Many organists and classical music lovers have traveled with us to eastern Germany to hear and play the Baroque organs in the
homeland of J.S. Bach, and to learn more about the Great Master. Our program to Italy, following the same concept, complements
our trips to Germany by focusing on Italian organs, and the influence on Bach of the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi. From his
Eisenach days, Bach grew up with Italian repertoires. According to Bach scholar, Christoph Wolff,

Bach's study of Vivaldi represents a critical moment, perhaps the culmination point
of self-guided learning that began with the study of fugue and peaked in a thoroughly
analytical approach to the modern Italian concerto style of Vivaldi.

Bach's first biographer, Johann Nicolaus Forkel, wrote that Vivaldi's works "taught him (Bach) how to think musically."*

By the end of the middle ages the Italian organ was developing along lines different from the rest of Europe. For those familiar with
the Baroque organs of Germany, the historic organs of Italy are smaller; some are much older, dating back to the 16th century.
During our organ visits, we will have an opportunity to hear and play many of these historic instruments.

Our education will be enhanced by sessions with the organists from the Cathedral of Milan and the Basilica dei Frari of Venice.

Our journey includes the major organ towns of "Bella Toscana" (Beautiful Tuscany) - Siena, Lucca, San Gimigano, Montepulciano,
and of course, Florence. We will then visit historic organs in Venice and Milan.

Our education will be enhanced by sessions with Professor Alfonso Fedi, Organist at the Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Professor
Umberto Pineschi, honorary president of the Association of Italian Church Organists, Margherita Gianola, Organist at the Basilica
of the Frari in Venice, and Milan Cathedral Organist, Emanuele Carlo Vianelli.

Walking tours with local guides are included in Florence, Verona, and Venice. Not all of our activities are organ related. We will
visit the Academy Museum in Florence to see Michelangelo's Statue of David, probably the most famous sculpture in the history
of western art. We will see the original of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Last Supper," painted around 1494-98.

Finally, we will enjoy the Italians - a warm, genuine, friendly people, who make good eating and good living a celebration of life.

Hotels are four star. Breakfast is included each day; dinner is included nine evenings.

We hope that you will join us on this memorable journey of Organs and Opera in Italy.

*The influence on Bach of Italian composers, particulary Vivaldi, is covered by Christoph Wolff in his definitive biography Johann Sebastian Bach:
The Learned Musician, New York, W.W. Norton, 2000. Pages 93, 126, 170-173

Our Organ Journey Includes:   Round trip transatlantic flights   USA to Florence       Milan to USA   Eleven nights accomodations at four star hotels   Five nights in Florence   Two nights in Venice   One night in Verona   Two nights in Stresa   One night in Milan   Buffet breakfast each day   Dinner nine nights Special Features   Opportunities to hear and play organs in Florence,        Pistoia, Lucca, San Gimignano, Montepulciano,        Venice, Milan  Briefings on Italian Music and Organs

Tours and Visits:  Walking tours with local guides in Florence, Verona        and Venice  Michelangelo's Statue of David  Leaning Tower of Pisa in Florence  Stradivarius Violin Museum in Cremona  The Original of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Last Supper”        in Milan  Musical Instruments Museum in Milan  Travel between cities via deluxe, air-conditioned        motorcoach with English speaking tour manager  Motor boat transfers in Venice  Professional trip director from Matterhorn Travel  Round trip airport transfers  Hotel porterage Performances:  Madame Butterfly at Torre Del Lago  The Four Seasons in Venice  Nabucco in Verona

