CHOIR PERFORMANCE TOUR CROATIA
DAY 01 TRIESTE / VENICE - ROVINJ
Arrival to Trieste / Venice airport. Transfer to Rovinj.
DAY 02 ROVINJ – ISTRIA TOUR - CONCERT
Istria Peninsula Tour. The first stop is in Hum – officially the smallest town in the world with 22 inhabitants. Following the Mirna river valley we will reach the village of Livade and Motovun, located on the very peak of a hill with a magnificent view over the valley and surrounding hills. Groznjan and Motovun regions are famous for truffles, as well as the best white wines of Croatia. The road will lead us further to Porec for a walking tour and a visit to the ancient Euphrasius basilica - the sine qua none of religious architecture with outstanding Byzantine mosaics from the 5th century and further to Rovinj the Jewel of Istria. Continue to Pula where you will be able to visit one of the most preserved Roman amphitheaters. Transfer to Poreč for a concert (Euphrasian Basilica - UNESCO).
DAY 03 ROVINJ
Day at leisure.
DAY 04 ROVINJ – OPATIJA – PLITVICE LAKES - ZADAR
Transfer to Zadar via Opatija and sightseeing of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Arrival to Opatija and walking tour. After relaxing coffee break in Opatija we continue towards Plitvice Lakes National Park – one of the greatest natural wonders and phenomena in the world. Connected to each other by a series of foaming cascades and thundering waterfalls, the lakes are fed by many rivers and streams. Plitvice Lakes were declared a National Park in 1949, and since 1979 they have been on UNESCO’s list of World Natural Heritage. Transfer to Zadar.
DAY 05 ZADAR
Sightseeing of Zadar includes a delightful walk through the old core of the city. Visit of the church of Saint Donat - the symbol of the city and the most famous monumental edifice in Croatia from the early Middle Ages (9th c.). Discover the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, considered to be the most impressive basilica in Dalmatia. Its oldest parts are an early Christian basilica, but its present Romanesque appearance was shaped in the 12th century.
DAY 06 ZADAR
Day at leisure at Zadar ending with eveing concert.
DAY 07 ZADAR - SPLIT
Continue to Split also included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Split is the largest and most important town in Dalmatia. The town was developed around the palace erected by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the 4th century. Visit the well preserved cellars of Diocletians Palace, walk up the stairs to Peristil, where you will discover the beautiful Jupiter’s Temple. Admire the Cathedral of St Duje, the patron of Split, originally the mausoleum of the palace, for which is considered the oldest Cathedral in the World.
DAY 08 SPLIT – TROGIR - SPLIT
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning transfer to Dubrovnik. On the way stop in Ston, tour and lunch. Overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik. After breakfast, short sightseeing of Trogir, known as a town museum, included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Walk through its narrow streets passing stone houses, churches, palaces, monasteries and walls. Visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence the main attraction in Trogir with the famous Romanesque portal created by the local artist Radovan.
The sides of the portal feature lion figures, with the figures of Adam and Eve above them. In the evening – perform a concert in Trogir cathedral.
DAY 09 SPLIT - NERETVA RIVER VALLEY – STON - DUBROVNIK
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the Neretva valley to visit a local farm. Neretva is the largest river of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Continue to Ston. Built in the 14th century in the form of a two- fold fortification system to protect the salt plants. A wall, almost 8 miles long and the second largest wall in the world after China, connects the two fortified cities. The oldest in Europe, the Ston salt plants are still in use and the salt producing technology has not changed for centuries. In Croatian gastronomy, it is the cradle of farming of mussels and oysters and a famous wine growing area. Enjoy a lunch at the famous Villa Koruna for the best oysters in the world or a wine and olive oil tasting. Drive to Dubrovnik.
DAY 10 DUBROVNIK
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik. After breakfast, sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik with a panoramic drive. Among many historical and cultural sites in the city, on this tour you will visit the Franciscan monastery with one of the oldest pharmacies in the world and the Treasury of the Cathedral. The Franciscan monastery is built in the Romanesque-Gothic style and along with its cluster is considered to be a masterpiece of architectural arts. The Old Pharmacy, located inside the Franciscan monastery, was opened in 1317. It is the third oldest pharmacy in Europe, but the only one still working. The inventories, ceramics, bowls, laboratory equipment and old medical books of the old Pharmacy are kept in the Franciscan Monastery Museum, among other highly valued and priceless objects of Dubrovnik's historic and cultural past. Second highlight is the impressive baroque Cathedral with its Treasury, built to replace the Romanesque Cathedral destroyed in the Great Earthquake in 1667. The reconstructed Cathedral is a three-hall building containing a rich treasury and a line of paintings by top art masters, such as Padovani, J. Palma the Younger, G.G. Savoldo, Parmigianino and many others. The Cathedral's Treasury is situated in the beautiful baroque chapel and it consists 138 reliquaries, most of which are traditionally carried in procession round the city on the feast of St. Blaise (February).
