ROMEO IN RAVENNA 29 JUNE - 1 JULY   This year's Ravenna Festival acknowledges the two great Italian composers whose anniversaries fall this year: Bellini and Verdi. Travel for the Arts has arranged a long weekend visit to Ravenna for a new festival production of Bellini's I Capuleti e I Montecchi, staged at the Teatro Dante Alighieri to commemorate Vincenzo Bellini's bicentenary.

The Byzantine city of Ravenna holds many treasures as the cradle of early Christian art and the tour includes an excursion to the Renaissance city of Ferrara.

FRIDAY 29 JUNE

Morning departure from London Gatwick on Alitalia at 1200. Arrive Bologna Airport at 1500 and transfer by private coach to Ravenna. Check in at the 4 star Hotel Jolly. Welcome drink.

Evening performance of I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI (Bellini) at the Teatro Alighieri. New production of the Ravenna Festival.
C: Julian Kovatchev. Cast to be advised.

SATURDAY 30 JUNE

Morning tour of Ravenna. Visit the Basilica San Vitale, the earliest example of Romanesque architecture, the dome of which is believed to have been copied when building the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Admire the unique mosaics, unusual for their vibrant blue and green backgrounds highlighted by brightly coloured birds and flowers.

Continue to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the small chapel set in the grounds of the Basilica which houses a mosaic depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd. Also visit the Archiepiscopal Museum, parts of which date back to the 6th Century. The museum contains amongst other treasures the ivory throne of Bishop Maximian.

Afternoon at leisure.

Evening concert by THE MUNICH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA. at the Palazzo Mauro de Andr
C: James Levine. Carl-Maria von Weber: Overture from Oberon, Alban Berg: Drie Orchesterstucke Op. 6, Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.3 'Eroica'.

SUNDAY 1 JULY

Morning departure for Ferrara, the renaissance jewel of a city which was ruled by the d'Este family from the middle of the 13th century for 350 years. Visit the moated Castello Estense and the rose coloured Cathedral as well as the city's finest renaissance building, the Palazzo Schifanoia which is decorated with frescoes depicting mythical allegorical scenes.
Continue your tour of renaissance palaces including the Palazzo de Diamanti. The collection here includes many works by artists of the Ferrara School such as Tura and Cossa.
Lunch in a restaurant before continuing to Bologna Airport. Depart on Alitalia at 1550. Arrive London Gatwick at 1655.

	Price per person 3 Day Tour Price £685.00 Single room supplement £90.00 Deposit required £225.00 Booking Deadline 1 March Tour Code RAV Tour price includes flights and airport taxes - transfers - accommodation - sightseeing tours as described including guides and entrance fees - buffet breakfast daily - one lunch - top category ticket for I Capuleti e l Montecchi and Symphony Concert - local representative. Dress: Lounge suit