Tentative Itinerary

Some details are STILL coming to us from Italy, so while this itinerary is relatively solid, details could change at any time.

NYC is one hour ahead of us. Italy is 7 hours ahead of us.
All times on this itinerary are indicated in local time.
There are 1.6 kilometers in a mile.

Saturday, July 19

5:15 a.m. Bus arrives at Ryan Recital Hall – put your luggage in specified loading area for loading crew.

6:00 a.m. Bus leaves Ryan Recital Hall for DFW Airport

9:00 a.m. Arrive at DFW Airport to begin baggage and equipment check

11:50 a.m. Depart DFW at on American Airlines Flight 384 to JFK Airport (NY)

4:45 p.m. Arrive at JFK Airport

5:45 p.m. Depart New York City on American Airlines Flight 198 to Milan
Flight time is approximately 8.5 hours.


Sunday, July 20

8:10 a.m. Arrive in Milan
After we clear customs, board the bus, travel from Milan to Cremona (110 km)

Morning Visit the Stradivarius museum in Cremona

Lunch on your own in Cremona

Afternoon Continue to Bologna (159 km)
Check into hotel
Hotel Aemilia
Via Zaccherini Alvisi 16
I-40138 Bologna
phone +39 0513940311

Dinner provided that evening at the hotel


Monday, Jul 21, 2008

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

8:00 a.m. Bus leaves for full-day excursion to Venice
Bologna – Venice 154 km

10:15 a.m. Board boat to travel to Venice

11:00 a.m. Morning walking tour of Venice includes
• St. Mark's Square
• Bell Tower
• Entrance to St. Mark’s Cathedral and Doges Palace paid

12:30 p.m. Lunch and afternoon on your own

4:00 p.m. Return to Bologna for the night

Dinner and evening on your own


Tuesday, July 22

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

9:30 a.m. REQUIRED - Leave for ISME-arranged meeting with the Mayor of Bologna
Attire = travel uniform (maroon shirts)

9:45 a.m. Arrive at Municipality Palace

10:30 a.m. Meet with the Mayor

11:00 a.m. Return to hotel

Lunch on your own

3:00 p.m. REQUIRED - Afternoon rehearsal at hotel

Dinner and evening on your own


Wednesday, July 23

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

8:00 a.m. Bus leaves for full-day excursion to Florence
Bologna – Florence 105 km

Morning guided sightseeing tour includes:
• Piazza della Signoria
• Vecchio
• Ponte Vecchio
• Baptistry
• Campanile
• Entrance to Duomo
• Entrance to Academy of Fine Arts (entrance fees paid)

Lunch on your own in Florence

Afternoon Visit Fiesole and Piazzale Michelangelo (both overlooking Florence)

TBA Return to Bologna

Dinner and evening on your own


Thursday, July 24

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

9:00 a.m. Morning city tour of Bologna, including

• Piazza Maggiore
• Piazza del Nettuno
• Piazza di Porta Ravegnana
• Fontana del Nettuno
• Basilica di San Petronio
• Entrance do the Museo Civico Archeaologico

Noon Lunch on your own

3:00 REQUIRED – Brief rehearsal at hotel

4:30 Early dinner on your own (stay close!)

7:00 p.m. REQUIRED - Leave hotel on bus, dressed for concert (travel uniform with black tour shirts), with all music and equipment

9:30 p.m. REQUIRED - Concert performance for the World Conference of the International Society for Music Education

Return to hotel via bus


Friday, July 25

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

Morning Transfer to Milan
Bologna – Milan 325 km

Lunch on your own

Afternoon Guided sightseeing tour includes:
• entrance to La Scala Opera House and Museum
• entrance to the Duomo


Check into the hotel after sightseeing that day

Hotel le Robinie
Via Per Busto Arsizio, 9
I-21058 Solbiate Olona-Va
phone +39 0331 329 260

Evening Dinner provided at local establishment


Saturday, July 26

6:45 a.m. Bus leaves for Milan Airport (box breakfast taken with you)

7:30 a.m. Arrive at Milan Airport for baggage and equipment check

10:35 a.m. Depart Milan via American Airlines Flight 199 to JFK Airport

1:40 p.m. Arrive at JFK Airport – be ready to clear customs!

3:10 p.m. Depart JFK via American Airlines Flight 2033 to DFW

6:00 p.m. Arrive at DFW Airport

Bus to Abilene - probably arrive around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.