ITINERARY

DAY 1 | TUESDAY 8 JULY 2025

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

MILAN TO VERONA (D):

We meet in the morning at 11:30am at our Milan hotel, the Rosa Grand Milano, which we will be returning to later in the tour, and travel by private coach from Milan to Verona.

On arrival we check into the 5-star Due Torri Hotel, a 14th-century palace situated in the historic centre of Verona near the church of Saint Anastasia, Juliet's balcony, and the magnificent Roman amphitheatre, site of the Arena di Verona Festival.

In the evening we come together for a welcome dinner, a delicious meal of local specialities, and for an introduction by our Tour Leader, Anna Goldsworthy, who will outline what is to come over the duration of the tour.

DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

GUIDED TOUR OF VERONA (B):

This morning we have a guided walking tour of central Verona to discover the city’s history, architecture and culture. The tour includes the busy Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe, in antiquity a Roman Forum and today one of the most picturesque squares in Italy. We see the Scaligeri family’s elegant gothic tombs, and we stroll through the Piazza dei Signori featuring, on its north side, the 15th-century Loggia del Consiglio, Verona's finest Renaissance structure, and the opulent Palazzo degli Scaligeri.

The afternoon and evening are free. Some delightful attractions are close to our hotel. Two ancient, beautiful churches which contain stunning frescoes, sculptures and paintings, are Verona’s largest church, the neighbouring Gothic Basilica di Sant’Anastasia (13th to 15th centuries), and the Romanesque Duomo Santa Maria Matricolare (12th-century) which is only a 5-minute walk away.

If you want to explore Verona further a 25-minute walk from the hotel, or less than 10 minutes in a taxi, will bring you to the magnificent Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore (10th and 14th centuries), one of Italy’s greatest Romanesque masterpieces. If you love gardens, a walk of just over 10-minutes will take you to the Guardino Giusti, the splendid annex to Giusti Palace. Started at the end of the 16th-century this late Renaissance garden still has all its original 16th-century features: fountains, acoustic caves, pergolas, mythological statues and a small yet complex maze, one of the oldest in Europe. The garden’s beauty inspired the German poet Goethe to include it in his travel writings.

DAY 3 | THURSDAY 10 JULY 2025

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

EXCURSION TO MANTUA & OPERA AT ARENA DI VERONA FESTIVAL (B):

This morning we travel by private coach to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mantua, famous for its artistic and cultural heritage. On arrival we have a private guided walking tour of central Mantua to help us to understand and enjoy its history, architecture and artistic legacy. We proceed to a private guided tour of the Teatro Bibiena, designed in late Baroque or early Rococo style by Antonio Galli Bibiena. A few weeks after its official opening in December 1769, 13-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed a resoundingly successful concert here. His father, Leopold Mozart, wrote of the theatre: ‘In all my life, I have never seen anything more beautiful of its kind.’ We then have a guided tour of the grand Ducal Palace with its some 500 rooms. Built between the 14th and the 17th-century by the Gonzaga family as their royal residence, the buildings which comprise the palace are connected by corridors and galleries and are enhanced by inner courts and wide gardens.

On our return to the hotel, the afternoon is free, for rest, or possibly further exploration.

We meet in the evening for a talk by our Tour Leader, Anna Goldsworthy about tonight’s opera. We then walk together to Arena di Verona where we attend a performance of Verdi’s Nabucco.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - ARENA DI VERONA, 9:15pm
Giuseppe Verdi Nabucco

DAY 4 | FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025

1ST OF 5 NIGHTS AT PALACE HOTEL, LAKE COMO

VERONA TO LAKE COMO (B, D):

Today we depart Verona and travel to Lake Como. Located at the foot of the Alps, Lake Como is Italy’s third largest lake. With the entire perimeter of the lake dotted with charming villages and towns, and with hills and mountains forming a dramatic backdrop, it offers delightfully appealing and picturesque scenery.

We travel to our hotel, the 4-star Palace Hotel, conveniently situated in the historic centre of Como, only a 5-minute walk from Como Cathedral and surrounded by Como’s most popular shopping streets.

In the evening we come together for dinner overlooking Lake Como.

DAY 5 | SATURDAY 12 JULY 2025

2ND OF 5 NIGHTS AT PALACE HOTEL, LAKE COMO

BOAT JOURNEY TO BELLAGIO & VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO, & LACMUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE (B):

This morning Anna Goldsworthy will give a talk about the music we will hear in tonight’s concert.

Following our talk, we will enjoy a visit to Bellagio and Villa del Balbianello. We will travel by private boat to Bellagio, known as the ‘Pearl of Lake Como’ because of its position nestled at the tip of a promontory jutting into Lake Como, which is picturesque, and offers unparalleled shoreline and Alpine views.

Time will be allowed to explore Bellagio on your own. You might like to enjoy a stroll through the gardens of Villa Melzi, built between 1808 and 1810, a vast botanical garden with many exotic trees, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, as well as numerous items of artistic, cultural, and historical interest. The gardens sit on the shore of the lake and offer a beautiful and uniquely tranquil atmosphere away from the bustle of Bellagio. Another place you might be interested to visit is the Basilica di San Giacomo in Piazza della Chiesa. It is a traditional Romanesque church built between the 11th and 12th centuries and contains a valuable altar from the late 1500s and mosaics from the early 1900s.