1st Day: Wednesday, July 30 USA – Florence Back to Top

Fly this afternoon from your departure city to Florence. Beverages, dinner and continental breakfast will be served in flight. There is also a movie for your in-flight enjoyment. 2nd Day: Thursday, July 31 Florence Back to Top Florence: River Amo and Ponte Vecchio Arrive Florence in the morning, local time. Upon arrival, we will be met and transferred to our hotel. The brightest jewel of the Renaissance, known throughout the world for its treasures of art, this ancient capital of Tuscany in the foothills of the Apennines is justly called "La Bella" in Italy. From the Middle Ages onward, Florence has been the center of Italian intellectual and artistic life. It's the city of Dante, where the Italian language was born. It was here that Boccaccio and Machiavelli wrote, and Michelangelo, Galileo and da Vinci worked. This afternoon a walking tour with a local guide will introduce us to Florence. Visit the Piazza Della Signoria and the 13th century Cathedral with its remarkable dome and Baptistry. This evening we'll attend a get acquainted gathering (cash bar) to meet our trip director and fellow passengers. Dinner is included at a popular restaurant in Florence. 3rd Day: Friday, August 1 Florence Back to Top This morning we will visit Michelangelo's David, probably the most famous sculpture in the history of western art. Next, we will visit the Cathedral (Duomo) Organ, actually five parts controlled by three consoles. Cathedral Organist, Alfonso Fedi, will explain the organ's specifications to us, play briefly, and give us an opportunity to play this unique instrument. The acoustics give the organ twelve seconds of reverberation! Next, we will visit the Church of the Annunciation, built in 1251. The Church has five organs. The principal two organs were completed in 1521 and 1634. The organs were given the same tonality in 1763. We will also visit the Church of San Lorenzo, consecrated in 393 and the oldest church in Florence. Dinner will be at a popular restaurant in Florence. Michelangelo's David Florence: The Lorenzo Organ (1521) at the Church of the Anunciation 4th Day: Saturday, August 2 Florence: Pistoia – Lucca – Pisa– Torre Del Lago Back to Top The Leaning Tower of Pisa Victoria de los Angeles as Cio-Cio-San in Madame Butterfly Pistoia is one of the major organ centers of Italy, and the headquarters of the Italian Music Academy of Organs. At the Cathedral, we will visit the Tronci Organ (1793), one of the few historic organs in Italy still in its original condition. We will also visit the Willem Hermans Organ (1664) at the Church of Spirito Santo. This instrument is the only Hermans organ still surviving. Its reeds are the oldest existing in Italy. Continue to Lucca, which became a Roman colony in 180 B.C. The town's Roman legacy is still evident in the regular grid pattern of its streets. Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was born in Lucca; we will visit his birthplace and small museum. In Lucca we will visit the small organ at the Mansi Palace, built by Ravani around 1650. In spite of its small size it has a beautiful sound and is considered one of the most precious organs in Italy. After lunch in Lucca, we will journey into the lovely Tuscan countryside and visit the organ at the Abbey of St. Stefano, built by Onofrio Zeffirini in 1551. Zeffirini is one of the most important Italian organ builders. This organ is the only six foot organ surviving. Next, we will take a break from organs and visit Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. Dinner this evening is in Viareggio, a lovely town by the Mediterranean Sea. After dinner and a lecture on Madame Butterfly, we will proceed to Torre Del Lago to attend a performance of Puccini's favorite and best known opera. As noted in the Grove Book of Operas, Butterfly is the apotheosis of the frail, suffering heroine portrayed by Puccini. Return to Florence after the performance. 5th Day: Sunday, August 3 Florence Back to Top Day at Leisure Full day at leisure in Florence. In addition to seeing the art treasures—in and out of museums — take time for leisurely strolling, or just relaxing in a café. For shopping, Florentine leather is perhaps the finest in the world. The Ponte Vecchio, spanning the Arno River, has interesting shops of handcrafted silver and gold jewelry. For more sightseeing, you may wish to visit the most glorious of the Florentine palaces, the Pitti Palace, once residence of the Kings of Italy and today one of the finest centers of Italian art. The extraordinary Uffizi Gallery is the pride of Italy and houses one of the greatest collections of art in the world. This evening is at leisure to sample a Florentine restaurant on your own. 6th Day: Monday, August 4 Florence – San Gimignano – Siena – Montepulciano Back to Top San Gimignano and its Towers Tuscany Wine Tuscany is a major wine producing region whose wines make ideal partners for the robust local food. Both reds and whites are made here, ranging from light, house wine (vino della casa) to the very best Europe can produce. The most famous reds, Brunello di Montalciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Chianti, are made from the Sangiovese grape and are produced on the hills of Tuscany. Organ at San Gimignano Cathedral This morning we will proceed to San Gimignano. San Gimignano has a dramatic skyline with 14 towers. Little has changed here since the 14th century. There is still a weekly street market in the cathedral square, and water still flows from an ancient cistern in the Piazza del Popolo. San Gimignano seems beautifully untouched. We will visit the 11th century Cathedral and its organ, dating from the 16th century. The inside walls of the Cathedral are completely covered by frescoes. Continue to Siena. Beautiful, gentle Siena is built on three hills and is still surrounded by its historic ramparts. Its medieval center has streets lined with Gothic buildings in various shades of a reddish-brown color known as "burnt Siena." The city became one of Europe's major centers during the 13th and 14th centuries and is famous today for its medieval art and architecture. We'll enjoy a walking tour of the town and see the Piazza del Campo, site of the famed Palio horse race, and the city's Gothic cathedral. Next, we depart Siena and visit Montepulciano, one of Tuscany's most interesting hill towns and, at 1,950 feet above sea level, among the highest. The town is encircled by walls and fortifications built in 1511. Inside the walls the streets are crammed with Renaissance-style palaces and churches; the town is known for its excellent wine. Enroute,we will see themany vineyards of Italy's Chianti region. Our next organ visit will be among our most interesting. In Montepulciano we will visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and its antique organ dating back to 1600. All of the organ's more than 500 pipes are made of wood! The organ is the only one of its kind in the world; organists from many countries come to Montepulciano to play this unique instrument. Dinner this evening is at the Café Poliziano with its magnificent view overlooking the Tuscany countryside. 7th Day: Tuesday, August 5 Venice Back to Top

