - 13 Aug Tosca - Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples's control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. It contains depictions of torture, murder and suicide, as well as some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias. Nabucco - Nabucco is an Italian-language opera in four acts composed in 1841 by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera. The libretto is based on biblical stories from the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Daniel and the 1836 play by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornue Arena Performances: 19-23 August Aida - Ethiopian princess Aida is held prisoner by Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian king. Both Aida and Amneris are in love with Radames, who is the commander of the Egyptian army. When Radames returns home having won the battle, the king offers as a reward the hand of Amneris in marrirage to Radames. However the king of the Ethiopians has got other plans, and the tragedy that follows develops. Once again a classic tale of love, ambition, betrayal and eventually death follows in some of the most famous arias that Verdi has written. Tosca - Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples's control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. It contains depictions of torture, murder and suicide, as well as some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias. Seating Numbered seats in the Poltroncina centrale di gradinata section which are depcited by the green seating and have been reserved for all performances. Some steps will have to be negotiated in order to reach your seats in the Arena. You can view the seating plan here: Arena di Verona seating plan Advisory
The Opera season is in the summer months only and all performances are in open air. If it is raining the start will be delayed until the rain stops. If it does not stop then tickets will be refunded. If the weather deteriorates once the performance is underway the Arena does reserve the right to halt the performance and in this instance does not refund any money. When booking this holiday you accept their terms of service. Not Included Holiday Insurance You need to arrange your own but we can help). For more information, please see our suggested insurance services. Itinerary Key: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Drink Afternoon Tea Longer walks and steps may be involved on this day 1 Travel to Verona Morning: meet your One Traveller representative and fellow travellers and board your direct flight to Verona. Afternoon: transfer to the Hotel Leopardi for a four-night stay on a half-board basis. This afternoon your Tour Manager will help you familiarize yourself with the local area and the hotel. Evening: welcome drinks reception followed by a buffet dinner. 2 Verona city tour and Arena performance 1 Morning: a sightseeing tour with a local guide by coach and on foot in the city which is right on your doorstep. A charming walk through the historic centre with a licensed guide to see the most significant monuments, including the Arena, Juliet s balcony, the Scaliger tombs, Piazza dei Signori, Piazza delle Erbe and The Piazza Brà. Afternoon: free time at leisure in the city. Evening: after dinner and a drink in the hotel you will be transferred to the Arena for the first of your evenings at the Opera.
3 Valpollicella wine tasting and lunch Mid-morning: after a leisurely morning you will be taken for a tour of a Valpollicella winery dating back to the 17 century. After the tour you will sit down to a fabulous four-course lunch during which you will sample some of the fine wines that this region has to offer and finish off the meal with coffee and Italian grappa (the fragrant grape-based spirit). Mid-afternoon: return to Verona to relax and use the hotel s facilities or to spend more time in the centre. Evening: this evening dinner and a drink in the hotel. th 4 Lake Garda and Arena performance 2 Morning and Afternoon: a short drive from the hotel is Italy s largest and most picturesque lake, Lake Garda. You will visit some towns along the shores and have free time in each to soak up the atmosphere. Lunch time will be spent in Sirmione; prized for its strategic location and gentle enchantment since Roman times. Evening: enjoy dinner and drinks in the heart of the city before wandering across to the Arena for the second of your evenings at the opera. 5 Return flight to the UK After breakfast you will transfer to Verona airport for the afternoon flight back to the UK. Included excursions Verona guided tour A charming walk through the historic centre to see the most significant monuments, including the Arena, Juliet s balcony, the Scaliger tombs, Piazza dei Signori, Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Brà.
Lake Garda sightseeing day Today you will visit picture perfect Sirmione (on the shores of Lake Garda) where you wil have time to explore and have lunch. Your Tour Manager will also take you to see other towns on Lake Garda which will make this a relaxing Italian day out. Valpolicella winery tour with 4 course lunch and wine tasting A guided tour of a winery dating back to the 17th century followed by a four course lunch during which you will sample some fine wines as well as the Italian spirit, grappa. A great experience and day out. Hotels Hotel Leopardi The four-star Hotel Leopardi is located adjacent to Verona's ancient city walls. The Basilica of San Zeno is a short walk away as well as its piazza (square) where you will find some nice cafés and shops. The city centre is easily accessed on foot or by short taxi ride. The hotel is decorated and furnished in classical style and WiFi is available throughout the hotel. All rooms are air-conditioned and come equipped with telephone and internet connection, 17 inch TV screens, mini HiFi with CD player, fridge bar, hairdryer and safe. Most bathrooms are equipped with a bathtub and the hotel also has its own wellness centre. Breakfast in the hotel is comprises of a wide variety of hot and cold dishes and all evening meals will be lavish buffets also served in the hotel.