• Festival of Peace and Brotherhood

    Castelli, Italy

The Festival of Peace and Brotherhood

Available dates:

  • 09 March to 14 March 2016

Sing together with local Italian choirs as well as choirs from around the world during four exciting days of choral music and cultural exchange. The Festival of Peace and Brotherhood facilitates a deeper sense of respect and understanding between cultures through the common language of music.

Visiting choirs will be welcomed to this historic region of Italy by local musicians, city authorities, and host organisation officials. Festival concerts take place in breathtaking venues throughout the cities and towns of the areas surrounding the southeast of Rome.

The combination of Roman antiquities, Christian monuments, and contemporary metropolitan features make Rome a fascinating city to explore and this festival offers wonderful sightseeing opportunities including guided tour of Rome, guided tour of the Vatican with entrance to the Vatican Museums and guided tour of Tivoli with entrance to the Villa D'Este

This festival offers choirs the opportunity to perform up to four times as follows:

  • Concert in Castelli Romani as part of festival concert series
  • Concert in a Church in Rome as part of the festival concert series
  • Friendship concert with an Italian choir
  • Sunday morning Church service

Two Italian organisations have joined together to present this Choral Festival - The Association of Musicians of the Castelli Romani region and The Mountain Community of Castelli Romani e Prenestini.

The Association of Musicians of the Castelli Romani region was founded in 1996 as a way to bring together musicians from the region, both professional and non-professional. The association quickly worked toward two main objectives. First, they work to promote culture through music, especially singing, while simultaneously trying to make music more accessible to locals. Their second goal is to support and maintain the artistic heritage of the Castelli Romani region and deepen its connection and integration with the heritage of the City of Rome.

The Mountain Community of Castelli Romani e Prenestini is made up of towns from this mountainous region who share an objective for common development. The Mountain Communities promote economically-productive activities in their communities that enhance their local resources and the conservation of local productions, culture and traditions. They are therefore also perfect hosts for sharing the local music and traditions of the region with the guest choirs.

Included in your festival packages
  • Four nights in a hotel option of your choice in the Castelli Romani District
  • A private, modern, air conditioned motor coach with a professional driver is provided for all transportation as described in the itinerary, including round-trip transfer between the airport and hotel.
  • Full buffet breakfast each morning
  • Two dinners served at the hotel restaurant
  • One dinner in Rome
  • Festive farewell dinner together with other participating choirs
  • Concert in a Church in Rome as part of festival concert series
  • Friendship concert with an Italian choir
  • Concert in Castelli Romani as part of festival concert series
  • Sunday morning Church service
  • Full-time tour assistant to accompany your group during your entire stay, from arrival to departure

Guided Tours & Special Events
  • Guided tour of Rome
  • Guided tour of the Vatican with entrance to the Vatican Museums
  • Guided tour of Tivoli with entrance to the Villa D'Este
  • Participation in the Opening Ceremony with concert by an Italian Choir
  • Participation in the Closing Ceremony with dinner

Complimentary Places
Two complimentary land packages are offered for every 30 paying travellers (the 31st & 32nd travellers are complimentary), based on double occupancy accommodations
Choir Directors Orientation Trip

CCI offer choir directors the opportunity to participate in an orientation trip in advance of each festival and competition to view the hotels, venues and restaurants and, for choirs with younger members, to perform risk assessments.

During the orientation trip, the director or representative of the choir has the opportunity to meet with the organisers and sponsors of the festival and to ask questions about all aspects of the trip. Choir directors can also discuss the choirs' unique requirements with the CCI representatives on hand. On the trip, CCI will answer directors' questions concerning such topics as instrumental accompaniment, size of stage, and performance information

Dates for the Director's Orientation Trip for the 2014 Festival - 17 October to 20 October 2013

Sample Itinerary

Below is a sample itinerary for the festival of Peace and Brotherhood. This is for information purposes only. All final itineraries are tailored to individual choirs requirements.

DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN ITALY | TOUR ROME | OPENING CEREMONY

On arrival in Rome, meet your local assistant for coach transfer to your hotel. Flight time depending, choirs will embark on a guided tour of Rome on arrival. Begin your tour driving through the ancient area of the city. See the Circus Maximus, the location of the Roman chariot race, the Triumphal Arch of Constantine, and the massive Coliseum. Disembark the motor coach and see more of Rome's piazzas and fountains in the historical centre, including the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona, home to the famous fountains of Bernini.

In the afternoon, travel to the Castelli Romani region just outside of Rome and check in to your hotel to unpack and relax. A welcome dinner is served at the hotel restaurant. This evening, attend the Opening Celebration of the Festival of Peace and Brotherhood with a welcome by city officials and a concert by the host Italian choir.

DAY 2 | TOUR VATICAN CITY

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your local English-speaking guide and transfer to Vatican City, the world's smallest state and the only European State still ruled by an absolute monarch, the Pope. Visit the Vatican museums, including the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel with its breathtaking frescos by Michelangelo. Your guide will lead you into St. Peter's Basilica, designed in part by Michelangelo, decorated with sculptures and mosaics by Bernini, and now home to Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Pieta.

Following the tour, enjoy free time for lunch and to explore other famous Roman sites, as well as the city's bountiful shops and cafes, which serve Italy's famous gelato and other delicacies. In the late afternoon, return to the hotel for dinner and to change for your evening friendship concert with a local choir. Travel to the host choir's town and perform a concert for the local community members. The host choir will also sing, and there will be time for your choirs to socialise following the performance. Later, return to your hotel for the night.

DAY 3 | ROMAN CASTLES DISTRICT

After breakfast in the hotel, depart for some of the lovely towns in the Lazio Region, also known as Castelli Romani or the Roman Castles District. Tour the towns and learn about their fascinating history. The area became popular due to its proximity to the Pope's villas and the estates of the rich noble families that would follow him to the area. The Papal tradition of spending summer in the town of Castel Gandolfo dates back to the 1600s.

After free time for lunch in Tivoli, enjoy a guided tour of the renaissance Villa d'Este. Built in the 1550s, the estate is a UNESCO world heritage site and well known for its breathtaking garden composed almost exclusively of water features. Fountains of every description dazzle the onlooker, from the grand Fountain of the Dragons and the Neptune Fountain to the Rometta, a miniature reproduction of Rome.

Later, return to your hotel to change into concert attire for this evening's concert. Perform as part of the Festival Concert Series in one of Rome's most breathtaking churches. A traditional pizza dinner is arranged for the guest choirs in Rome this evening.

DAY 4 | ROME CASTLES DISTRICT

After breakfast, depart for a local church where your choir has been invited to sing the music for the morning worship service. Enjoy time to meet the members of the congregation after the service. Continue on to the nearby town of Castel Gandolfo, where the Papal summer palace dominates the Piazza della Liberta and extensive gardens are tucked out of sight. Enjoy time for lunch and exploration of the town.

This afternoon, your choir will sing as part of the Festival Concert Series with choirs from Italy and abroad. Share your ensemble's choral traditions and enjoy time to listen to the concert performances by the other guest choirs. Later this evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner and closing ceremony. End your festival experience with time to socialize with the other choir members.

DAY 5 | DEPARTURE

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart for the airport for your return flight.

This sample itinerary is for information purposes only. All final itineraries are tailored to individual groups requirements.

Flights and transfers

Flights

Choir Contact International experienced travel consultants are able to advise you on the most appropriate flight options and will advise best fares at time of booking.

Once you enquiry with CCI you will be given your own dedicated festival planner, and this planner will also assist you with the booking of flights for your group.

We use the most up-to-date modern technology for searching best fares including low cost carriers, allowing us to book you the best flights at the best fares for a fully co-ordinated service. We use both low-cost internet fares and our long-standing relationships with other carries to ensure that we can secure the best travel option for your choir.

We will advise you on luggage allowance and all details relating to your flight booking.

Airport transfers

CCI are happy to arrange airport-hotel-airport transfers for all choirs who have booked flights with us. Unfortunately, we are unable to arrange airport transfers where flights are not booked as part of the festival package.

Choir Contact International experienced travel consultants are able to advise you on the most appropriate flight options and will advise best fares at time of booking.