Marche, Land of a Hundred Theatres

Day 1 - Friday June 14th 2024 –  arrival in Pesaro

Arrival in Pesaro by own means. Accomodation at

Grand Hotel Vittoria 5* - https://www.grandhotelvittoriapesaro.it/

a classic “Belle Epoque” villa aused as hotel since 1908, the oldest hotel in Pesaro. Grand Hotel Vittoria is the only hotel in the Marche to have been admitted to the 100 "Historical Places of Italy", in 1985. In a central and quiet position, the hotel offers all the comforts of the most modern services. The rooms will be ready in the early afternoon.

4.00 pm: Meeting of the participants in the hotel hall, we will begin our guided walk (on foot) of the historic center of Pesaro and we will make a stop at the Duomo, to admire the mosaics inside. We will dedicate our visit to the composer from Pesaro Gioacchino Rossini.

We will visit the National Rossini Museum which tells the life, the man and the greatness of the artist but also the relevance of the work of Gioachino Rossini, an illustrious citizen of Pesaro. Visitors are invited into Rossini's world, told like an opera. A fascinating journey, divided into ten rooms, which follows the biographical stages of the composer and the boundless operatic production of his career. The National Rossini Museum is located on the main floor of Palazzo Montani Antaldi, a prestigious building in the historic centre, and constitutes the jewel in the crown of the great Rossini journey of Pesaro, City of Music.

At the end, we will reach the restaurant for dinner where we will taste a "Rossini menu".

Return on foot to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 2 - Saturday june 15th 2024 – San Lorenzo in Campo / Mondavio

Breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Departure by coach for San Lorenzo in Campo - 45 km from Pesaro - among the colorful hills of the Marche region, in the valley of the Cesano river.

The birth of the town of San Lorenzo in Campo can be traced back to the nearby Roman city of Suasa, and above all to the phases linked to its abandonment. Between the 18th and 9th centuries it was the monastic institutions that recreated the conditions for a social recovery of the territories, and around the 9th century it was the Benedictine monastery that exercised a function of reorganization of the valley with reclamation works and agricultural exploitation . The first inhabited settlements arose around the monastery which soon transformed into a real fortified village. There were alternating occupations by Francesco Sforza and Sigismondo Malatesta. The dominations of the Della Rovere and the Medici families then alternated. Until the Holy See definitively restored its dominion.

Visit to the Benedictine Abbey of San Lorenzo in Campo, a majestic Romanesque-Gothic building and the Tiberini Theatre.

Lunch in a Farroteca. San Lorenzo in campo is famous for the cultivation of spelled and this restaurant is able to enhance its qualities thanks to the most varied recipes with which it prepares it.

Afternoon: After lunch, departure for Mondavio (10 km) to visit the Rocca Roveresca and the Apollo Theatre.

The Rocca Roveresca is one of the most typical and well-preserved defensive structures designed by the architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Inside the Museum, guns, light artillery, halberds and other artistically decorated sidearms are on display.

At the end, transfer to San Costanzo for a visit to a winery with wine tasting and a taste of local products.

Return to Pesaro and free dinner.

Day 3 - Sunday june 16th 2024 - Pesaro / Urbino / Urbania

Breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Departure by coach for Urbino (36 km) to visit the Ducal Palace of Urbino.

The palace is considered the symbol of Renaissance harmony despite incorporating already existing medieval structures. The peculiarity of the Palace is the presence of two facades, due to the geographical position of Urbino, which lies on two hills: the facade with two towers - the Torricini - is on the landscape side while the entrance facade overlooks the square in the city center. Since the beginning of the 20th century, it has been home to the National Gallery of the Marche: it contains two extremely famous paintings: The Flagellation by Piero della Francesca and the Ideal City by an unknown author. The Studiolo del Duca is spectacular, a place of rest and contemplation for Federico di Montefeltro, the soldier.

We end with a visit to the Raffaello Sanzio Theatre.

Departure for Urbania in the Metauro valley, one of the most important rivers in the Marche.

Metauro is known for the Battle of Metauro - 207 BC. - in which the Carthaginian Hasdrubal lost against the Roman legion. The curious characteristic of Urbania is that it has changed its name three times during its history. During the late Middle Ages Urbania was known as Castel delle Ripe and was located on the hills on the left bank of the river. In the 13th century it was destroyed by the Ghibelline Galasso da Montefeltro and after ten years it was rebuilt by the papal legate Guglielmo Durante from whom it took the name of Casteldurante. From 1424 it became part of the territories belonging to the Montefeltro-Della Rovere families. After the Duchy of Urbino came under the power of the Papal State in 1631, Pope Urban VIII raised Casteldurante to the rank of City and Diocese, changing its name to Urbania for the last time.

1.30 pm: Lunch in a tavern in the center of Urbania.

At the end of lunch, a guided walk through the streets of the village, followed by:

 TEATRO BRAMANTE and private music performance   
Pamela Lucciarini soprano
Elisabetta Rossi harp

Following 
LIVE PAINTING by Giuliano Del Sorbo on the overture of William Tell by Gioachino Rossini.

At the end, return to Pesaro by coach and free dinner.

Day 4 - Monday june 17th 2024 – Pesaro departure

Breakfast in the hotel and check-out of the rooms.

Individual greetings and departures.

INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION FEES (minimum 15 people)

In a double room 980,00 euro
Double room supplement for single use:: 175,00 euro / 3 nights

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

• 3 nights' accommodation with breakfast in a central 5* hotel in Pesaro;
• Companion assistance for the entire period;
• Granturismo bus available on 15 and 16 June;
• Authorized guide for the entire period;
• Welcome dinner in a restaurant with Rossinian menu, drinks included, on the evening of arrival;
• Entrances and visits mentioned in the program;
• A private concert and a private artistic performance;
• Lunch with drinks at Farroteca di San Lorenzo in Campo on 15 June;
• Lunch with drinks at a typical Osteria in Urbania on 16 June;
• Wine tasting accompanied by local products in a local winery;
• Earphones during guided tours;
• Baggage medical insurance.

THE FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Tourist tax of €4.00 per person per night to be paid locally;
• Tips;
• Trip to/from Pesaro;
• Extras, tips and anything not expressly indicated under "The price includes".

• The organizer reserves the right to cancel the trip, NO LATER than 30 days before departure, if the minimum number of participants has not been reached. In this case, the amount paid would be refunded in full.
• The order of the visits can be changed for operational needs without however changing the contents

HOW TO BOOK:

The reservation becomes effective upon receipt of:
1. completed and signed booking form
2. deposit required by bank transfer

ADVANCE PAYMENT:

Upon booking, a deposit of Euro 350.00 and any insurance premium for the "trip cancellation" policy are required. Cancellation insurance can only be taken out when registering for the trip.

BALANCE:

BALANCE: 30 days before departure (by May 14, 2024)

CANCELLATION

In the event of CANCELLATION by the customer, the following penalties will be applied, in addition to the insurance fee:

• 20% of the participation fee for cancellations by March 16, 2024
• 30% of the participation fee for cancellations by April 15, 2024
• 40% of the participation fee for cancellations by April 30, 2024
• 50% of the participation fee for cancellations by May 15, 2024
• 75% of the participation fee for cancellations by 4 June 2024
• from 5 June 2024 no refund in case of cancellation.

Medical Baggage Policy included in the package

ADDITIONAL INSURANCE POLICIES

It is possible to sign up for the "Trip Cancellation" policy at the same time as booking the trip (regulations will be sent upon request)

- €16.00 per person up to 74 years of age in a double room // €21.00 in a single room

- €30.00 per person aged 75 and over // €40.00 in a single room