Music & Concert Tour To Tuscany

You can stroll around the 16th-century ramparts protecting this charming town. It’s filled with 99 churches among terra-cotta-roofed buildings and narrow cobbled streets. Here Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus agreed to rule Rome as a triumvirate in 56BC. The composer Puccini was born here; he is celebrated during the summer opera and music festival.

Explore this lovely townhome of Italy’s premier terme (spas) – with its art nouveau buildings, daily market and funicular to ‘Montecatini Alto’. Many of the spa buildings and gardens can be used for performances – the courtyard of the Terme Tettuccio is spectacular. Photo © Richard Barrett-Small.

Like so many others, you may feel compelled to get a photo of you holding up Pisa’s leaning tower as a keepsake. But away from this tourist hotspot, there is much more to see. Check out the dramatic cathedral-baptistery-tower complex of Piazza del Duomo, or hang in one of the lively cafes or bars among the locals and some of the city’s many students.

One of Italy’s best-preserved medieval cities, Siena boasts a stunning Gothic Duomo, and the glorious Palazzo Pubblico overlooking its vast Campo – where the opening of Quantum of Solacewas filmed. But it’s far from a dusty heritage stop, and students can explore its hip clothes shops and buzzing cafes mixing with the friendly locals.

Come and wander around this classic medieval walled hill town known as the ‘City of Beautiful Towers’. Its 14 medieval towers – built by patrician families to show their wealth and power – create a beautiful skyline visible from the surrounding countryside. In the middle ages, the town was an important centre for trade and for pilgrims going to or from Rome.

Your group can tune up their tastebuds with an olive oil tasting at the beautiful Vicchiomaggio Castle. Three different types of extra virgin olive oils are offered with homemade bread, fettunta(toasted bread topped with extra virgin olive oil and garlic), bruschetta with fresh tomato sauce. The production process of different kinds of oil is explained.

Make a pilgrimage to the house where the composer lived for almost 30 years and composed some of his famous operas such as La Boheme, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. It is now run as a museum where students can see his original furniture along with photographs and memorabilia related to his life and work. Puccini himself is buried in the chapel inside the house.

Get close to the animals in this zoo set in the hills near the city of Pistoia.

It collection of 400 animals includes lions, tigers and bears. It is focused on endangered species and it has successfully bred rare Fennec foxes, Caimans and Ring-tailed lemurs. Students can find out how the zoo is involved in conservation through its research projects.

There are two Acqua Villages – one in Cecina and one in Follonica. With fountains, sprays, slides like the Kamikaze, the Anaconda, the Surfing Hills and the Treccia Twister, students can cool off and have fun in between concerts. Those looking to relax can grab a lounger, take cover in a tropical poolside cabana or just bump around in the wave pools.

At day in Florence is a must, where you can visit the world-famous Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace, have your photo taken with Michaelangelo’s David or stroll along the Ponte Vecchio. See the glorious Duomo cathedral an climb to the top for superb views. Tip: Grab a gelato from Grom on Via delle Oche, moments from the cathedral – just look for the queue.