MJ Musical Journeys

Milan Cathedral

Ahh, Italy. The center of everything at one time or another. You may have heard of Michelangelo and the many other important artists that shaped Italian major cities, but in this post I want to bring to mind the fantastic musical heritage that Italy boasts. I am a huge fan of opera, so I'm going to focus on places of significance to fellow opera lovers. For you orchestral fans, there are a couple of tidbits for you too!

Milan is the center of the operatic world in Italy by a wide margin. It is here that Verdi and Puccini made names for themselves by studying at the Milan Conservatory and performing their works at the world-renowned Teatro Alla Scala. The rest of northern Italy is equally impressive, which includes the beautiful Busseto, birthplace of Verdi, and Lucca in beautiful Tuscany, Puccini's home town.

And one must not forget Venice, that city of canals has brought music to the lips and ears of many a person over the past few hundred years. Grab a gondola ride and glide along while you are serenaded by your very own Gondolier.

Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, and boasts an amazingly preserved architectural landscape that is not to be missed. Don't miss that famous David, and see the remnants of the Medici dynasty everywhere you look. Machiavelli was also an imposing presence here, penning the classic study of power The Prince. The city also boasts some impressive musical ties. If you enjoy music from the Renaissance, you may be pleased to know that composer Guillaume Dufay (1397–1474) called Florence his home. Today, there is the Luigi Cherubini music conservatory, also home to an impressive Museum of Musical Instruments, and the fantastic Teatro della Pergola opera house.

Rome. All roads lead there you know. What cultural experience is complete without Rome? Here you can find some of the best religious artwork in the world in all mediums, from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter's Basilica. But the music life of Rome is also very active. The Theater of the Opera saw the premieres of Tosca and Cavalleria rusticana. Also, there is the National Museum of Musical Instruments, one of the finest such institutions in the world and not to be missed.

To see everything in the northern part of Italy, I recommend going with a group tour, as that will give you the guidance and VIP access you need to experience as much as possible in a short amount of time, without having to worry about the hassles of ground transportation, entry tickets, and hotels. Globus has a wonderful 10 day Northern Italy Highlights tour that travels through Milan, Busseto, Parma, Lucca, Asti, and Turin. And you can easily add an extra day for a glimpse of Venice. Click here for more info on this tour.

For those with a little less time, there is an 8-day Italian Vista tour, also from Globus. Here you can see the beautiful cities of Milan, Venice, Florence, Verona (of Romeo and Juliet fame), and Rome. Click here for this exciting tour.

Or maybe you would like a little less structure and a little more time to do what you want to do? Monograms offers a flexible Venice, Florence, Rome package that takes care of getting you to the cities and hotels, orients you on a morning guided tour, and then leaves the rest of the vacation up to you but without having to worry about ground transfers or any other unknowns about traveling abroad. Add an excursion to Pisa and Lucca one day for example, or attend a special opera or concert in Venice. It's up to you. Click here for more information. And if you want to add some time in Milan, I can certainly make that happen!

I hope this post has given you some food for thought, and has inspired you to get out and make this adventure a reality. Visit my website or email me to get started! If you contact me soon I can offer some great discounts- 20% off on Monograms tours, and an up to $200 air credit per couple!