The Associazione Internazionale Amici della Musica Sacra, in cooperation with its technical office, Courtial International, a highly specialized choir and concert tour operator, over the years has arranged customized performance tours for hundreds of choirs to Europe, mainly Italy including Rome and the Vatican City, Florence, Assisi, Verona, Venice, and Milan, as well as to Germany and Austria.

Our concerts normally have a big audience of choral music enthusiasts, who have the opportunity to appreciate wonderful music in the most beautiful Italian churches. The average audience during a year amounts to 20.000 persons and thanks to our publicity (posters, announcements on radio and TV, press releases and so on) we can assure very successful performances and concert tours, from a technical and a promotional point of view.

Furthermore, the excellent and central location of our offices, directly at St. Peter's Square in Rome, enables us to have very close contacts with the Vatican. We can arrange for your choirs to perform during a Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, during a Papal Mass or Papal Audience or in other wonderful Italian Churches.


CHOIR TOUR TO ROME

Day 1, Saturday
Upon your arrival at the airport in Rome you will met your assistant, that accompanies you to your accommodation, where dinner will be served.

Day 2, Sunday
Free time in the morning for exploring the sights of the Vatican City and Rome.

In the afternoon you will have the chance to sing during the Solemn Mass in the grandiose St. Peter's Basilica, an unforgettable experience of your tour to Rome. Always in the afternoon, you can participate in the Vespers with Gregorian chant in St. Peter's Basilica.

In the evening you will hold a formal public concert in the exclusive setting of St. Ignatius Church, one of the most beautiful roman churches.

Dinner in your guest house.

Day 3, Monday
You will have the opportunity of celebrating a private Holy Mass at the Tomb of St. Peter (only for groups accompanied by their priest).

After lunch, visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul, the Cathedral of St. John Lateran and the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Complete your full- day city tour of “Christian Rome” with a visit of the Catacombs.

Dinner and overnight in your guest house.

Day 4, Tuesday
After breakfast, depart for a full day excursion to Assisi, where you will sing during the Mass at the Basilica of Saint Francis, the wonderful church with Giotto's frescos about St. Francis' life.

Return to Rome in your comfortable motor coach for dinner and overnight.

Day 5, Wednesday
In the morning you will attend the Papal Audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, during which you will have the chance to sing for a few minutes.

After lunch, you will begin a guided tour of the “Romantic Rome”, with a visit to the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Farnese and Piazza Navona.

As an alternative you can visit the main sites of interest of the “Ancient Rome”, such as the ancient Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, and the Colosseum.

Return to your guest house for dinner.

Day 6, Thursday
In the morning you will begin your sightseeing tour with a visit to the Vatican Museums, where you will be able to admire wonderful works by artists such as Giotto, Raphael, Da Vinci, Caravaggio.

You will visit the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's frescoes and end your guided tour in St. Peter's Basilica to admire the magnificent Pietà.

Your farewell dinner will be in a traditional Roman restaurant, where you will experience an atmosphere of hospitality and taste the typical Roman cuisine.

Day 7, Friday
After breakfast, you will have a transfer to the airport for your return flight, which will bring you home with all the wonderful memories you have acquired during your stay in the Vatican City and in Rome.


CHOIR TOUR FROM NORTHERN ITALY TO ROME

Day 1, Sunday - Arrive Milan / Stresa - Lake Maggiore
Upon your arrival at Milan Airport you will meet our professional tour escort. You will reach the enchanting town of Stresa at the Lake Maggiore by a comfortable touring bus. There you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere during the afternoon at the romantic lake resort.

Dinner and overnight in Stresa.

Day 2, Monday - Stresa / Milan - Venice
After breakfast, you will go on to Milan, where it is possible to celebrate a private Mass in the magnificent Dome, one of the greatest masterpieces of the gothic art in Italy. Just near the Dome are the charming Vittorio Emanuele Gallery and the world famous opera house La Scala. The restored "Last Supper" of Leonardo da Vinci in the beautiful Renaissance Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Romanic St. Ambrogio are worth seeing.

In the late afternoon departure to Venice.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Venice.

