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A unique occasion deserves

a unique experience.

For Expert Advice Call01722 445900

  

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Verona Opera & Florence Getaway Break

Break available: 04 Jul - 9 Sep 2020 5 days

For a truly romantic special occasion, being your Italian shortbreak with a stay in Verona to attend the opera. With yourComplimentary Free Upgrade to the best seats in the arena, youget to enjoy the opera in incredibly scenic surroundings - from a72AD Roman Arena! Then travel onto Florence, the birth place ofthe Renaissance. You have a private guided Duomo tour includedand plenty of time to wander at your leisure and soak up thisromantic city. Italian Short Breaks are a legally authorisedtrading body who are officially permitted to sell tickets forArena di Verona in Italy. Many ticket only web sites are notlegally authorised to do so. We will always guarantee yourseats and ticket level at booking stage.

 

Highlights

● Attend Open-Air Arena di Verona Opera in the best seats inthe arena (Complimentary Free Upgrade)

● Private Guided Tour of the Duomo in Florence● Verona Pass Card providing free access to key sites

avoiding queues● 4 nights accommodation in traditional, authentic hotels within

minutes for the main sights

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1Fly to Verona and Private Airport Transfer to your hotel

Fly to Verona and take your private transfer to your chosen hotel in the centre of Verona, within walking distance of the Arena. All of thehotels we use are within easy walking distance for your ease. We do not believe in group transfers, all of your transfers are private to you.

Waiting for you at hotel reception will be your opera tickets and your Verona Pass Card. The Verona Pass Card allows free access to manyof the local churches and museums, along with a helpful map to help you get your bearings and prioritise the sights of main interest to you.

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Day 2Day at Leisure and Attend the Opera at the Arena di Verona

Spend the day exploring Verona using your Verona Pass Card. You can enjoy Juliet’s Balcony and Tomb, Castelvecchio and the variousmuseums and churches all free with your Verona Pass Card. Head to the Arena Museum to see the old costumes and sets, and to the ArenaShop to buy the libretto for your opera performance.

This evening attend the opera at the Arena di Verona. We are currently offering a Complimentary Free Upgrade to the best seats in thearena. These are located on the ground floor and in the first 11 rows, affording a perfect view of the stage.

For a flavour of this spectacle please click on the photo link to the right.

Cavalleria Rusticana – Pagliacci:June – SOLD OUTJuly – 03 (SOLD OUT), 08, 17, 23 (SOLD OUT)Aug – 08, 13, 22

Aida:June – SOLD OUTJuly – 05, 10, 14, 18, 24, 30Aug – 02, 05, 09, 12, 20, 29Sept – 01, 05

Turandot:June – SOLD OUTJuly – 11, 16, 31Aug – 14, 26Sept – 03

Serata di Gala:June – SOLD OUT

Nabucco:July – 04 (SOLD OUT), 09, 15, 25Aug – 06, 11, 19, 28Sept – 04

Gala Domingo:July – 07 (SOLD OUT)

Roberto Bolle & Friends (Ballet):July – 21, 22

La Traviata:Aug – 01, 07, 15, 21, 27Sept – 02

Beethoven Symphony:Aug – 23

Video and Photos 3, 4, 5 and 6 opposite, copyrighted to Fondazione Arena di Verona.

A la Carte Optional Extras

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Verona - Al Cristo Wine Tasting

We have two great options for you. The first is for those wine connoisseurs. Located within walking distance of your hotel is this small familyrun restaurant. The Maitre will take you to the cellar and introduce you to 3-4 wines.

Alternatively, if you have done a wine tasting tour before and want to skip straight to the tasting part, why not combine with a meal, andsampling the wines with each course.

Price Per Person: From £50 for Wine Tasting

Price Per Person: From £95 for Wine Tasting with Lunch

Price Per Person: From £110 for Wine Tasting with Dinner

Verona - Lake Garda Boat Trip

This is our most popular tour and with good reason. You take a private transfer to the pier where you will join a public boat, to be takenacross the scenic lake arriving at the privately owned Isola del Garda.

