WAGNER'S RING CYCLE 1 - MILAN 2026

Friday, February 27. (D,B). DEPART FOR MILAN

Depart this evening aboard any airline of your choice for Milan, Italy arriving the next morning. Dinner and light breakfast served on the plane.

Saturday, February 28. (B,D). MILAN

Upon arrival at Milan International airport take a taxi to the luxury Hotel Casa Baglioni where you will stay 9 nights. Briefing, cocktails and Gala Welcome dinner at the hotel’s Michelin star restaurant SADLER.

Sunday, March 1. (B,D). MILAN

This morning, we will visit the Milan Cathedral, an exemplary Gothic-floral architecture full of precious sculptures and gleaming stained-glass windows, is the symbolic monument of Milan which reflects six centuries of the city’s history, from the Visconti era to recent times.

This evening, we will attend the opera DAS RHEINGOLD at La Scala Opera, with a special dinner served during the interval, providing a memorable dining experience within the iconic opera house.

MILAN is just not very Italian. All the Milanese do is work to make money and they refuse to indulge in the myth of la/dolce/vita. The city has its origin from Celtic Settlements, which were subdued by the romans in 222 B.C. In 312 A.D. Emperor Constantine published the Edict of Milan making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. On Christmas day, 800 A.D, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in the `Cathedral of Milan. To the Milanese people, all this is just history.

Monday, March 2. (B). MILAN

Today we will do a general sightseeing in Milan by bus. First stop will be “Casa Verdi”. A visit to Casa Verdi is an unrepeatable experience. You immerse yourself in the memories of a residence that has a thousand lives to tell. Not only that of Giuseppe Verdi and his wife with their personal object, furnishing, art collection and their respective tombs, but also those of the guests who have lived here in over a century of history. After this visit we will go to see the Last Supper. Evening is at your leisure.

Tuesday, March 3. (B,D). MILAN

Today, we will experience an exclusive backstage tour of Teatro alla Scala, one of the world’s most renowned opera houses. We will discover the enchanting world behind the curtain, visiting the auditorium, stage area, and workshops lwhere stunning sets and costumes are crafted. The tour will also offer fascinating insights into La Scala’s rich history and legacy of legendary performances.

This evening we will see the opera DIE WALKÜRE at the La Scala with a special dinner served during the interval, providing a memorable dining experience within the iconic opera house.

Wednesday, March 4. (B,L). MILAN - BERGAMO

We will depart in the morning for Bergamo, where a guided tour will take us through the city's most picturesque and historic areas, focusing on the charming Città Alta (Upper Town). This medieval hilltop town, surrounded by 16th-century Venetian walls, offers breathtaking views over the plains.

Our tour will include visits to the magnificent Piazza Vecchia, the heart of Bergamo's old town, adorned with elegant Renaissance and medieval buildings. We will explore the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a stunning Romanesque church known for its lavish Baroque interiors, and the Colleoni Chapel, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and the mausoleum of Bartolomeo Colleoni. Additionally, we will see the ancient Torre del Campanone and the Palazzo della Ragione, the oldest municipal building in Italy.

Bergamo is also the birthplace of Gaetano Donizetti, one of Italy's most celebrated opera composers. We will visit the Donizetti Museum, dedicated to his life and work, showcasing personal artifacts, manuscripts, and memorabilia. We will also stop by the Teatro Sociale, the oldest opera house in Bergamo, renowned for its elegant neoclassical architecture and rich history, where Donizetti himself once performed and conducted.

A light lunch will be served in a traditional trattoria in the upper town. In the late afternoon, we will return to Milan.

Thursday, March 5. (B,D). MILAN

Today, we will visit the Brera Gallery, one of Milan’s most prestigious art museums, located in the charming Brera district. The gallery is home to an outstanding collection of Italian Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces, as well as works from other European schools. During our guided tour, we will admire celebrated paintings, including Raphael's"The Marriage of the Virgin," Caravaggio's "Supper at Emmaus," and Francesco Hayez's "The Kiss." The museum's impressive collection also features works by Titian, Mantegna, Piero della Francesca, Tintoretto, and Veronese.

In addition to the art, the tour will provide insights into the history of the Palazzo di Brera, which houses the gallery. Originally constructed as a convent, it later became an important cultural and educational center under Napoleonic rule. We will also take a brief stop to explore the Brera Botanical Garden, a peaceful oasis established in the 18th century, situated just behind the gallery.

This evening we will see the opera SIEGFRIED at the La Scala with a special dinner served during the interval, providing a memorable dining experience within the iconic opera house.

Friday, March 6. (B,L). MILAN - CREMONA

Morning departure for Cremona where we will have a guided tour of the most evocative corners of the city, the Piazza del Comune, the real glory of the medieval and municipal city, which collects an extraordinary concentration of historic buildings such as the cathedral of Gothic layout with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque additions, the baptistery, octagonal in shape, certainly one of the most beautiful sacred monuments of Cremona, brought back to its former glory by a restoration that lasted over 30 years, the Torazzo, the tallest bell tower in Italy (111m) and symbol of the city, the Museo del violin, in which you can admire famous instruments by Antonio Stradivari, including “il cremonese violin” from 1715. Light lunch will be served in a traditional trattoria. Late afternoon return back to Milan.

Saturday, March 7. (B,D). MILAN

Today, you can explore Milan at your leisure. This evening we will see the opera GÕTERDAMMERUNG at the La Scala with a special dinner served during the interval, providing a memorable dining experience within the iconic opera house.

Sunday, March 8. (B,D). MILAN

Today, you can explore Milan at your leisure, strolling through its elegant streets, shopping in chic boutiques, or savoring its renowned culinary delights. Enjoy the city’s rich culture and vibrant atmosphere at your own pace. This evening we will have our Gala Farewell dinner at a Gourmet Restaurant.

Monday, March 9. (B). MILAN – BACK HOME

We will assist you in arranging transfer from the hotel to the airport in Milan for departure aboard your flight back home arriving the same afternoon. Arrivederci e a presto! See you on another HAT TOUR.

* B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner (including wine)