Cultures in Creativity

Join Cultures in Creativity, a tour of Italy done in conjunction with the Gustavus Choir’s Concert Tour January 13-28, 2011.  The group will include students, family, alumni and friends of Gustavus on a 16-day opportunity to immerse in the rich musical, historical and religious culture of Italy. Choir performances include Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and in concert performances at historic churches in Rome, Sorrento, Assisi, Florence, and Venice. Leaders of the group include Gregory Aune, associate professor of music and conductor of The Gustavus Choir, and Brian Johnson ’80, chaplain at Gustavus and artistic director for Christmas in Christ Chapel. Registration deadline is October 1, 2010. For more information, contact Jackie Neeck Peterson ’77 at jpeters9@gustavus.edu or 800-726-6193.

Registration Forms available online here.

Itinerary 

  • Thursday, January 13 - Twin Cities Departure. Assemble at the United Airlines ticket counter for your flight departure to Rome, with connecting service in Chicago and Frankfurt.
  • Friday, January 14 - Rome Arrival. Arrive at Rome Fiumi­cino Airport and meet your two Italian tour managers who will be with the group throughout Italy. Transfer by private motorcoach to the Grand Hotel Palatino for check-in, fol­lowed by a walking tour of the surrounding area. Group dinner at the hotel. (B,D)
  • Saturday, January 15 - Rome. Morning departure for a half-day guided walking tour, including a visit to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Late afternoon motorcoach transfer to Santa Maria Church in Monte Santo for a concert. (B)
  • Sunday, January 16 - Rome. Transfer by private motorcoach to St. Peter’s Basilica to listen to the choir as they participate in Mass. The remainder of your day is free for independent exploration. (B)
  • Monday, January 17 - Rome. Morning departure by private motorcoach for a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Evening transfer by private motorcoach to Chiesa di S. Agnese in Piazza Navona for a concert performance. (B)
  • Tuesday, January 18 - Rome/Sorrento. Morning departure by private motorcoach for Sorrento, with an en route guided tour of Pompeii including lunch at a local restaurant. Continue on to Sorrento for check-in and group dinner at Michelangelo Hotel. (B,L,D)
  • Wednesday, January 19 - Sorrento. Morning depar­ture by private motorcoach for a drive around the Amalfi Coast. With lem­on grove terraced cliffs, dotted with whitewashed villas above sparkling seas, it’s easy to see why the Amalfi Coast has been popular since Roman times. Return to Sorrento for Mass at the Church of San Francesco, followed by a concert performance. (B)
  • Thursday, January 20 - Sorrento/Assisi. Morning departure for Orvieto including a group lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the marbled Duomo and a funicular ride. Continue on to Assisi for check-in and group dinner at the Hotel Fontabella. (B,L,D)
  • Friday, January 21 - Assisi. Concert performance after Mass at the Lower Basilica di San Francesco. Afternoon guided tour of the Basilica di San Francesco followed by a concert performance at Santa Maria Maggiore Church. (B)
  • Saturday, January 22 - Assisi/Florence. Morning de­parture by private motor­coach for Florence, with en route visits to Siena and San Gimignano, including a group lunch at a local res­taurant in Siena. Continue to Florence for check-in and a group dinner at the Hotel Palazzo Ricasoli. (B,L,D)
  • Sunday, January 23 - Florence. Morning departure for a guided walking tour of the Accademia, the Duomo and the Baptistry Doors. Eve­ning transfer to the Church of S. Maria dei Ricci for a concert performance. (B)
  • Monday, January 24 - Florence. Day free for independent exploration. (B)
  • Tuesday, January 25 - Florence. Morning departure on foot for a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery and Bargello - hous­ing two of the world’s most important art collections. (B)
  • Wednesday, January 26 - Florence/Venice. Morning departure by private mo­torcoach for Venice, with en route stop in Verona to visit the Roman Amphitheatre and Romeo and Juliet’s Balcony. Enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Venice. Upon arrival in Venice’s Piazza Roma Bus Depot, proceed to the water­way for embarkation on a private motorlaunch for your transfer to Hotel Belle Arti. (B,L)
  • Thursday, January 27 - Venice. Morning departure for a guided walking tour of the city, including St. Mark’s Square and Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Enjoy an afternoon gondola ride fol­lowed by an evening trans­fer by private motorlaunch to San Salvadore Church for a concert performance. Say farewell to Italy with a dinner at the Aquila Nera Restaurant. (B,D)
  • Friday, January 28 - Venice/Twin Cities. Early morning transfer by private motorlaunch to the airport for departure on Lufthansa German Airlines to the Twin Cities with connecting service in Frankfurt and Chicago. (B)

B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner

Itinerary subject to change due to local scheduling.

Specific companion tour opportunities to be announced dependent on number of participants.