Info Night: Thursday, July 10 In Toronto TEN DAYS OF HISTORY, MUSIC, SHOPPING & MORE
IN ITALY’ÄôS LE MARCHE REGION, OCTOBER 18-29, 2008
Italy’Äôs Le Marche Region, the jewel of Italy’Äôs Adriatic coastline, is described as ’Äúthe new Tuscany’Äù by the New York Times. A new 10-day insider tour, October 18-29, lets travelers drench themselves in the sights, sounds, tastes and history of Le Marche, and elegant shopping at considerable savings.
The tour is organized by Travelonly and the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists, in conjunction with Globus Tours. It includes first-class hotel accommodation, 10 breakfasts, seven dinners, motor coach travel throughout the region, day trips and excursions, plus two nights in Florence and four nights in Rome. A special treat for music-lovers is an open rehearsal and two different concerts in gorgeous theatres by Italy’Äôs flagship musical ensemble, l’ÄôOrchestra Internazionale d’ÄôItalia, conducted by Canada’Äôs Kerry Stratton.
An Information Night for the tour will take place Thursday, July 10, 6-8 p.m., at the Italian Cultural Institute, 496 Huron Street (north of Bloor) in Toronto.
Contacts for more information are Ann Summers Dossena of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists, 416-362-1422, or sumintl@sympatico.ca; or Frances Logan, Travelonly consultant, 1-866-343-7725, or flogan@travelonly.com.
Le Marche’Äôs vineyard-covered mountains and valleys offer a stunning patchwork of texture and color that make Agrotourism a major attraction. Besides the sumptuous environs, the area is home to historic grottos, artworks and sacred sites. Italy’Äôs famed Verdicchio wine (white) and Rosso Conero (red) comes from this region, as do olive oils used in its distinctive cuisine that reflects the land and sea, seasonality and freshness.
The seaport capital, Ancona, is a busy hub of import/export activities. As a part of the industrial north, the region produces the finest Made in Italy products, among which are fashion wear, shoes, silver jewellery, furniture and musical instruments ’Äì all available to travelers at substantially lower local prices than in the large cities.
The birthplace of famed Italian composers Gioacchino Rossini, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Gaspare Spontini, the region is also the proud location of many stunning opera theatres, as well as the famous Sterisferio Arena in Macerato, one of Europe’Äôs premier summer opera venues. Among historic structures is a cathedral from the 1100s.
The city of Fermo will be home base in the Marche Region. Perched on a mountain top, Fermo boasts a breathtaking panorama ’Äì to the east, the valleys to the Adriatic, and to the west, valleys stretching out to the snow-covered Apennine Mountains. Run-outs each day will feature first class motor coaches with a personal tour director and guide, to centres from Pesaro in the north, to Urbino in the middle, and Ascoli Piceno in the south.
Fermo is also home to l’ÄôOrchestra Internazionale d’ÄôItalia, which Maestro Kerry Stratton will bring to Toronto, Montreal and seven other Ontario centres for performances November 2-10, 2008.
The International Resource Centre for Performing Artists is a non-profit, charitable organization that mentors performing artists to reach their potential on international stages, and builds audience awareness of their work and needs. The IRCPA is also creating cultural exchanges between Italy and Canada.