Venice: The Grand Canal Depart Florence this morning and proceed to Venice — perhaps the most fascinating city in Europe and certainly the most romantic. Venice is built on 117 small islands spanned by more than 150 canals and 400 bridges. The main "thoroughfare" of  Venice is the Grand Canal; enjoy a Vaporetto boat ride on this waterway and visit St. Mark's Square, called the "largest living room in the world." Visit the Basilica of St. Mark and the famous belltower in the Square. See the Palace of the Doges and the legendary Bridge of Sighs. This afternoon we will enjoy a walking tour with a local guide. Dinner this evening is at our hotel. Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice in 1678 and lived there most of his life. This evening we will be treated to a concert of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.           Virtuosi di Venezia: Vivaldi - Four Seasons

Venice: Organ at the Basilica Dei Frari Today we will hear and play the organs at the following churches in Venice. 1. Santa Maria Della Pieta, 1759. Organ built by students of Nacchini. Vivaldi worked here during much of his career. 2. Basilica Dei Frari, 1795. Organ built by Gaetano Callido. The church has two additional organs. A Franciscan church, Santa Maria Dei Frari was begun in 1250 and expanded in 1338. The artist Titian, who died in 1576, is buried here. 3. San Giorgio Maggiore, 1750. Organ built by Pietro Nacchini. The Church, built between 1565 and 1580, is situated on an island across the Grand Canal, offering a magnificent view of the Venice skyline. The sanctuary includes two paintings by Tintoretto. The balance of the day is at leisure for browsing, shopping, and exploring this fascinating city. For more romantic sightseeing, you may wish to hire a gondola. This evening is at leisure to sample a Venetian restaurant on your own.

