Touring Italy
Wherever you decide to stay in Italy, there is guaranteed to be plenty to see in your immediate environs. Dramatic cities, Renaissance art and picturesque hilltop towns are the hallmarks of Italy, but you will also find excellent beaches, beautiful countryside and good food and wine. Italy's evident musical culture spans centuries from Palestrina and Monteverdi to the romantic operas of Verdi and Puccini. The people and the language are compelling and visiting music groups are warmly welcomed.
Most music groups opt to stay in Tuscany, the Veneto or Rome, but OneStage can also arrange tours to the
Amalfi coast, Lake Como and Milan, Lake Garda and Umbria.
If you are travelling by coach, you might like to stop at another destination en route to Italy.
Recommended stops are
Alsace,
The Black Forest,
and Switzerland
Visiting Tuscany
We recommend that you base your group in the lovely spa town of Montecatini which is positioned about half way between Florence and Pisa and therefore an ideal place from which to venture out around the region. Montecatini has a good choice of excellent hotels, a beautiful medieval hilltop town which can be reached by an old-fashioned funicular and several attractive spas.
No visit to Tuscany is complete without at least one day in Florence. Inextricably linked with the Medici family and the Renaissance, Florence is a frenzy of medieval and Renaissance architecture, including the Duomo (Cathedral) and countless other churches; Giotto's Tower, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Pitti Palace. You can walk over the Ponte Vecchio which spans the River Arno and through the Boboli Gardens from where you can gain a magnificent view of the city. Art lovers will enjoy a visit to the world class Uffizi Art Gallery which houses the largest collection of Italian Renaissance art in the world.
Other excursions in Tuscany include the medieval towns of Lucca, Pistoia, Siena and Volterra. Or visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Puccini's house or the bizarre towers of San Gimignano.
- Outdoor Venues:
- The Gambrinius Courtyard , or the Tetuccio or Toretta Spas in Montecatini, Barga Jazz Festival, Pistoia Town Square, Viareggio Promenade
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- The Duomo in Florence, San Giovanni e Reperata Church in Lucca, Corsanico Church, San Francesco Monastery in Borgo e Mozzano
- Other Indoor Venues:
- Teatro Paccini in Pescia; San Giovanni e Reperata (deconsecrated church) in Lucca
Visiting the Veneto
Although a day trip to Venice is a must when visiting this region, we recommend that groups stay in the attractive spa town of Abano Terme near Padua, where good hotel accommodation is reasonably priced and your group is well located to access our concert venues all over this region.
A full day of sightseeing in Venice will enable you to enjoy the delights of St Mark's Square, the Doges' Palace and the Rialto. You can explore the intricate lanes and canals of the city, crammed with beautiful palaces, piazzas and churches. Art lovers may wish to visit the Accademia, the former convent of Santa Maria della Carita, where you will find Venetian art from the 14th to 18th centuries including works by Bellini, Tintoretto and Titian. Time permitting, your could also enjoy a boat trip to one of the nearby islands - Murano famous for its production of crystal and glass goods, or perhaps the little fishing island of Burano, which is well known for its lace making, and brightly coloured houses.
Other sights in the region include the wonderful city of Verona, famous for its well-preserved Roman Amphitheatre, once the scene of violent, gladitorial combat and now a popular venue for opera during the summer. Padua is also an excellent excursion: Especially recommended is the magnificent Cathedral to where pilgrims flock from far and wide and the Scrovegni Chapel adorned by Giotto frescos.
From Abano Terme, it is also possible to enjoy a visit to Lake Garda.
- Outdoor Venues:
- Montegrotto and Abano Terme spas, Piazza Aurora in Lido di Jesolo
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- The Franciscan Church in Cittadella, St Mark's Basilica in Venice, St Salvador in Venice, the Eremitani Church in Padua.
- Other Indoor Venues:
- Rovigo Theatre, Monselice Summer Festival
Visiting Rome and the surrounding area
Groups who visit Rome and the surrounding area can either opt to stay within the city itself, or in one of the nearby coastal resorts, or in the lovely spa town of Fiuggi in the hills around 45 minutes from Rome.
Rome can easily take up several days' sightseeing as there is so much to see. However, in about two (very full) days it is possible to see the main sights, including St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum and Sisteen Chapel, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. The public transport is quick and easy for those groups who opt not to be provided with a coach for sightseeing.
During your stay, you might like take an excursion out of Rome, perhaps to the lovely hilltop town of Artena or the Castelli Romani; or to enjoy a wine tasting, beach or spa visit as a relaxing contrast to the city sightseeing enjoyed in Rome. Some of the most successful venues used by OneStage are outside the city in smaller towns and villages and so your excursions can be combined with performances in these places.
- Outdoor Venues:
- The outdoor stage in Nettuno, Anzio Church courtyard
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- St Andrea in the Valley, Santa Maria del Pi and St Peter's Basilica (all in Rome), Cathedral in Palestrina
- Other Indoor Venues:
- Isola di Liri Music School, Fiuggi Spa Concert Hall
