Serenades CHORAL TRAVEL
Connecting Lives Through Music & Cultural Experiences
2023 Preliminary Itinerary
To be confirmed spring of 2023 and subject to change
DAY 1: Fri., June 16 (Arrival Day)
All participants will arrive and check in at Grand Hotel D'Aragona (4 stars) in CONVERSANO at various times with either a private transfer arranged by the program, via taxi from the BARI airport (BRI) with a flight from Rome, Milan, or another European city, or by train from BARI. Transportation to the hotel is not included, but, the program will coordinate and combine participants who are arriving at the same time. BARI airport is only 21 miles and 40 minutes from our hotel in CONVERSANO.
7:00 PM ORIENTATION: staff & participants at hotel
7:30 PM WELCOME DINNER at hotel (included)
Authentic Italy!
DAY 2: Saturday, June 17
AM Breakfast at hotel
9:30 AM REHEARSAL I: Warm Up, Orientation & Rep Run-through with Paulo and David (air-conditioned space at the hotel)
12:30 PM Lunch Break
PM Depart for MONOPOLI on the Adriatic Coast; walking tour with local guide in this beautiful fishing village; free time to explore and/or shop. Return to CONVERSANO. Walking tour and orientation of CONVERSANO with local guide and free time to explore
8:00 PM Dinner On Your Own in historic center of CONVERSANO
10:00 PM 15 min. walk or shuttle back to hotel
DAY 3: Sunday, June 18:
AM Breakfast
9:30 AM REHEARSAL II at hotel
12:30 PM Lunch Break
Mid PM Depart for POLIGNANO A MARE on the Adriatic Coast; walking tour with guide in this beautiful village overlooking the sea; ARTISAN GELATO TASTING
8:00 PM APULIAN SEAFOOD DINNER at a local trattoria. Return to CONVERSANO (included)
Day 4: Monday, June 19:
AM Breakfast
9:30 AM REHEARSAL III at hotel
12:30 PM Lunch Break
Mid PM depart for LOCOROTONDO, with narrow and concentric arranged streets lined with whitewashed houses called Cummerse.
Visit ALBEROBELLO Unesco site, “the capital of Trulli houses”, ancient 14th century stone houses with a round shape and a conical roof. GUIDED WALKING TOUR along the picturesque Trulli district and the Aia Piccola area where some local people still live in these fairytale houses.
8:00 PM DINNER in a local restaurant based on Apulian traditional dishes and wine. Return to CONVERSANO. (included)
DAY 5: Tuesday, June 20:
AM Breakfast
9:30 AM REHEARSAL IV at hotel
12:30 PM Lunch Break
1:30 PM Depart for MATERA, a UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for the SASSI DI MATERA, an ancient city with houses that have been excavated into the rocks and inhabited since the Stone Age. Churches, houses, caves, and ancient streets create a unique and suggestive landscape.
GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF MATERA and visit of an ancient cave house fully furnished as it was in the past.
8:00 PM DINNER ON YOUR OWN in MATERA. Return to CONVERSANO.
DAY 6: Wednesday, June 21:
AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Depart for FASANO for a VISIT, OLIVE OIL TASTING, and LUNCH at an 17th century, organic and sustainable Apulian MASSERIA (included)
Return to CONVERSANO after lunch
3:30 PM REHEARSAL V at hotel
8:00 PM DINNER ON YOUR OWN in the historic center of CONVERSANO or at the hotel.
10:00 PM 15 min. walk or shuttle back to hotel
DAY 7: Thursday, June 22:
AM Breakfast
9:30 AM REHEARSAL VI at hotel
12:30 PM Lunch Break
3:00 PM Depart for GIOIA DEL COLLE in the countryside for VISIT, TOUR, WINE TASTING at local Apulian winery to get to know typical Apulian white, rosè and red wines (included)
Continue onto SAMMICHELE DI BARI, a charming village to experience a "fornelli" for an authentic Apulian BARBECUE DINNER with, of course, vegetarian options (included)
Return to CONVERSANO
DAY 8: Friday, June 23:
AM Breakfast hotel
AM Depart for TURI, SANDRO and ANTONELLA's home town, famous for its CHERRIES, and visit THE LOCAL MARKET and the historic center
Continue onto the Apulian countryside for a local farm famous for its production of ORGANIC CHEESE; visit with our hostess, MARIANGELA and taste her freshly made MOZZARELLA and BURRATA CHEESE before we savor a TRADITIONAL APULIAN LUNCH (included)
Return to CONVERSANO after lunch
3:30 PM REHEARSAL VII
8:00 PM DINNER ON YOUR OWN in the historic center of CONVERSANO or at the hotel.
10:00 PM 15 min. walk or shuttle back to hotel
Day 9: Saturday, June 24:
AM Breakfast
9:30 AM REHEARSAL VIII (if needed)
12:30 PM Lunch and Free Time
6:30 PM ACOUSTICAL REHEARSAL (TBA)
7:30 PM Break
8:00 PM CONCERT I in CONVERSANO (TBA)
9:00 PM POST CONCERT DINNER at local restaurant (included)
Day 10: Sunday, June 25:
AM Breakfast
Free Time
6:30 PM ACOUSTICAL REHEARSAL (TBA)
7:30 PM Break
8:00 PM CONCERT II in ALBEROBELLO (TBA)
9:00 PM POST CONCERT DINNER at local restaurant (included)
Day 11: Monday, June 26:
AM Breakfast
Free Time
6:30 PM ACOUSTICAL REHEARSAL (TBA)
7:30 PM Break
8:00 PM CONCERT III in MONOPLI (TBA)
9:00 PM POST CONCERT & ITALIAN CELEBRATION DINNER at local restaurant and CLOSING WORDS (included)
Day 12: Tuesday, June 27:
AM Breakfast
Check out of hotel
Transfer to BARI AIRPORT, TRAIN STATION or your next destination. Transfer not included, but, staff will arrange and coordinate for those who would like it.
Grazie e arrivederci!
