Welcome to Italy

Depart North America on a flight bound for the Val Puster region (closest airports include Venice, Italy; Munich, Germany; or Innsbruck, Austria).  Meals, snacks, and refreshments will be served on the flight.

Enjoy breakfast followed by a lofty transfer to the top of the Plan de Corones mountain for the “Festa di Benvenuto“, a welcome party where all choirs gather for a friendly exchange and informal performances.  A stage is set up under the campana – the second largest bell in Italy – and each choir is invited to share a song. At the end of the performances, all participants have the pleasure of hearing the bell as it reverberates through the surrounding alpine landscape.

This afternoon, display your vocal harmony during open-air concerts at truly special outdoor venues, including quaint ski huts accessible only by cable car and at the foot of the majestic medieval castle at Monguelfo. Choirs perform in series, with two to five choirs typically singing in each locale. Later, dinner will be served for your group at the hotel.

This evening’s program will be comprised of indoor concerts at historic venues throughout the Val Pusteria region. Venues will be allotted according to musical genre. Choirs each perform two highlights from their repertoire.

Choral concerts continue throughout the morning and early afternoon.  Afterward, all participating ensembles gather in the center of San Candido for the Parade of Choirs—a highlight of the Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival!  After the mayor’s official greetings, singers parade in uniform through the charming streets. The procession culminates with a massed sing featuring all choirs.

Return to your hotel for a farewell dinner of traditional cuisine, followed by a final celebratory round of performances in concert halls and churches.