La Scala - Robert Broad Travel 0845 003 2211 or 01543 258631

Also available: Las Scala & Verona, 6 days from £999 per person (2 operas), click here

This wonderful tour combines the sophisticated splendour of Milan and its exquisite La Scala opera house with a stay in the Lombardy hills at the delightful Miramonti Hotel in the pretty village of Rota d’Imagna, that offers a true taste of rustic Italian culture. Highlights of the tour include a performance of Verdi’s Aida at Milan and a full range of tours to Milan itself, the beautiful city of Bergamo, Lake Como and a wonderful tour of the mountain region with local food tastings and a rustic lunch at a typical local “ristorante”.

Departure dates:
We can tailor make your holiday to this event if you require, please contact us for details.
- 8th July 2010
- 10th October 2010
- 28th October 2010

Itinerary...
Day 1: Fly from Heathrow to Milan and transfer by coach under tour manager's direction (approx 1.5 hours) to hotel for check in to your hotel in Rota d'Imagnafor a 5 night stay on bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2: Full day tour to Bergamo.
Day 3: Morning free. Afternoon visit to Milan with time allowed for sightseeing and dinner before performance at La Scala.

Opera schedule:
8 July Barber of Seville
10 October Elisir d'Amore
28 October Carmen

Day 4: A leisurely start to the day before we tour the local area with local food and winetasting and lunch at a typical restaurant.
Day 5: Full day tour to Lake Como.
Day 6:Day free until transfer to the airport for return flight to Heathrow.

PLEASE NOTE: Exact order of excursions may vary according to opera performance date and local conditions (eg weather forecast or tour manager's discretion.)

Flight details...
Scheduled flights with Alitalia from Heathrow to Milan including all payable taxes:
AZ7899 HEATHROW 09.35 MILAN 12.30
AZ238 MILAN 18.00 HEATHROW 19.10

Hotel details...
Hotel Miramonti & Rota d'Imagna
The village of Rota d’Imagna is reached via a steep, winding road from the little monastery town of St Omobono and is well worth the effort as it offers spectacular views of the valley below. The family-run 3-star Miramonti Hotel is famed for its superb cuisine and offers delightful rooms, all with balcony, private facilities, TV and telephone. The outdoor terrace offers superb views and is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the sunshine and views. The hotel is not air-conditioned but the village’s location ensures this is unnecessary. All rooms are extremely quiet as there is no passing traffic along the narrow lane that leads to the hotel. We have not included dinner as the a la carte menu here represents excellent value for money. There are also several other restaurants and pizzerias in the village.

Click here for Miramonti Hotel Website

Included in Price
- Return scheduled flights with Alitalia from Heathrow to Milan including all payable taxes.
- 5 nights accommodation in standard room on bed and buffet breakfast basis at 3-star Miramonti Hotel, Rota d'Imagna.
- Gallery or rear box seat at La Scala. (Possible restricted view)
- Transfers and full touring itinerary as detailed including tastings and lunch
- Tour manager throughout

IMPORTANT NOTES
In the unlikely event of the total cancellation of either opera due to ill-health or any other reason or change of cast, the ticket price will only be refunded if the entire performance is cancelled. Only the ticket price will be refunded under such circumstances and no reimbursement made for travel expenses such as flights, hotels, meals etc.

Tickets for La Scala are very difficult (and expensive) to procure. We acquire tickets through a trusted source who we have worked with for more than 14 years, but are obliged to pay a substantial premium. Ticket prices have no bearing on the actual price paid, so there is a large discrepancy between the upgraded ticket’s face value and the price paid. For your guidance the rear box tickets have an approximate average face value (+ 20% box office booking fee) of €30-70 and front box seats €190.

Not Included in Price
- Single room supplement (£105.00)
- Holiday insurance
- Upgraded stalls or front box seats at La Scala - yellow category) (£175 per person)
- Meals other than those stated
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
- Porterage and gratuities.

Milan
Our tours offer the chance to see a performance at Milan’s world-renowned opera house, La Scala. The atmosphere here is second to none and to go to the opera here is to really experience the Italian way of life. For full details, please see the attached sheet. Capital of Lombardy and one of Europe’s most important commercial centres, Milan is arguably Italy’s most influential city. Sights here include its magnificent Gothic Duomo, with 135 spires, the superb Brera Art Gallery that houses one of the best collections of art in the world, Castello Sforzesco and, of course, superb shopping opportunities, particularly in one of its many beautiful covered arcades such as the 19th century Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel II. A balcony or rear box seat is included for a performance of Aida at La Scala (possible restricted view) with the opportunity to upgrade.

Lake Como
Set in an idyllic landscape of mountains and rugged hillsides, Lake Como has attracted visitors for centuries. Crafted into a narrow wishbone shape by glacial erosion it offers fine views up to the Alps. The attractive town of Varenna is overlooked by a ruined 11th century castle and it easy to hop aboard a boat for a leisurely trip across the lake to the pretty resort of Bellagio, situated on the promontory of the wishbone, which has elegant lakeside promenades and cafés.

Rota d’Imagna and the Romanico Almeno
A leisurely morning excursion in the local area close to Rota d’Imagna will reveal wonderful mountain scenery, tasting of local specialities, a visit to a wine cellar and some fine Romanesque churches. Lunch is included on this delightful day at a local ristorante, serving typical rustic fare. An afternoon stroll round the village will help to work off some of the excesses.

Bergamo
Bergamo is a delightful hilltop town that owes much of its artistic and architectural splendour to the influence of Venice that ruled here from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Highlights of the upper town include the Piazza Vecchia and Duomo, dominated by the facade of the Colleoni Chapel and containing the tomb of Donizetti, whose work is still performed in Milan on this very tour. The main sight of the lower town is the important Galleria dell’ Accademia Carrara, housing works by major Italian and European artists including Bellni, Botticelli, Titian, Canaletto and many more.