DAY 11 DUBROVNIK - KONAVLE VALLEY - DUBROVNIK
Excursion to the beautiful historical town of Cavtat, one of the most beautiful places on the eastern Adriatic coast. Cavtat was originally a Greek settlement called Epidauros. Around 228 BC it became a Roman colony. Enjoy the walk through the town filled with beautiful palaces and luxuriant vegetation. Visit the mausoleum of the Račić family (the work of Ivan Meštrović, one of Croatia's greatest sculptors), the home and gallery of the great Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac, the Franciscan monastery and Church of St. Blaise (Vlaho) from the 15th century, the collection of the scientist and attorney Baltazar Bogišić, and the Baroque parish Church of St. Nicholas. After sightseeing, departure for lunch to the picturesque Konavle valley, a region covered with vineyards and olive groves, which enchants visitors with its natural beauty and wealth of folklore tradition where the oldest villagers still wear the traditional folk costumes.
DAY 12 DUBROVNIK DEPARTURE
Transfer to the Dubrovnik airport for departure flight.
VENUES:
VENICE – St. Marco Cathedral, Chiesa San Salvador
POREČ - Euphrasians Basilica
PULA - Church and Monastery of St. Francsis, Dom hrvatskih branitelja
ZADAR – Arsenal, St. Donat church, Loža
SPLIT – Church of Lady of Good Health
TROGIR – Cathedral of St. Lawrence
DUBROVNIK – Dominican Monastery, Rector's Palace, Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Entertainment description:
FOLKLORE LINĐO DANCE
Linđo is a popular dance of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik region. It is danced to the accompaniment of lijerica (an old Southern Dalmatian instrument with three strings), which came from the Eastern Mediterranean in late 18th century and spread on the Adriatic coast in the 19th century.
The dance master plays sitting, with lijerica on his left knee, while stamping with his right foot, thus dictating rhythm to the dancers. They move in a circle around the dance master, who gives commands (in rhyme, humorous and often with double meaning). He also decides who will dance with whom and dictates the change of dance figures, he also encourages the dancers to compete in improvisations.
KLAPA SINGING
The klapa music is a form of traditional Croatian a cappella singing. The word klapa translates as "a group of friends" and traces its roots to littoral church singing.The motifs in general celebrate love, wine (grapes), country (homeland) and sea. Main elements of the music are harmony and melody, with rhythm very rarely being very important.
A klapa group consists of a first tenor, a second tenor, a baritone, and a bass. It is possible to double all the voices apart from the first tenor. Although klapa is a cappella music, on occasion it is possible to add a gentle guitar and a mandolin (instrument similar in appearance and sound to tamburitzas).Klapa tradition is still very much alive, with new songs composed and festivals are held. Many young people from Dalmatia treasure klapa and sing it regularly when going out eating or drinking. It is not unusual to hear amateur
Arrival to Trieste / Venice airport. Transfer to Rovinj.
DAY 02 ROVINJ – ISTRIA TOUR - CONCERT
Istria Peninsula Tour. The first stop is in Hum – officially the smallest town in the world with 22 inhabitants. Following the Mirna river valley we will reach the village of Livade and Motovun, located on the very peak of a hill with a magnificent view over the valley and surrounding hills. Groznjan and Motovun regions are famous for truffles, as well as the best white wines of Croatia. The road will lead us further to Porec for a walking tour and a visit to the ancient Euphrasius basilica - the sine qua none of religious architecture with outstanding Byzantine mosaics from the 5th century and further to Rovinj the Jewel of Istria. Continue to Pula where you will be able to visit one of the most preserved Roman amphitheaters. Transfer to Poreč for a concert (Euphrasian Basilica - UNESCO).
DAY 03 ROVINJ
Day at leisure.
DAY 04 ROVINJ – OPATIJA – PLITVICE LAKES - ZADAR
Transfer to Zadar via Opatija and sightseeing of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Arrival to Opatija and walking tour. After relaxing coffee break in Opatija we continue towards Plitvice Lakes National Park – one of the greatest natural wonders and phenomena in the world. Connected to each other by a series of foaming cascades and thundering waterfalls, the lakes are fed by many rivers and streams. Plitvice Lakes were declared a National Park in 1949, and since 1979 they have been on UNESCO’s list of World Natural Heritage. Transfer to Zadar.
DAY 05 ZADAR
Sightseeing of Zadar includes a delightful walk through the old core of the city. Visit of the church of Saint Donat - the symbol of the city and the most famous monumental edifice in Croatia from the early Middle Ages (9th c.). Discover the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, considered to be the most impressive basilica in Dalmatia. Its oldest parts are an early Christian basilica, but its present Romanesque appearance was shaped in the 12th century.
DAY 06 ZADAR
Day at leisure at Zadar ending with eveing concert.
DAY 07 ZADAR - SPLIT
Continue to Split also included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Split is the largest and most important town in Dalmatia. The town was developed around the palace erected by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the 4th century. Visit the well preserved cellars of Diocletians Palace, walk up the stairs to Peristil, where you will discover the beautiful Jupiter’s Temple. Admire the Cathedral of St Duje, the patron of Split, originally the mausoleum of the palace, for which is considered the oldest Cathedral in the World.
