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 Benedict XVI, 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 Church, 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.