RSYO International Performance Tour

Italy June 21, 2021 – June 30, 2021 Major Details

• June 21, 2021 – June 30, 2021

• All current RSYO members (9th-12th grade), new members who join next year, and their parents and family members

• Verona, Venice, Pisa, Florence, and Rome Europe Tour History

• 2001 – United Kingdom

• 2007 – Italy – Venice, Florence, Rome

• 2010 – Central Europe – Prague, Vienna, Budapest

• 2014 – Northern Italy – Venice, Verona, Florence, Pisa

• 2018 – United Kingdom – London, Oxford, Gloucester,

• 2021 – Italy - Verona, Venice, Pisa, Florence, and Rome Monday, June 21

• Students depart on overnight flights from Philadelphia or Newark to Milan Tuesday, June 22

• Arrive in Milan

• Clear Immigration/Customs/Inspect Instruments

• Meet tour managers, private coaches, instrument truck

• Transfer to hotel/check in

• Dinner in hotel Wednesday, June 23

• Breakfast in the hotel • Excursion to Verona to see Pizza Erba, Juliet’s Balcony, and visit the famous Verona Arena (entrance fee included in trip cost) • Lunch in Verona • Travel to Mantova • Time to explore Mantova – dinner in a local restaurant • Possible performance in the evening in Mariana Mantovana as part of the Musica Classica Concert Series Juliet’s Balcony Mantova Thursday, June 24

• Full day excursion by coach and private boat to Venice, including guided walking tour of the city: • Doge’s Palace • Bridge of Sighs • St. Mark’s Square and Basilica • Rilalto Bridge • Grand Canal

• Dinner in local restaurant Venice Friday, June 25

• Breakfast in the hotel

• Depart by coach for Montecatini Terme – en route stop in Modena or Bologna for lunch independent • Time to explore on own

• Continue by coach to hotel

• Dinner in the hotel Modena Balogna Saturday, June 26

• Breakfast in the hotel

• Late morning excursion to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower

• Lunch independent

• Continue by coach to Lucca (possible visit to Puccini’s Birthplace, depending upon concert arrangement)

• Rehearsal/Dinner in local restaurant

• Concert in the Duomo di Lucca Leaning Tower of Pisa Duomo di Lucca Sunday, June 27

• Breakfast in hotel • Excursion to Florence including guided walking tour • Piazza Nettuno • Duomo di Santa Maria dei Fiori (Florence Cathedral) • Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) • Lunch independent • Rehearsal/Return to hotel • Concert in Terme Tettucio in Montecatini Terme Terme Tettucio Monday, June 28

• Early departure for Rome • Guided sightseeing tour of Ancient Rome • Colosseum • Spanish Steps • Piazza Navona • Roman Forum • Dinner in local restaurant • Continue by coach to hotel/check in Rome Tuesday, June 29

• Breakfast in the hotel • Guided tour of the Vatican including St Peter’s Basilica and the entrance to the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel • Lunch independent • At leisure in Rome for last minute sightseeing/shopping • Farewell dinner in local restaurant Vatican City Wednesday, June 30

• Breakfast in the hotel

• Transfer by coach to Rome Fiumicino airport for return flights home to Philadelphia or Newark Inclusions

• 8 nights’ hotel accommodation sharing triple/quad/twin bedded rooms with private facilities

• Breakfast plus one other main meal daily

• Land transportation by private air-conditioned motor coaches throughout your stay in Italy

• Instrument truck for hired instruments (plus rentals and overweight/additional baggage fees for instruments)

• One tour manager per coach throughout your stay in Italy

• All arrangements for 3 performances

• Private boat launch to/from Venice

• Guided sightseeing tours of Venice, Verona, Florence & Rome (2 tours – ancient Rome & Vatican City)

• Paid entrances to Verona arena, Puccini’s Birthplace Museum & Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel)

• Concert ticket

• Travelex Insurance 360 Student Group Premier (travel insurance for students only) Payment Info

• December 21, 2019 $200 Non-refundable deposit • March 7, 2020 $800 • May 17, 2020 $800 • September 14, 2020 $800 • December 12, 2020 $800 • January 20, 2021 $800 • Student Total $4200 • Adult Tour Cost $4200, $4600 for single rooms) Payment Options

• Check – preferred method

• Mail to the RSO office or bring in on the day payment is due

• Please don’t bring in payments to rehearsals

• Credit Card – can be processed through the office but will incur a 4% surcharge

• Lump sums are accepted Passports

• Everyone will need a passport for this trip • Go online for more info: http://travel.state.gov/

• Students that are applying for a passport for the first time will need to do so in person at a local passport acceptance facility. • Passports for children under 16 are valid for 5 years, otherwise passports are valid for 10 years. • *PLEASE NOTE: Any passport that will expire prior to December 2021 will need to be renewed for this trip! Other Details

• Donor Letters

• Student Safety

• Travel Insurance • Parent Group – Observer Tour

• Commitment Form and Student Travel Info Updates and Announcements

• RSYO Italy Tour 2021 on Facebook (search for it)

• www.readingsymphonyyouth.org – Italy 2021

• Remind text messages • Text @RSYOItaly to 81010 • rmd.at/rsyoitaly for smartphones • Email [email protected]

• Email (make sure this is correct in the Google form for all students and observer tour travelers) Future Meeting Topics

• Further itinerary details

• Currency, spending money, other expenses

• Packing and manifest • Airports/Flight Information

• Cultural Ambassador

• Travel Tips and Safety Your Task

• Fill out Google form and mail in deposit check/credit card payment

• Customize donor letter and mail to family and friends

• Research!