MIAMI EXPLORERS EXCLUSIVE
Go on Tour! THE HEART OF ITALY WITH THE MIAMI UNIVERSITY MEN’S GLEE CLUB
Experience Italy with the Miami University Alumni Association and the Miami University Men’s Glee Club on this 15-day journey! Join us as we enjoy remarkable architecture, breathtaking sights and heartfelt music in iconic venues.
May 21-June 4, 2019
Enjoy this one-of-a-kind trip of culture and song. We may be far removed from the red bricks of Oxford, but what better way to experience this unique travel opportunity than in the company of students, alumni and friends of Miami? Love and Honor,
Murstein Alumni Center 725 E. Chestnut St. Oxford, OH 45056
Jeremy D. Jones, DMA Director, Miami University Men’s Glee Club
Register today for The Heart of Italy, please visit MiamiAlum.org/OnTour.
Kathryn Myles ’89, MGS ’91 Associate Director, Alumni Travel and Lifetime Engagement
Travel alongside the Miami University Men’s Glee Club during an unforgettable 15-day journey combining the rich culture, beauty and history of Italy with the unrivaled brotherhood and song of one of the nation’s oldest and largest collegiate choirs.
YOUR 15-DAY ITINERARY
May 29 Rome
Tentative. Subject to change.
May 21
May 26 B
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U.S. to Venice
San Gimignano/Siena/Assisi
Depart from the U.S. and travel overnight to Venice, Italy
Drive through the Tuscan hills to the ancient stone town of San Gimignano often called the “Tuscan Manhattan” because of its many towers and stunning architecture. Continue to the medieval city of Siena, home of the famous Palio horse races at Piazza del Campo. Take a walking tour of Siena and visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a gleaming marble treasury of Gothic art including works by Donatello, Bernini and a young Michelangelo. Continue to the medieval city of Assisi.
May 22 Arrival in Venice
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Independent transfer to your hotel at Venice/ Mestre. Check in, relax and enjoy a group welcome dinner.
May 23 Venice
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Travel by private boat to the center of the city and visit the famous Doge’s Palace. Enjoy a walking tour and visit the Basilica of St. Mark where the Glee Club will perform a concert. Enjoy the afternoon for shopping, an optional gondola ride, a visit to a glassblowing factory or enjoy the city on your own.
May 24 Pisa/Florence
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En route to Pisa, stop at a local winery. Travel to Pisa, the birthplace of Galileo, the great Italian physicist, mathematician and astronomer. Visit the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and museum. Continue to Florence.
May 25 Florence
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Spend the day seeing the highlights of Florence, including the superb “David” sculpture by Michelangelo, the beautiful Piazza Del Duomo and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore. Visit the 13th century Franciscan Church of the Holy Cross. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure and attend a formal concert of the Glee Club in the evening.
May 27 Assisi
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Take a walking tour through this peaceful city with its ancient palaces around a splendid Roman temple to visit the Basilica of St. Francis. Our local guide will take us to explore the Basilica complex, composed of two churches built one on top of the other. Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which houses the Little Portion Chapel around which the first Franciscan community was centered. Enjoy a Men’s Glee Club formal concert in the evening for the city of Assisi.
May 28 Rome
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Depart Assisi for Rome, the “Eternal City,” for a beautiful and stunning view of over 2,500 years of Roman history. Visit Roman ruins, 15th century churches, 17th century palaces and 20th century monuments. Visit the Cathedral of St. John Lateran, the first Christian church to be consecrated by the Emperor Constantine, and home to many Popes for years prior to the present Vatican residence. Continue to the Basilica of St. Paul on the site of his tomb.
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Begin the day with a visit to the Church of St. Peter in Chains and continue to the ancient Roman Forum. See the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Constantine, and proceed to the famous Colosseum for a fascinating explanation of its history. Toss a coin in the famous Trevi Fountain. Drive to the famous St. Peter’s Basilica where the Men’s Glee Club will participate and sing in a public Mass inside this stunning church. Later in the evening, attend a gala dinner and taste the local Mediterranean cuisine in a typical Roman setting with wine and music.
May 30 Rome
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Tour the Vatican Museums, home of one of the greatest art collections in the world. Visit the Sistine Chapel, the private chapel of the Popes, where Michelangelo best expressed his genius in monumental frescoes. The tour continues into St. Peter’s Basilica, with the amazing architecture and statuary adorning the largest of all Christian churches. Experience one of Rome’s busiest and spectacular piazzas, Navona Square, for a formal concert of the Men’s Glee Club for the city of Rome at the famous Pantheon.