Depart Venice today and leave for Verona. “Friar Laurence: Hence from Verona art thou banished: Be patient, for the world is broad and wide. Romeo: There is no world without Verona walls, but purgatory, torture, hell itself: Hence banished, is banish'd from the world.” Romeo and Juliet - Act III, Scene 3 The Roman Amphitheatre at Verona Nabucco Illustrated title page of the pianoforte edition published by Ricordi Romeo exaggerates, of course, but his sentiment reflects the prestige and importance of Verona at the time of Shakespeare. We'll enjoy a walking tour of Verona, visiting the Central Square, Piazza delle Erbe, and the 12th century cathedral. Verona is the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and we'll see the balcony from that immortal play. After dinner and a lecture on Nabucco, we will proceed to the Roman Arena of Verona, an amphitheater, built in the first century A.D. during the time of the Emperor Augustus. The Arena is one of the greatest archeological monuments in Europe. First performed at La Scala in Milan in 1842, Nabucco was Verdi's first triumph. Deriving from biblical sources, largely Jeremiah, Nabucco has no major tenor role. As noted in the Grove Book of Operas, the true protagonist of the opera is the chorus. The choral lament "Va Pensiero" is the most famous piece in Nabucco, perhaps in all of Verdi. It became a symbol of Italian nationalism and unification, and has been called the "real" National Anthem of Italy.

Perhaps the most famous violin maker in history was Antonio Stradivari, maker of the "Stradivarius." We will visit the Stradivari Museum at Cremona, and the collection of old violins at the Palazzo Communale, where the director will play for us on an original Stradivarius. Next, we will proceed to Lake Como. “And Como! Thou, a treasure whom the earth keeps to herself… ye have left your beauty with me… sweet as love.” Wordsworth, The Prelude “I do not know of any place so conspicuously blessed by heaven.” Franz Liszt Bellagio at Lake Como The Lake Region is the most beautiful part of Italy and one of the most beautiful areas in Europe. We will visit the lakeside village of Bellagio. The Italians call Bellagio "la perla del lago" (the pearl of the lake.) Combining Alpine grandeur with Mediterranean sensuality, Bellagio is perhaps the most enchanting spot of an extraordinarily beautiful setting. Shop and stroll in Bellagio, and enjoy a cappuccino at a lakeside café. Continue to Stresa on Lake Maggiore.

Day at Leisure Isola Pescatori, Lake Maggiore Full day at leisure at Lake Maggiore. Which of the Italian lakes is the most beautiful? Garda? Como? Maggiore? This is perhaps a question without answer, for all are beautiful in their own way. Maggiore does not have the Roman and medieval heritage of Lake Garda, or the romantic image of Lake Como. But it is the largest of the Italian lakes and includes three beautiful islands just opposite Stresa. Today is at leisure to browse, shop, and sightsee. Opposite Stresa on Lake Maggiore are three picturesque islands - Isola Bella (Beautiful Island), Isola Madre (Mother's Island) and Isola Pescatori (Fisherman's Island.) You may wish to take a boat ride on the lake and visit one or more of the islands. Shuttle boats run about every half hour. On these magnificent islands, surrounded by Lake Maggiore, with the snow-capped Alps in the background, the setting becomes an unforgettable memory. Dinner this evening is at a popular restaurant in Stresa.

The Last Supper by Leonardo DaVinci Milan: Organs at the Church of Santa Maria della Passione Milan is Italy's liveliest, most sophisticated and wealthiest city. Over the centuries, there have been countless reproductions of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Last Supper." Today we will see the original work at the Church of Santa Maria della Grazie. Restoration of the painting was completed in 1999 — after 21 years of work! Next, we will visit Milan's magnificent Cathedral, the third largest cathedral in Europe. We will hear and play the cathedral's Tamburini Organ, built in 1937 with 150 stops and 15,500 pipes. We will visit the two organs at the Basilica of Santa Maria Della Passione. The Antegnati Organ dates from 1558. This afternoon we will visit the Musical Instruments Museum at the Castello Sforzesco. The museum hosts a unique collection of more than 600 items, including Stradivari violins and 16th century harps. At the end of the day we will proceed to our hotel at Milan Malpensa Airport. Our farewell dinner at the hotel will include Italian music.

