Crescendo to Cremona
Music Celebrations International is pleased to present the Crescendo to Cremona Series as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy!
Melded from Greek, Etruscan and Roman civilizations, Italian culture has influenced Western thought, art, music, literature, and civilization more than any other. As you travel from Rome to the finale in Cremona, the senses will almost reel from exposure to history, architecture, art, and beauty unequaled anywhere else in Europe.
Known around the world for its tradition of stringed instrument production, Cremona has been a famous music center since the 16th-century and still prides itself for its artisan workshops producing high-quality stringed instruments. Cremona’s finest resident luthier was Antonio Stradivari. It is estimated Stradivari produced over 1,000 instruments, of which only 650 survive today and are still some of the finest in the world.
A concert and experience in Italy is a return to the roots of Western Civilization. Regardless of one’s musical tastes – classical, church, ballad, opera, chant, symphonic, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Romantic, Baroque – these roots are all found in Italy. Our musical heritage certainly was born in Italy. Italians, with help from the French, invented the system of musical notation used today. Cremona produced violins by Stradivarius and Guarneri; the piano is an Italian invention. Italian composers like Verdi, Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Paganini, Vivaldi, Puccini and Rossini are household names. Select orchestras are invited to share their talents with appreciative audiences in glorious venues and spectacular settings throughout Italy as part of this unique concert series.
Crescendo to Cremona
Sample Itinerary
Itinerary
DAY ONE: ARRIVE
- Depart via scheduled air service to Rome, Italy
DAY TWO: ROME
- Arrive in Rome
- Meet your MCI Tour Manager, who will assist the group to the awaiting chartered motorcoach
- Morning guided walking tour of Imperial Rome, including entrance to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Also visit the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla and Palatine Hill
- Late afternoon hotel check-in
- Evening Welcome Dinner and overnight
DAY THREE: ROME
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Walking tour of Religious Rome includes Vatican City, the home of the Pope and the center of Roman Catholicism, as well as the Vatican Museums*, Sistine Chapel (featuring Michelangelo’s Ceiling Frescos and The Last Judgment) and St. Peter’s Basilica
- Lunch, on own
- Afternoon Rehearsal*
- Performance as part of the Crescendo to Cremona Series*
Evening dinner and overnight
DAY FOUR: FLORENCE
- Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out
- Transfer to Florence
- Lunch, on own
- Afternoon guided tour of Florence includes the Piazza della Signoria, a lovely square in the heart of the city, towered by the lofty Palazzo Vecchio. Visit the Ponte Vecchio, the bridge across the Arno. See the Baptistery with Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, the Campanile, and the Academy of Fine Arts, to see Michelangelo’s original David and other sculptures by the great master (using the whisper system)
- Evening dinner and overnight in Florence
DAY FIVE: AREZZO / CREMONA
- Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out
- Morning transfer to Cremona via Arezzo
- Stop in Arezzo for a visit to St. Donato Cathedral. Arezzo is one of the wealthiest cities in Tuscany due to its tradition in gold-smithery. Located in Southeastern Tuscany, it sits atop a hill at the crossroads of four valleys: the Val Tiberina, Casentino, Valdarno, and Valdichiana
- Lunch, on own
- Continue to Cremona
- Evening dinner and overnight
DAY SIX: CREMONA
- Breakfast at the hotel
- A half-day guided tour of Cremona includes the Civic Museum, Duomo (Cathedral), Town Hall, and most importantly, entrance to Stradivarius museum – Museo del Violino*. There are galleries devoted to the origins of the violin, violin construction, and Stradivari’s workshop tools, molds and drawings
- Lunch, on own
- Afternoon free-time for shopping or additional sightseeing
- Performance as part of the Crescendo to Cremona Series*
Evening dinner and overnight
DAY SEVEN: DEPART FOR HOME
- Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check-out
- Transfer to the Milan Airport for return flight home
- Tour 1: 5 nights | 7 days
- Tour 2: 6 nights | 8 days
- Tour 3: 7 nights | 9 days
- Tour 4: 8 nights | 10 days
Rome | Florence | Arezzo | Cremona
Arrive at Rome airport. Take a guided tour of Imperial Rome including entrance to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Also visit the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, and Palatine Hill. Tour Religious Rome including Vatican City, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy. Transfer to Florence and visit the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Michelangelo’s David, and more. Transfer to Cremona via Arezzo to visit St. Donato Cathedral and explore this picturesque Tuscan town. Tour Cremona and visit the Civic Museum, Duomo (Cathedral), Town Hall, and most importantly, the Stradivarius museum – Museo del Violino. Visit a Cremona Luthier Shop. Performance in Cremona as part of the Crescendo to Cremona Concert Series. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Rome | Florence | Cremona
Arrive at Rome airport. Take a guided tour of Imperial Rome including entrance to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Also visit the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, and Palatine Hill. Tour Religious Rome including Vatican City, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Performance in Rome as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy. Transfer to Florence and visit the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, and Academy of Fine Arts to see Michelangelo’s original David and other sculptures. Performance in Florence as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy. Enjoy time at leisure in Florence. Transfer to Cremona and visit the Civic Museum, Duomo (Cathedral), Town Hall, and most importantly, the Stradivarius museum – Museo del Violino. Performance in Cremona as part of the Crescendo to Cremona Series. Visit a Cremona Luthier Shop and enjoy time at leisure in Cremona. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Rome | Florence | Cremona
Arrive at Rome airport. Enjoy a walking guided tour of Rome’s highlights – Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, and more. Take a guided tour of Imperial Rome including entrance to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Also visit the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, and Palatine Hill. Tour Religious Rome including Vatican City, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Performance in Rome as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy. Transfer to Florence and visit the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, and Academy of Fine Arts to see Michelangelo’s original David and other sculptures. Performance in Florence as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy. Enjoy time at leisure in Florence. Transfer to Cremona and visit the Civic Museum, Duomo (Cathedral), Town Hall, and most importantly, the Stradivarius museum – Museo del Violino. Performance in Cremona as part of the Crescendo to Cremona Series. Visit a Cremona Luthier Shop and enjoy time at leisure in Cremona. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Rome | Florence | Cremona | Venice
Arrive at Rome airport. Enjoy a walking guided tour of Rome’s highlights – Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, and more. Take a guided tour of Imperial Rome including entrance to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Also visit the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, and Palatine Hill. Tour Religious Rome including Vatican City, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Performance in Rome as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy. Transfer to Florence and visit the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, and Academy of Fine Arts to see Michelangelo’s original David and other sculptures. Performance in Florence as part of the American Celebration of Music in Italy. Enjoy time at leisure in Florence. Transfer to Cremona and visit the Civic Museum, Duomo (Cathedral), Town Hall, and most importantly, the Stradivarius museum – Museo del Violino. Take an excursion to Busseto to visit Teatro Verdi Opera House, Verdi’s birthplace, and Casa Barezzi (former house of Antonio Barezzi). Performance in Cremona as part of the Crescendo to Cremona Series. Visit a Cremona Luthier Shop. Transfer to Venice and take a walking orientation tour. Tour St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and enjoy time at leisure in Venice. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.