Day 3, Tuesday - Venice
Breakfast at your hotel. During the day you will have time at leisure for shopping and private activities. You can spend a romantic day visiting St. Mark's Square, the Basilica and the Doge's Palace.

In this beautiful city you will have the chance to sing in one of the nice churches of the town, for example in the Church of St. Salvador, just near the Rialto Bridge.

Dinner and overnight in Venice.

Day 4, Wednesday - Venice - Verona
After breakfast you will leave Venice to go to Verona, where the Shakespearean tragedy of Romeo and Juliet took place. The famous balcony of Juliet and the city’s Arena will be a part of the tour through the beautiful town.

In the evening the choir will perform a concert in the Church of Sant'Anastasia, a nice gothic church not far from the beautiful Square “Piazza delle Erbe”.

Dinner and overnight in Verona.

Day 5, Thursday - Verona - Florence
After breakfast you will go on to Florence and visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with the baptistery and Giotto's Bell Tower. Going through the city you will be surprised to find everywhere magnificent historical palaces, like Palazzo Pitti, and charming old squares like Piazza della Signoria. If you look for something really special, go straight to Ponte Vecchio and have a look at the elegant jewelleries along the bridge.

In Florence you will perform your concert in one of the most beautiful churches of the town.

Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Day 6, Friday - Florence - Assisi
After breakfast you will continue to Assisi. You will spend an unforgettable leisurely day, visiting this extraordinary town on top of the hills in the Umbria region, centre of the St. Francis spirituality. You will visit the masterpiece of the Italian art: the Basilica of St. Francis, the wonderful Giotto’s Frescos upon St. Francis’ life, and, just outside the church, you will enjoy the magnificent view on the countryside.

In the evening, a formal concert with your choir will take place in the Upper Basilica.

Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Day 7, Saturday - Assisi - Rome
After breakfast you will be on the way to Rome, where you will visit the main sites of interest of “Ancient Rome”.
You will have the chance to visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul, the Cathedral of St. John Lateran and the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

You complete your tour of “Christian Rome” with a visit of the Catacombs.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Rome.

Day 8, Sunday - Rome
In the morning, you will have the chance to sing during the Solemn 10.30 a.m. Mass in the grandiose St. Peter's Basilica, an unforgettable experience of your tour to Rome.

The rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening you will hold a formal public concert in the exclusive setting of St. Ignatius Basilica, one of the most beautiful roman churches.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Rome.

Day 9, Monday - Rome
After breakfast you will visit the main sites of interest of “Ancient Rome”, walking back in the past to the ancient roman period, visiting places such as the ancient Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, and the Colosseum.

In the afternoon you can enjoy the famous dolce vita, walking through the heart of the city and doing shopping in fashionable streets like via Condotti, Piazza di Spagna and via Veneto.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Rome.

Day 10, Tuesday - Rome
After breakfast, you will begin your morning of sightseeing with a visit to the Vatican Museums, where you will be able to admire wonderful works by artists such as Giotto, Raphael, Da Vinci, Caravaggio. Visit the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's frescoes.

In the afternoon you will spend some “good time” in Trastevere, the heart of Rome, roaming in the old alleys and enjoying the nice atmosphere of a typical Italian restaurant for your farewell dinner.

Overnight at your hotel in Rome.

Day 11, Wednesday - Rome / Departure
After breakfast you will attend the Papal Audience with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on St. Peter's Square, during which you will have the chance to sing for a few minutes.

In the afternoon you will have your transfer to the airport for your return flight.


MARCHE REGION

In the enchanting scenario of Marche Region you can find artistic sites which testify the expression of a cultural pluralism well-established since many years. Nowadays you can experience the beauty of typical squares, monuments, historical cities, fortresses, castles, towers, churches, abbeys, sanctuaries, theatres, museums, galleries, etc. Everything makes the Region one of the most interesting from a cultural and artistic point of view.

Our Festival dedicated to the well-known Flemish composer Orlando di Lasso is organized since many years in this marvellous region. Choirs have sung in several charming locations such as Camerino, Sarnano, Tolentino, Castefidardo, etc.

