Opera & Food – Rossini Festival: Italy Small Group Tour

Detailed itinerary

Meals Included: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Day 1 Pesaro (D)

Your tour leader/s will meet you at the hotel in the centre of Pesaro at 1600 Introductions and an overview of the tour will precede an aperitivo in the Piazza del Popolo. Dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Day 2 Pesaro (BL)

Our first day in Pesaro begins with a guided walking tour of the historical centre of the city. We visit the house and museum of Gioachino Rossini as well as the world-famous music school he founded, the Rossini Conservetoire, which hosts artists and musicians from all over the world. We explore the ancient centre of Pesaro with its Ducal Palace and Piazza del Popolo. A special lunch is organised in one of the oldest trattorie in the city which serves traditional Marchigiana cuisine. Free afternoon to rest up or further explore the city. In the evening, the group will attend the first opera performance at Teatro Rossini.

Day 3 Pesaro/Urbino/Urbania (BL)

Today we begin to explore the land once ruled by the medieval lords of Montefeltro: Urbino, which after Florence, was one of the most important centres of the Italian Renaissance and also the birthplace of Raphael. We will tour the magnificent Ducal Palace which houses the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche with its precious paintings by Piero della Francesca, Tiziano, Paolo Uccello and Raphael. We then travel to the historical city of Urbania where the group will have lunch in an award winning Osteria which serves exquisite locally produced specialties together with local wines. Urbania is renowned for its Majolica ceramics which are made in the same tradition of long ago. We visit several local artisans in their workshops. Free evening.

Day 4 Pesaro/Gradara/Novilara (BL)

After breakfast, the group will visit a very impressive medieval town Gradara: a magnificent walled castle set on a hill with spectacular views of the Adriatic and surrounding hills. Gradara was made famous by the world-renowned Italian poet Dante, who immortalised in literature the special love affair which happened inside the castle walls. We then make our way to another medieval hill-town, Novilara. The group will enjoy a specialty lunch at a traditional family trattoria which is famous for its local home-made specialty food. After a pleasant afternoon stroll of the township, we head back to Pesaro where we will attend our second opera performance.

Day 5 Pesaro/San Marino/San Leo (BL)

Today we travel just over the Le Marche border for a visit to the tiny Republic of San Marino. This city is set on a magnificent hilltop, offering spectacular views of the surrounding rolling hills as far as the Adriatic Sea. San Marino lays claim to being the oldest state and constitutional republic in the world. It continues to display its historical pageantry with its unique and traditional festivals. These draw people from all over the world. It also boasts duty free shopping in all its stores and people flock to buy leather goods, jewellery, clothing and many other items. In the afternoon, we visit San Leo, a small hamlet set on sheer cliffs with its medieval castle set on the very top of the town, and visit a number of iconic buildings in the town. We stop for lunch in a local trattoria in the beautiful town square which serves traditional local produce. We will taste their delicious formaggio di fossa: a cheese walled up in rock caves to mature for months. Free evening.

Day 6 Pesaro (B)

The tour officially ends after breakfast at the hotel.