Following our exploration of Bellagio we make our way to the stunning Villa del Balbianello, a historic villa that sits directly on the water’s edge at Lake Como. On the tip of a small promontory on the lake’s western shore, Balbianello is particularly lovely, with luxurious interiors, scenic loggia, beautiful gardens, and romantic lake views. We enjoy a private guided tour of the villa and their exquisite gardens. After our visit we return by private boat to our hotel.

In the evening we attend our first concert at LacMus Festival, an international classical music festival held in historic villas and beautiful gardens on the shores of Lake Como.

CONCERT PERFORMANCE 1 - LACMUS FESTIVAL
Program TBA

DAY 6 | SUNDAY 13 JULY 2025

3RD OF 5 NIGHTS AT PALACE HOTEL, LAKE COMO

GUIDED TOUR OF COMO & LACMUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE (B):

This morning we have a talk by Anna Goldsworthy about the music we will hear in tonight’s concert.

Following the talk, we go on a private walking tour of Como with a guide who will introduce us to the city and its past. We learn about the architecture from ancient Rome through to the Rationalists, and we see: the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, commonly described as the last gothic cathedral built in Italy and one of the most important buildings in the region; the Teatro Sociale, the opera house in Como; the Ex Casa del Fascio, one of the masterpieces of Italian Modern Architecture; the Basilica di San Fedele, a Romanesque building dating from 1120; and the Porta Torre, a fortified 40 metre high tower which was built in 1192, to defend the main entrance of the city. Following the tour, the afternoon is free to relax or for further exploration of Como.

In the evening we will attend our second concert in LacMus Festival on the shores of Lake Como.

CONCERT PERFORMANCE 2 - LACMUS FESTIVAL
Program TBA

DAY 7 | MONDAY 14 JULY 2025

4TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT PALACE HOTEL, LAKE COMO

PRIVATE BOAT TOUR OF LAKE COMO INCLUDING A VISIT TO VARENNA (B, C):

Today we enjoy a private boat tour around the lake with a knowledgeable local guide who will tell us tales about the villas and interesting sites around the lake. We will enjoy drinks and canapes on our private boat.

We go ashore at Varenna, a picturesque and traditional village, located on the eastern shore of the lake, to explore a little on foot. Little streets lead to Piazza San Giorgio, the town’s central square that houses the Church of San Giorgio built in the 14th-century in a style somewhere between Romanesque and Gothic. Varenna is a charming village, a combination of colourful houses with a backdrop of lake and mountains that will stay in your memory for a long time. Coming by boat we will land near the Passeggiata degli Innamorati (Walk of Lovers), an inspiring and beautiful path following the edge of the lake and offering spectacular views. Following our visit, we resume our cruise around the borders of the lake and return to the hotel.

Following our day on the lake, the evening is free.

DAY 8 | TUESDAY 15 JULY 2025

5TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT PALACE HOTEL, LAKE COMO

LACMUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE (B, L):

This morning we have a talk by Anna Goldsworthy about this evening’s concert.

Following the talk, the remainder of the morning is free. You may like to visit one of the many villas situated on Lake Como or visit the weekly markets that occur in Como on this day. Or you may like to relax and take in the spectacular views from our hotel. 

In the early afternoon we come together for lunch overlooking Lake Como before attending our third concert in LacMus Festival. 

CONCERT PERFORMANCE 3 - LACMUS FESTIVAL
Program TBA

DAY 9 | WEDNESDAY 16 JULY 2025

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT ROSA GRAND MILANO

LAKE COMO TO MILAN (B, D):

Today we depart Lake Como and travel to Milan.

On arrival we check into the stylish Rosa Grand Milano, conveniently located in the heart of Milan, overlooking historic Piazza Fontana. It is a 2-minute walk from the glorious Milan Duomo, and an 8-minute walk to the renowned Teatro alla Scala. The tastefully designed interiors of the Rosa Grand create a warm, inviting atmosphere in an intimate and private setting. Elegant decor, accented in gold and pink, reflects quintessential Italian craftsmanship.

In the evening we have a delicious dinner of local specialities to celebrate our first night in Milan.

DAY 10 | THURSDAY 17 JULY 2025

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT ROSA GRAND MILANO

GUIDED TOUR OF PINACOTECA DI BRERA & OPERA PERFORMANCE AT TEATRO ALLA SCALA (B):

This morning we have a private guided tour of the Pinacoteca di Brera, the main public art gallery in Milan, founded in 1809 by Napoleon. Its original collection was that of Milan’s Academy of Fine Arts, however, its most important works were acquired later. It contains one of the most important and largest collections of Italian paintings with works from the 13th to the 20th-century, including those by such great masters such as Caravaggio and Raphael. The gallery is housed in the Palazzo Brera, an 18th-century Neoclassical structure, originally built as a Jesuit college.

