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La Scala, Milan & the wines of Northern Italy
Thursday 14 - Sunday 17 February, Wednesday 29 October - Saturday 1 November
Opera & Wine Tours
Since the reopening of La Scala, A&C have offered a series of independent opera breaks to the city and are now pleased to offer this Wine & Opera tour. Milan is more as a centre of business and fashion, rather than a weekend destination - yet there is a wealth of cultural interest to explore. This winter Wine & Opera break also gives time to explore many of the treasures of Milan, from art, to food to shoe shops! The cathedral is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world. Work began on it in the 14th century and took 500 years to complete. In the museums you will ½nd treasures such as Michelangelos Rondanini Pieta and Francesco Hayez The Kiss. The churches too, house great works of art, most famous of all at Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the monks refectory is home to Da Vincis magni½cent Last Supper fresco. The splendid glass domed Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel II is near our hotel. A must visit is the Peck Food Hall which with four ¾oors of traditional Italian produce, is one of the best delis in the world.
There are two excellent wine regions within easy distance of Milan, Gattinara and Franciacorta. Rated as a DOCG, Italys top wine classi½cation, Gattinara is a little known region that has made a leap in quality. (It was considered to be one of the ½nest regions in Italy in the Middle Ages). The local grape is actually the mighty Nebbiolo of Barolo fame. We will visit the top producer, Nervi for a tasting. Our ½nal day is in Franciacorta, where we taste at Bellavista, famed as Italians top sparkling wine and at the beautiful home of the Barzano family Il Mosnel, where we are welcomed to lunch. We then continue to Milan Linate airport for the return ¾ight. The highlight will be the evening at La Scala. On the October tour the Opera is Mozarts Nozze de Figaro. On the February tour the Opera is Alfanos Cyrano de Bergerac with the maestro Placido Domingo in the lead role. Alfano is unfairly best known for his work completing Puccinis Turandot. Although the recent productions at La Scala have been relatively traditional in style, the programme has bravely included overlooked works and unfashionable composers as well as the greats and favourites. This has led to a reassessment of some composers and works, as was the case with Salieri, whose Europa Riconosciuta which had not been performed for some 200 years, was something of a triumph when performed for La Scalas re-opening.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Flight BA566 Heathrow 11.50 /Malpensa 14.55. Dinner. 4* Central Milan. Wine visit & lunch. Opera at La Scala Guided walk & Leonardos Last Supper (Optional) Visit & lunch in Franciacorta. Flight BA569 Milan Linate 18.55 / Heathrow 20.00
Milan Opera & Wine Includes
Direct scheduled ¾ights Heathrow - Milan (BA), all taxes, coach, 3 nights 4*, breakfasts, 3 meals with wines, visits, tastings,1st category seat to La Scala. A member of the A&C team accompanies the tour as Tour Manager / Wine Guide. The maximum party size is 22.
Date Travel Departure date Date Travel Date Travel Price Travel £ pp Travel Price Travel 13 Flight FlightDec 1199pp 14 Feb Flight £ Sole Deposit Deposit Room Sole Price Deposit occupancy £ pp pp £ occupancy Upgrade £ pp £ pp Sole Deposit Deposit Room Sole Price Deposit 300 250 300 250250 100 1299 occupancy £ pp pp 160 250 £ occupancy Upgrade £ pp £ pp
13 Flight FlightDec 1199 29 Oct Flight
Teatro alla Scala, circa 1840
300 300 1299
250 200
250250 250
100
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