May 31 Sorrento
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June 2 Sorrento
Enjoy a leisurely day in Sorrento on the beach or exploring the town, or take an optional tour to Capri via ferry where you will visit Villa San Michele, which boasts one of the island’s most panoramic views. Enjoy free time in Capri before heading to a breathtaking scenic overlook facing the Faraglioni rock formations. Return to Sorrento in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner on your own to taste the best Mediterranean cuisine in one of the many local restaurants.
June 3 Palestrina
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Drive to Palestrina, the birthplace of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the greatest producer of sacred polyphony music. Visit his house-museum where thousands of compositions have been collected. A Renaissance-style lunch is included as well as a formal public Glee Club concert for the city of Palestrina. After the concert, we drive to Frascati where we have our farewell dinner at a beautiful villa, surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the lights of the city of Rome.
Rome to U.S.
•P orterage at airports
The trip package includes:
•O ptional tour/excursion to the Isle of Capri (from Sorrento)
• Hotel accommodations including breakfasts in first-class and moderate firstclass hotels for 13 nights, including three nights of a resort stay in Sorrento on the beautiful Amalfi Coast
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• Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout the tour • Sightseeing with local tour guides, entrance fees to museums, churches, the Colosseum, Vatican Museum, Pompeii and other sites • Winery tour and wine tasting • Listening devices throughout the tour • Services of a professional tour manager throughout the trip • Men’s Glee Club performances in landmark and historic locations throughout the region* including St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, the Pantheon in Rome, a public Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and a public concert in the City of Palestrina. (*all details and venues subject to change) • Opportunity for Miami Glee Club alumni to sing in select Glee Club performances The trip package does NOT include: • Air transportation from U.S. to Venice and from Rome to U.S. (please note this is not a round-trip air ticket. Guests arrive and depart from two different cities). Guests are responsible for securing their own flight arrangements. Guidelines for arrival times will be provided after booking.
•T rip cancellation insurance (highly recommended) •A dditional meals not listed •G ratuities for local guides, tour manager, drivers and hotel services staff PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Guests must be able to walk independently at a moderate pace and enjoy two hours or more of walking at a time, be surefooted and steady on cobbled and uneven surfaces, and walk up and down stairs without assistance. Because of the historic nature of many of the sites on the tour, most do not include elevators. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate guests with wheelchairs or motor scooters. COSTS AND CANCELLATION POLICY The cost per person is $4,299 (excluding air), double occupancy. Single supplement is $1,300. A deposit of $1,000 per person is required to reserve space. Deposits must be paid by Dec. 15, 2018; final payment is due March 15, 2019. The operation of this trip is contingent on a minimum of 20 travelers and is limited to 50. Deposits will be refunded if the trip is canceled due to low enrollment. Individual cancellations made before Feb. 1, 2019, will receive a full refund. Individuals who cancel between Feb. 1 and April 1 will be charged a $1,000 cancellation fee. No refunds will be given after April 1 for any reason. Purchase of trip cancellation insurance is strongly suggested.
Depart from Rome for the return flight home
B BREAKFAST INCLUDED
June 1 B
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Porterage at all hotels
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June 4
Depart Rome and drive to the south of Italy to take a guided tour of the archeological site of the Roman city of Pompeii, buried under a devastating volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Drive to Sorrento where we will enjoy three nights relaxing in this beautiful resort town.
Amalfi Coast/Positano/Amalfi
Heritage Sites. Visit the cathedral dedicated to Saint Andrew and taste the delicious fresh lemon juice, lemon ice cream or the famous Limoncello. Enjoy an afternoon exploring Amalfi before heading back to Sorrento.
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Enjoy a beautiful bus ride along the Amalfi coast, one of the most fascinating coastlines in the world. Stop in Positano, then by boat we reach Amalfi, the main town of the coast on which it is located and included in the UNESCO World
L LUNCH INCLUDED D DINNER INCLUDED
Registration information To register for Go on tour! The Heart of Italy, please visit MiamiAlum.org/OnTour. Deposits are due by Dec. 15, 2018. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority reservations will be given to Glee Club alumni through Oct. 21. Questions? Contact the MUAA travel program at 513-529-1443 or toll-free at 1-866-MUALUMS.