Once there you will be given a tour of the island, perhaps even by the Borghese Cavazza family themselves, and get to learn the history ofthe island. The tour will include the neo gothic Venetian style villa, the landscaped luscious gardens and the fantastic view over the lake,along with tasting some of the local wine and olive oil.

After arriving back on the mainland, your private transfer will take you to Sirmione, a mediaeval castle town where you can wander at yourleisure through the town, purchase some souvenirs and enjoy lunch. We recommend La Speranzina Restaurant which boasts beautiful viewsover the lake.

Your private transfer will return you to your hotel late afternoon.

Price Per Person: From £245

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Day 3Train Transfer to Florence and Private Transfer to your hotel

Private transfer to the train station and train transfer to Florence. (Around 1 ½ hrs train transfer time).

On arrival take your private transfer to your hotel, 4 Star Hotel Brunelleschi. This hotel is located just below the Duomo and right in the centrefor easy walking distance to all the main sights.

Why not upgrade to a Duomo room, for the ultimate treat? See Optional Extra below for more information.

A la Carte Optional Extras

Florence - Upgrade Hotel Brunelleschi Deluxe Duomo View Room

Hotel Brunelleschi is strategically placed for fantastic views over the Florence Duomo but without an upgrade to a deluxe Duomo view room,you will not be able to enjoy A Room with a View!

Price Per Person: From £65 per person per night

Day 4Private Guided Tour of the Duomo and Evening at Leisure

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This morning your guide will take you to the Duomo for your private guided tour.

The Duomo is the main gothic style church in Florence. It was completed in 1436 with the famous dome created by Filippo Brunelleschi. Todate it is still one of the largest in the world. The cathedral consists of the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile, which between them are allUNESCO World Heritage Sites.

At this point your guide will leave you to your own devices for your rest of day at leisure.

There are quite a few options on offer for how you spend your afternoon. You can either choose from one of our Optional Extras below, orperhaps head to Santa Croce Church to see many famous tombs, the Medici Chapels or the Galileo Museum. Or maybe head to the PonteVecchio and explore the streets south of the river. The choice is yours!

A la Carte Optional Extras

Florence - Priority Line Passes for the Accademia & Uffizi Galleries

Visiting these two museums is quintessential Florence, but the queues can be horrendous. These timed entrance tickets means you get tosee both Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery, before moving onto the Uffizi Gallery, bypassing the long lines and getting towitness Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus painting, amongst many others.

Price Per Person: £40 for both the Uffizi and Accademia Gallery tickets

Florence - Private Guided Tour of the Pitti Palace

Your guide will take you on a private guided tour of the Pitti Palace.

The Pitti Palace was built in 1458 and was later bought by the Medici family in 1549. It then became the chief residence of the ruling familiesof the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In this time is amassed many fine paintings. By the 18th century it became the royal palace for Napoleon.From 1919 it opened its doors to the public, showing these valuable collections.

Price Per Person: From £90

Florence - Vasari Corridor & Uffizi Gallery

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Today you will take the “Prince’s Itinerary;” the elevated passageway which connects the Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace. Continue overthe Ponte Vecchio to the Uffizi gallery. View the Uffizi highlights of “Birth of Venus” in all her glory, before moving onto Leonardo,Michelangelo and Raphael’s exhibits.

Venture along the Vasari Corridor, created so that the ruling families could safely travel between government and their homes. Finish the tourat the enchanting Boboli Gardens and admire Buontalenti’s Grotto.

Price Per Person: From £85

Day 5At Leisure until Private Airport Transfer for flight home

At leisure until your private airport transfer for your flight home from Pisa Airport after your Verona and Florence Weekend Break.

Alternatively why not extend your trip to take in more of the main Italian cities.

You could either choose to spend some time in Milan and Lake Como, visit Lucca where in July and August the open-air Puccini OperaFestival takes place, or maybe opt for a longer trip, in which case we recommend our Simply Authentic Italy – Venice, Verona, Florence andRome.