The afternoon is free. A 5-minute walk from our hotel is the Milan Duomo, Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Nascente, a stunningly beautiful building and the largest church in the Italian Republic. It took nearly six centuries to complete, as construction began in 1386, and the final details were completed in 1965. You might also like to visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is a few minutes’ walk from our hotel and one of the oldest enclosed shopping malls in the world. It is spectacular with its blue glass vaulted ceilings, mosaic flooring and a towering central dome, and it also offers elegant bars and cafés

In the early evening we hear a talk by our Tour Leader, Anna Goldsworthy, on the performance we will be seeing this evening. We then attend an opera performance at the renowned Teatro alla Scala.

OPERA PERFORMANCE - TEATRO ALLA SCALA, 8:00pm
Bellini Norma

Fabio Luisi conductor
Olivier Py director
Pierre-André Weitz sets & costumes
Freddie De Tommaso Pollione
Michele Pertusi Oroveso
Marina Rebeka Norma
Vasilisa Berzhanskaya Adalgisa
Paolo Antognetti Flavio
Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus

DAY 11 | FRIDAY 18 JULY 2025

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT ROSA GRAND MILANO

GUIDED TOUR OF TEATRO ALLA SCALA & BALLET PERFORMANCE AT TEATRO ALLA SCALA (B, L):

This morning we have the pleasure of a private guided tour of the legendary Teatro alla Scala and its adjoining museum. With an expert guide, we tour La Scala Museum to see elaborate outfits, musical instruments and various stage props. We also stroll through the foyer of the theatre, and visit the beautifully designed 18th-century auditorium. We have the opportunity of seeing the stage, chandelier and pit orchestra. This is a unique opportunity to discover the secrets of a theatre that is more than 240 years old!

Following the tour, we will enjoy a farewell lunch together.

The late afternoon is free. If you feel like sightseeing close to home there are some nearby buildings that you might find fascinating. 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel is the Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro, a church on a shopping street, which from the outside seems relatively small and unimpressive. When you step inside you see that it is quite majestic, a deep, vaulted sanctuary stretching into an apse that is nearly the length of the main part of the church. Or is it? Keep your eyes on it as you walk forward, and watch as it melts into an almost completely flat wall behind the altar. It's an optical illusion, a clever trick played by the architect Bramante to give grandeur to a church with only a limited space. Only a 5-minute walk from our hotel is the Museo del Novecento, a gallery with an outstanding collection of 20th-century art particularly emphasising Italian artists. Works are displayed chronologically, giving visitors an excellent introduction to modern Italian art history. There are also works from international avant-garde art movements, including masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian.

In the early evening we have our final talk by Anna Goldsworthy. We then attend a ballet performance at Teatro alla Scala.

BALLET PERFORMANCE - TEATRO ALLA SCALA, 8:00pm
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake

Vello Pähn conductor
Rudolf Nureyev choreography and staging
Ezio Frigerio sets
Franca Squarciapino costumes
Cast TBA

DAY 12 | SATURDAY 19 JULY 2025

TOUR ENDS (B):

Following our final breakfast at the hotel, the tour concludes.

Please note: There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on the final confirmation of performances.

INCLUSIONS

8-19 JULY 2025 (12 days)

AUD$13,750 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$3,100
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 11 March 2025)
Final payment due: 6 May 2025

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: Premium seats to six performances including: an opera at Arena di Verona; three chamber music performances at the international LacMus Festival on the shores of Lake Como; an opera and a ballet at Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

  Please note: The venues and festivals will announce their 2025 seasons in late 2024 and early 2025. There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on final confirmation of evening performances.

• Tour Leaders and Talks: Tour leadership and six exclusive private talks by Anna Goldsworthy.

• Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.

• Hotels: 11 nights' accommodation including:

  • Three nights at the 5-star Due Torri Hotel, Verona in a Deluxe Room;

  • Five nights at the 4-star Palace Hotel, Lake Como in a Classic Room with City View;

  • Three nights at the 4-star Sina de la Ville, Milan in a Deluxe Room;

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the tour.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Five lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee, and drinks and canapes on our boat tour in Lake Como.

• Entry Fees and Guided Tours: Entrance fees for museums, art galleries etc. as stated in your itinerary. Expert local guides will be used at some sites.

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and for meals included in your itinerary.

• Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.

EXCLUSIONS:

• International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from airports and hotels at the beginning and end of the tour. Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.

• Special Taxes: Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will endeavour to advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart.

• Visas: Costs associated with obtaining visas for countries visited on your tour. Please note that Australian and New Zealand passport holders are required to complete an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter Italy.

• Travel Insurance: Please note that you are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for the duration of your tour. If you live in Australia, Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.

• Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.

• Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.

SMALL GROUP SIZE

The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 2

All members of the tour must have the ability to:

• undertake walking tours of two-three hours duration, including using stairs and walking on uneven ground;

• stand for long periods in museum, art galleries etc;

• climb staircases of 100 or more steps;

• embark / disembark coaches, trains and other methods of transportation without assistance.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.

OPERA & MUSIC IN VERONA, LAKE COMO & MILAN