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PUCCINI FESTIVAL & TUSCANY
Puccini's 150th Birthday Celebration
7 August, 5 days

Enjoy five fabulous days in the heart of Tuscany and see up to 3 Puccini operas at the world famous festival at Torre del Lago on Lake Massaciuccoli. The choice of operas are Tosca, Turandot and the rarely performed early work, Edgar.

This opera holiday is a hommage both to the glory of Puccini and to the marvels of Tuscany. The Torre del Lago festival began in 1930 to fulfil the wish of Puccini, 'One day I should like to be able to step out from my house and hear one of my operas performed in the open-air.' Since then many of the world's most famous singers have performed at the Festival. Besides seeing his operas we visit the houses and countryside most associated with Puccini and we enjoy a fascinating selection of the cultural and scenic sights of Tuscany, including fine dining and wine tasting. 2008 is the 150th anniversary of Puccini's birth and special celebrations are planned for this year.

Thursday 7 August

Flights from Liverpool, London Stansted and Bristol reach Pisa mid-morning (British Airways flights from London Gatwick at a supplement, other airports may be available). We are met by a local guide and driven to the Piazza dei Miracoli one of the world's most famous and harmonious architectural complexes, defined by the innovative Pisan design of the 11th century. Our guided tour includes the Duomo, the Battistero and the Camposanto, containing the Triumph of Death fresco whose combination of poetic freshness and harsh realism create one of the finest Italian artworks of the Trecento.

At lunchtime we continue to Lake Massaciuccoli to dine at the Chalet del Lago a restored fin de siecle restaurant with Italian impressionist frescos and which was much visited by Puccini himself. After lunch we visit the Villa Mausoleo di Puccini, a minute's walk from the restaurant. Puccini spent most of the last 20 years of his life here. The sensation is hauntingly evocative, as if the maestro had just stepped out to hunt wildfowl with his gun (his 'second favourite instrument'), and we were awaiting his return.

Our hotel in Lucca is the attractive four-star Hotel Celide. Situated immediately outside the city walls and only 300m from the train station the hotel also offers bicycles to ride along the top of the walls. Recently renovated to a contemporary design, each bedroom is individually styled and provides mini-bar, satellite-TV, air-conditioning and private facilities. The hotel has a bar and terrace. The restaurant is closed in August but there are ample alternative dining locations nearby.

For this evening's included evening meal we take a short walk to within the city's medieval walls to a typical Tuscan restaurant.

Friday 8 August

Lucca, an erstwhile minor Renaissance capital, a winding network of medieval alleys superimposed on a Roman chequerboard plan, at its centre an unusual oval town square built upon the skeleton of an amphitheatre whose stones were stripped to construct the houses. Our morning guided tour takes us through the fascinating old town into the Duomo, holding the Volto Santo (Holy Face) supposedly carved by Nicodemus from memory after the Entombment. The Chiesa di San Michele is considered by many to present the finest Pisan-style façade. We hope to visit Puccini's birthplace, Casa Natale di Puccini, though currently it is closed. The afternoon is free for individual exploration. Lucca has several interesting museums and Renaissance houses to visit, a Giardino Botanico and the imposing formal gardens of the Palazzo Pfanner. Nearby you can reach by taxi the superb Tuscan villas and grounds of Villa Reale di Marila, Villa Torrigiani and Villa Mansi.
This evening's performance is Tosca.

Saturday 9 August

A free day, maybe to further explore Lucca and its surrounds, perhaps to join our optional excursion by train to Florence. A train journey of about 75 minutes takes you to the heart of Florence, where our guide waits for a morning walk through the heart of the city (Santa Maria Novella, Battistero, Duomo, Piazza della Signoria). The cost of this optional trip covers only the local guide. Train tickets and entrances are to be paid locally. After the morning tour you can remain as long as you wish in Florence. Other Tuscan towns of notable artistic interest and within easy train access are Prato and Pistoia. Tonight our Puccini opera is Edgar.

Sunday 10 August

The Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano was the first, and considered by many the finest, of the Renaissance villas, built for Lorenzo di Medici and is adorned with fantastic frescos. Following the guided tour of the villa and grounds we continue for lunch and winetasting on a typical Tuscan estate, Villa Petriolo. Our final performance at the Puccini Festival tonight is Turandot.

Monday 11 August

We return to Pisa airport this morning. Holiday extensions are available for Friends wishing to stay longer in Tuscany.

The price of this holiday is £950pp sharing a twin bedded room. This includes return flights from Bristol, Liverpool or London Stansted airport to Pisa (Gatwick at a supplement), four nights in the Hotel Celide on a bed and breakfast basis, excursions, meals and entrance fees as described above, excellent seats for two operas and on-site services of a Grosvenor Travel representative throughout. Additional ticket and transfers for third opera is £95pp. Single supplement is £95pp. Florence walking tour is £14pp. Extensions on request.

Travel insurance is available at £15pp for clients aged up to 65 at time of booking. (Certain medical conditions may require a premium). Premium of 2 x adult rate applies aged 66 to 75, 2.5x aged 76 to 79, and 3.5 aged 80 to 86. There is an excess on most policy categories which can be waived for payment of an additional £10pp (no age-related supplement). Annual insurance is also available.