A la Carte Optional Extras

Florence - Explore Pisa and Private Airport Transfer

With few flights departing from Florence airport, most UK flights land in nearby Pisa. Why not extend either your first or last day in Florencewith a few hours to see Pisa en route. Pisa is best explored under your own steam. As well as climbing to the top of the Leaning Tower, makesure you leave enough time to visit the church and the frescoes in the buildings within the complex.

Price Per Person: From £135 for 3hrs with driver waiting for you. Please note this does not include entrance tickets which varybetween €15-20 per person depending on how many of the sights you want to visit.

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Where You'll Stay

Hotel Firenze - Verona (4 Star)the Arena, the House and Tomb of Juliet, the Roman Theatre, Castelvecchio with its unique military bridge and Scaligeri Archesalong with the tombs of the medieval Signoria family.

All rooms have recently been refurbished, have air conditioning and bathrooms either with Jacuzzi or shower with steam sauna.

This hotel is only a 10 minute walk from the Arena.

 

Hotel Accademia - Verona (4 Star)All rooms are spacious and feature air conditioning.

A breakfast buffet is served every morning and includes both sweet and savoury options. Restaurant Accademia specialises inVeneto food and wine, with meals prepared with fresh local products.

This is our most popular hotel for Verona, which consistently comes out top on fantastic feedback.

 

Il Sogno di Giulietta - Verona (5 Star)It is now possible to stay in the kingdom narrated by Shakespeare in one of his most famous works, the lovers’ nest par excellence.

The refined rooms are situated on both sides of the residence, some even having a direct view of Juliet’s balcony.

All rooms are luxuriously decorated with antique rugs, magnificent drapes and jacuzzis.

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Hotel Brunelleschi - Florence (4 Star)This 4 star hotel offers 2 restaurants, a gym and 96 rooms and suites some with jacuzzi and spectacular views of the “Duomo”.

Hotel Brunelleschi was created within a circular Byzantine tower and a medieval church, reconstructed, but keeping the originalcharacteristics. Inside you can find a private museum with the ruins discovered during the restoration. It is mentioned in DanBrown’s “The Da Vinci Code”.

 

Hotel Degli Orafi - Florence (4 Star)It is in the centre of the city next to the River Arno and just a few steps away from the famous Ponte Vecchio & the Uffizi Gallery.

You can enjoy original 12th Century frescoes in the modern library. From the roof terrace bar you can admire the view over PonteVecchio and the Arno River, the Georgofili Academy, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Vasarian Corridor & the Brunelleschi’s Dome.

 

Relais Santa Croce - Florence (5 Star)Surrounded by its sumptuous furnishings and frescoed ceilings, you will be assisted by highly professional staff and delighted bythe evocative nature of this truly extraordinary location.

The hotel restaurant, Guelfi e Ghibellini, offers innovative, seasonal regional menus. Furthermore, situated within the same buildingas the Relais Santa Croce is the Enoteca Pinchiorri, a three-star Michelin restaurant.

 

TestimonialsThe whole trip was superb. Lovely hotels, transfers were all done on time by Mercedes cars and the seats we had at the opera exceeded ourhigh expectations. Wonderful view of an absolutely superb spectacle on both nights we attended the Arena. I cannot recommend this triphighly enough. If you are considering this holiday through this company and have any doubts at all cast them aside and go.

Jo

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Many thanks for arranging our wonderful weekend in Italy. The holiday was a surprise for my wife on her 50th birthday and she was thrilled.The Verona pass made visiting attractions so easy and great value. The highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly our trip to the opera in theopen air arena to see Madam Butterfly. Our seats were in a great position in the stalls.

Malcolm & Jane

Price Per Person: From £1,495

What's Included?

● 4 nights accommodation with breakfast (Hotel Firenze – Verona), (Hotel Brunelleschi – Florence)● Activities as described including a Complimentary Free Upgrade to the best seats in the Verona arena● Flights from the UK (includes 1 hold bag per person)● Private airport & train transfers● 1st Class Train

Departure airport:Gatwick only

Our international clients are welcome to book their own flights.

© 2018 Weekend a la Carte

For Expert Advice Call01722 445900