Deposits and Final Payments
An initial deposit of $300 per person must be sent with the reservation(s). Final payment is due two months before departure.

Responsibility
These tours are under the operation and management of Matterhorn Travel Service, Inc., 3419 Hidden River View, Annapolis, Maryland 21403.
The Tour Operator shall be responsible for supplying the services and accommodations as outlined in this brochure, except to the extent that such
services and accommodations cannot be supplied due to delays or other causes beyond its control, in which case the operator will use its best
efforts to supply comparable services and accommodations. The Tour Operator reserves the right at its discretion to change the sequence or alter
any part of the itinerary or hotel accommodations, without prior notice for any reason; but in the event of substantial reduction in the services rendered,
a proportionate refund will be made to tour participants upon written request to the Tour Operator. If there is a major change in the itinerary, participants
will be notified before departure and offered an opportunity to cancel with full refund.

In the absence of negligence by the Tour Operator, the Tour Operator accepts no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delays or changes
in air or other services, sickness, weather strikes, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will be borne by the passenger. The tour member waives
any claim against the Tour Operator for any damage to or loss of property or injury or death of persons due to any act of negligence of any hotels, or any
other persons rendering any of the servicesor accommodations included in the ground portion of the itinerary. The Tour Operator shall not be responsible
for any delays, substitution of equipment or any act of omission whatsoever by the carrier, its agents, servants and employees, and tour member hereby
waives any claim arising therefrom. Tour participants agree that the Tour Operatorhas no responsibility or liability of any nature whatsoever for loss, damage
or injury to property or person resulting from air transportation. The air carrier provides insurance for the protection of passengers and performance within
the provisions of its tariffs. The Tour Operator reserves the right to decline, accept or remove any tour member as a participant of these tours at any time.
If any tour member is removed from the tour, a proportionate refund for unused services will be made.

Cancellations/Refunds
Refunds cannot be made to any passenger who does not complete the tour. In the event of cancellation by the Tour Operator, Tour Operator's liability shall
be limited to a refund of all payments made by the tour participants to Tour Operator.

All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to the Tour Operator. If cancellation in writing is received by the Tour Operator more
than two months before tour departure, an administration charge of $75 per person will be retained. For cancellations received within two months of
departure, the following cancellation charges apply:

Two months to one month before departure: 25% of the tour price
One month to one week before departure: 60% of the tour price
Less than one week before departure: No refund

Insurance
Trip accident, health and baggage insurance is recommended. Cancellation insurance is also available and is particularly recommended. Details will be
furnished upon request.

Baggage
One suitcase per person (50 pounds) may be taken on the trip. The liability of the carrier for loss or damage to personal baggage shall be limited to the actual
value of such baggage but not more than approximately $9.07 per pound in the case of checked baggage and approximately $400 per person in the case of
unchecked baggage or other property. (Domestic-actual value not to exceed $500.)

Airport Transfers
Airport transfers are provided only for passengers arriving and departing Honolulu via flights reserved by the Tour Operator. Passengers using different
flights are responsible for their own airport transfers.

Special Note
Prices quoted are based on air fares and taxes as of September 15, 2007. Prices are subject to change prior to departure. Participants will be notified in
writing at least two months before departure if there is any increase in tour price. There is no credit for unused services. Forwarding of participants'
deposit(s) indicates acceptance of these terms and conditions.

THE AIRLINES participating on this tour are not responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the passengers are not on board their airplanes
or conveyances. The issuance of the passage contract by the airline concerned shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the purchaser
of this tour and/or the passengers. In addition to the participating airlines, the services of any IATA and ARC carrier may be used in connection with
these tours.

This program is valid from May 1 to October 31, 2008.