DAY 08 SPLIT – TROGIR - SPLIT
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning transfer to Dubrovnik. On the way stop in Ston, tour and lunch. Overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik. After breakfast, short sightseeing of Trogir, known as a town museum, included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Walk through its narrow streets passing stone houses, churches, palaces, monasteries and walls. Visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence the main attraction in Trogir with the famous Romanesque portal created by the local artist Radovan.
The sides of the portal feature lion figures, with the figures of Adam and Eve above them. In the evening – perform a concert in Trogir cathedral.
DAY 09 SPLIT - NERETVA RIVER VALLEY – STON - DUBROVNIK
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the Neretva valley to visit a local farm. Neretva is the largest river of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Continue to Ston. Built in the 14th century in the form of a two- fold fortification system to protect the salt plants. A wall, almost 8 miles long and the second largest wall in the world after China, connects the two fortified cities. The oldest in Europe, the Ston salt plants are still in use and the salt producing technology has not changed for centuries. In Croatian gastronomy, it is the cradle of farming of mussels and oysters and a famous wine growing area. Enjoy a lunch at the famous Villa Koruna for the best oysters in the world or a wine and olive oil tasting. Drive to Dubrovnik.
DAY 10 DUBROVNIK
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik. After breakfast, sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik with a panoramic drive. Among many historical and cultural sites in the city, on this tour you will visit the Franciscan monastery with one of the oldest pharmacies in the world and the Treasury of the Cathedral. The Franciscan monastery is built in the Romanesque-Gothic style and along with its cluster is considered to be a masterpiece of architectural arts. The Old Pharmacy, located inside the Franciscan monastery, was opened in 1317. It is the third oldest pharmacy in Europe, but the only one still working. The inventories, ceramics, bowls, laboratory equipment and old medical books of the old Pharmacy are kept in the Franciscan Monastery Museum, among other highly valued and priceless objects of Dubrovnik's historic and cultural past. Second highlight is the impressive baroque Cathedral with its Treasury, built to replace the Romanesque Cathedral destroyed in the Great Earthquake in 1667. The reconstructed Cathedral is a three-hall building containing a rich treasury and a line of paintings by top art masters, such as Padovani, J. Palma the Younger, G.G. Savoldo, Parmigianino and many others. The Cathedral's Treasury is situated in the beautiful baroque chapel and it consists 138 reliquaries, most of which are traditionally carried in procession round the city on the feast of St. Blaise (February).
DAY 11 DUBROVNIK - KONAVLE VALLEY - DUBROVNIK
Excursion to the beautiful historical town of Cavtat, one of the most beautiful places on the eastern Adriatic coast. Cavtat was originally a Greek settlement called Epidauros. Around 228 BC it became a Roman colony. Enjoy the walk through the town filled with beautiful palaces and luxuriant vegetation. Visit the mausoleum of the Račić family (the work of Ivan Meštrović, one of Croatia's greatest sculptors), the home and gallery of the great Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac, the Franciscan monastery and Church of St. Blaise (Vlaho) from the 15th century, the collection of the scientist and attorney Baltazar Bogišić, and the Baroque parish Church of St. Nicholas. After sightseeing, departure for lunch to the picturesque Konavle valley, a region covered with vineyards and olive groves, which enchants visitors with its natural beauty and wealth of folklore tradition where the oldest villagers still wear the traditional folk costumes.
DAY 12 DUBROVNIK DEPARTURE
Transfer to the Dubrovnik airport for departure flight.
VENUES:
VENICE – St. Marco Cathedral, Chiesa San Salvador
POREČ - Euphrasians Basilica
PULA - Church and Monastery of St. Francsis, Dom hrvatskih branitelja
ZADAR – Arsenal, St. Donat church, Loža
SPLIT – Church of Lady of Good Health
TROGIR – Cathedral of St. Lawrence
DUBROVNIK – Dominican Monastery, Rector's Palace, Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Entertainment description:
FOLKLORE LINĐO DANCE
Linđo is a popular dance of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik region. It is danced to the accompaniment of lijerica (an old Southern Dalmatian instrument with three strings), which came from the Eastern Mediterranean in late 18th century and spread on the Adriatic coast in the 19th century.
The dance master plays sitting, with lijerica on his left knee, while stamping with his right foot, thus dictating rhythm to the dancers. They move in a circle around the dance master, who gives commands (in rhyme, humorous and often with double meaning). He also decides who will dance with whom and dictates the change of dance figures, he also encourages the dancers to compete in improvisations.
KLAPA SINGING
The klapa music is a form of traditional Croatian a cappella singing. The word klapa translates as "a group of friends" and traces its roots to littoral church singing.The motifs in general celebrate love, wine (grapes), country (homeland) and sea. Main elements of the music are harmony and melody, with rhythm very rarely being very important.
A klapa group consists of a first tenor, a second tenor, a baritone, and a bass. It is possible to double all the voices apart from the first tenor. Although klapa is a cappella music, on occasion it is possible to add a gentle guitar and a mandolin (instrument similar in appearance and sound to tamburitzas).Klapa tradition is still very much alive, with new songs composed and festivals are held. Many young people from Dalmatia treasure klapa and sing it regularly when going out eating or drinking. It is not unusual to hear amateur