2024 Mountain View Presbyterian Church
Sanctuary Choir & Friends
Music & Art Tour of Italy
Itinerary and Registration Form
Please complete one registration per traveler. If you are registering more than one traveler, you may return to this page.
Current Itinerary (subject to change)
Friday, June 28, 2024
Breakfast at the hotel, then embark on a panoramic tour of Rome. Dubbed “Urbs Æterna,” or the “Eternal City” by ancient poets, a walk through Rome is a walk through history with ruins of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire resting aside the monuments of the Catholic Church. See the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and more. Have lunch on own and the afternoon as leisure, then gather for dinner as a group and an extra-special after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Early check-out and departure from the hotel (breakfast may be on-site or bagged, depending on the day’s timing). Attend the Papal Mass celebrating the Feast of SS. Peter & Paul in St. Peter’s Basilica (pending confirmation). Following the Mass, have time for lunch on own before departing for Florence. Dinner is on own en route or once in Florence.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Breakfast at the hotel. Florence, the heart of Tuscany, is the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante Alighieri, and, through the patronage of the Medici family, the epicenter of the Renaissance. A guided tour of Florence includes the Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo, its Baptistry and Gates of Paradise, and an inside visit to the Galleria della’Accademia di Firenze, home of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David. Have lunch on own and some free time before boarding the coach for a short drive to Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city. From there it is a short walk to the Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte to attend the Sunday evening Vespers chanted in Latin by the resident monks. Dinner and the remainder of the evening is on own.
Monday, July 1, 2024
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, split into small groups for a visit to a working sculptor’s studio, where visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at carving marble and see firsthand how figures are modeled, molded, and cast. Lunch on own, then have an option to explore Florence on own this afternoon or take a supplemental guided art tour. This evening, drive to the Tuscan countryside for a wine-tasting dinner, then return to the hotel for overnight.
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by hotel check-out. Load the motorcoach and depart for Milan with a stop in Cremona. Renowned as the birthplace of some of the world’s finest violin makers, including Stradivari and Guarneri, Cremona holds a special place in the history of classical music. Take a guided tour of the new Museo del Violino and enjoy a 30-minute solo demonstration of a Stradivarius instrument, performed in the beautiful Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi. Lunch on own in Cremona, then continue to Milan for hotel check-in. The remainder of the evening, as well as dinner, is on own.
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Breakfast at the hotel, then take a guided walking tour of Milan. As the largest city in northern Italy, Milan is Italy’s fashion and financial capital and a dynamic metropolis with a rich history. Visit the Milan Cathedral, or “Duomo di Milano,” a stunning Gothic masterpiece renowned for its intricate architecture, intricate sculptures, and impressive spires. Stroll through the opulent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and have lunch on own, followed by some time at leisure in the afternoon. Then, prepare for an exquisite evening at the world-famous Teatro alla Scala, with a private guided tour, a pre-concert glass of wine, and finally, a performance of Mozart’s Requiem.
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Breakfast at the hotel. The day is free for independent exploration of Milan or its surroundings. Visit the Brera Pinacoteca for more magnificent Italian art. Take a train to Como and enjoy some time on the lake. Sit and sip coffee at the Piazza del Duomo or shop Milan’s fashionable stores. Or visit Da Vinci’s The Last Supper in the Santa Maria della Grazie convent (subject to available tickets or tours). Gather one last time for a farewell dinner in Milan.
Tour Price
$4,744 per person in double occupancy, with a minimum of 30 total travelers.
The land-only cost for those who wish to arrange their own airfare is $3,094 per person in double occupancy.
The single supplement for solo travelers is $1,051.
If there are 35 total travelers, the base cost will be reduced to $4,606 per person and $2,956 per person land-only.
Payment Schedule
- $500 per person due November 30, 2023
- $1,500 per person due February 29, 2024
- Balance due April 30, 2024
Cancellation Schedule
(penalties are not cumulative)
- $500 penalty through February 29, 2024
- $1,000 penalty from March 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024
- From May 1, 2024 all payments are non-refundable
Tour Inclusions
- Roundtrip airfare from Phoenix to Italy as priced
- 8 nights in 4* hotels, including daily breakfast
- Full-time tour manager
- Chartered luxury motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
- Tickets to Mass at St. Peter’s (pending availability), Stradivarius audition in Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi, Mozart Requiem in Teatro alla Scala
- Entrance to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, Galleria della’Accademia (David), Sculpter’s studio in Florence, Museo del Violino, and Milan Duomo
- Guided tours of Rome, Florence, and Milan
- 4 dinners as specified in the itinerary
- All gratuities to drivers and service staff
Tour Exclusions
- Meals on own, en route, or otherwise not specified above
- Expenses of a personal nature (snacks, souvenirs, cleaning, etc.)
- Passport acquisition or visas, if necessary
- ETIAS registration for entry to the EU
- Trip protection/cancellation insurance
- Any item not specifically included above
Please complete one registration per person.
You may return to this page after each registration is complete.