The current edition will include music activities in the beautiful cities of Recanati, Numana, Loreto, Torre di Palme, and surroundings.

RECANATI

Recanati is located on a hill top between the valleys of the rivers Potenza and Musone. The Adriatic Sea, separating Italy from the mountains of the former Yugoslavia, is about 10 kilometres away in the city’s east. In the north of the city, there is the Conero Mountain that slopes downward the sea. Looking southwards and westwards you can see the Apennine Mountains. Just like all other Marche Region’s city centres, Recanati is a so called “balcony city” (città balcone), because the city centre and the other parts of the town are spread all over the neighbouring hills and valleys on different altitude’s levels.

Some of the cultural important sites generously made available for the choirs by the Recanati’s administration, can also be visited. These places of interest are located in the historic building of the municipal administration of Recanati: the popular museum dedicated to Beniamino Gigli, the guitars’ museum dedicated to Oliviero Pigini, and the Giacomo Leopardi Hall.

Just a few kilometres separates the beautiful city of Recanati recalling inevitably Giacomo Leopardi’s verses from the harbour’s beach of Porto Recanati better known as the “The Riviera’s salon” (salotto della Riviera).

Municipality of Recanati: www.comune.recanati.mc.it

NUMANA

The Marche Region offers 180 kilometres of coast and beautiful beaches. Among the 26 cities situated along the Adriatic Coast, the beautiful city of Numana that every year hosts the festival with great pleasure and enthusiasm, has to be mentioned. The mayor of Numana Mirko Bilò and his staff provide on this special occasion, the best that this Marche Region’s jewel has to offer: its churches for the sacred music concerts, the public squares for the open air performances and parades, and the coastal sightseeing on board of a coaster especially made available for the participants.









Numana stretches from the crest of the Conero Mountain across a lot of narrow little streets packed with history down to the characteristic fishing harbour. The little city is divided in two parts: the upper Numana and the lower Numana. The upper part is the elder one, with the typical white lime cottages, the narrow little streets around the “Tower”, and the Ducal Palace, nowadays hosting the town hall in front of which the Sanctuary’s Square is located, right next to the new church where the Holy Crucify of Numana is conserved.

The lower Numana is the younger part. There you find the little tourist harbour and the lido with several beach bars. Proceeding southwards the port you reach Marcelli, the modern part of the city, plenty of tourists’ attractions, where you can find bars, restaurants, clubs, and discos.

Numana is a combination of old and new. The historic and artistic beauty of the monuments and the churches cohabits perfectly with the natural beauty of beaches, coasts, mountain and wood lands: untouched natural environment and modern comfort harmonize perfectly.




Township of Numana: www.comune.numana.an.it

TORRE DI PALME

The beautiful hills surrounding the township of Fermo are covered over and over with little settlings. In the past centuries on the hills’ tops, along the fertile river valleys, and next to the seaside, many little settlements came into existence and nowadays they form the different villages of the surroundings.



One of these villages is Torre di Palme, a medieval castle with a strong defence system situated on a cliff facing the open sea. It is very popular among tourists searching for rural idyll who will appreciate this wonderful place for its fascinating magic and its incomparable urban charm.

The little streets make their ways through the terracotta cottages decorated by geraniums towards the never ending wideness of the sea or towards the circumjacent hills.






Along the main street, just next to the historic Palazzo del Priore you can reach the gothic church of S. Agostino where a very important altarpiece with a painting by Vittore Crivelli is exposed.

The church of S. Maria a Mar is located further down the main street clearly revealing the different changes occurred over the centuries to the mural basement which were not able to destroy completely the gothic temple’s implant.

Stepping out of the church, an amazing view makes you admire the beaches that surround the living centre of S. Giorgio’s harbour and the historic sanctuary of S. Maria a Mare.

LORETO

The city is situated on a hill’s top with a wide surrounding characterized by the cultivation of olives. The basilica’s cupola and its tower on which you can admire a Madonna’s statue stick out.





The breath-taking panorama extends from the mountains to the sea. The city grew around the basilica that hosts the Santa Casa (the house where, according to historical tradition, the Virgin Mary was born, has lived, and where she received the annunciation of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ).