Fun Facts about Slovenia with Incantato Tours

There are only about 2 million people that live in Slovenia. 

Slovenia is bordered by four countries: Austria, Italy, Croatia and Hungary

Slovenia has more churches per capital than almost any other country in Europe.  

Triglav National Park is one of the oldest parks in Europe, with the first efforts to protect the area dating back to 1906. This is just one part of the 1/3 of all of Slovenia that is protected. 

Almost half of the entire country is forest. This makes Slovenia the third most forested country in Europe. Slovenia is also one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.  

A hundred castles still stand in Slovenia, while only ruins of some five hundred more remain dotted throughout the countryside.

The city of Maribor was named a European Capital of Culture in 2012. 

Slovenia has lots of quirky food festivals, including the Salt Makers' Festival, Cabbage Festival, Chestnut Sunday and Bean Day, to name a few.

The official symbol of the capital city of Ljubljana is the dragon which was said to have been slayed by Jason and the Argonauts.

Some scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were filmed in Slovenia's Soca Valley.

Slovenia has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps, as well as the Idrija Mercury Mine.

In 2010, Slovenia was added to the Destinations Rated list of the most beautiful locations and destinations in the world, as compiled by the National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations.

Discover Slovenia with Incantato Tours

Tucked away between Austria and Italy, Slovenia is a country with a great deal of diversity, from a part of the Alps down to the Adriatic sea, which makes for a coastline of 29 miles. There is an abundance of contrast in landscape and cultures that are fit neatly into a small space. Forests have so many kinds of green, they look like a patchwork quilt. The movie Chronicles of Narnia  was filmed in one of Slovenia's many valleys. Slovenia's cuisine takes the best of Italian and the best of German and blends the two together.
The capital city of Ljubljana has a myriad of painted squares, twisty pedestrian alleys, offbeat museums, and a bustling cafe-lined river. With the Old Town and hilltop castle as a backdrop, you will find that many of Ljubljana's architecture has similarities to Venice, found in the fountains, street lanterns and the city's oldest bridge, which is a kind of Slovenian version of Venice's Rialto Bridge. With most of the cafes in the Old Town, this is probably where you will spend most of your time. Perhaps you will discover the primary colored riverside piazza of Preseren Square, named after Slovenia's favorite poet France Preseren. He gave a voice to Slovenian national identity in the 19th century. 

Venice: an Incantato Favorite

Venice is one of the few cities in the world that can be truly described as unique. Surviving against all odds on a series of low mud banks in the Adriatic Sea, this northeastern Italian city has been called the gateway to the Orient - or, in the case of the San Marino Chamber Choir, a gateway to Slovenia, Croatia and your Performance Tour 2013.
Venice became an independent Byzantine providence in the 10th century and in 1204 it gained significant wealth and power through the trading routes between the East and the West. During the Middle Ages, the city was able to expand its influence throughout the Mediterranean all the way to present-day Istanbul. This immense wealth was celebrated in the art and architecture around the city that can still be seen today. 
The riches of St. Mark's alone demonstrate Venice's great position in the world from the 12th to the 14th centuries. However, the city finally fell to Napoleon in 1797 and joined the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
In the last 200 years of Venice's history, little has been altered as so many of the historical sights are still admired today. 
One of the most famous sights is the Rialto Bridge, which offers beautiful views of the Canal Grande and marks the heart of the city. This area was one of the first in Venice to be inhabited and it remains one of the city's busiest and most bustling areas. Completed in 1591, this bridge was the only means of crosse the Grand Canal until 1854, when the Accademia bridge was built. 
Described by Napoleon as the most elegant drawing room in Europe, the other favorite in Venice is the Piazzo San Marco with two of the city's most important historic sights: the Basilica and the Palazzo Ducale. Founded in the 9th century, the Palazzo once served as the home to Venice's rulers and to the offices of State. The Basilica, once the doge's private chapel, was built on a Greek cross plan and crowned with five massive domes. Today, it is a magnificent example of an Eastern and Western architectural blend. 

Incantato Destinations: Fun Facts about Croatia

Did you know..?

• That in Croatia you can, within a span of only 62 miles, see the sea, forests, mountains and plains.
• Croatia is one of the ecologically best preserved countries in Europe. It is one of the few countries on the old continent which supplies its citizens with drinking water from the public water supply system.
• That Slavoljub Penkala (1871-1922) of Zagreb invented the mechanical pencil and fountain pen in 1906.
• That St. Martin, a stone mason from the island of Rab who moved to the Italian Peninsula, founded the Republic of San Marino in the year 301!
• That Istria has its own leaning tower - the 72 foot tall tower in Zavrsje. Its inclination is 16 inches to the north.
• The scientist and physicist Nikola Tesla, a world-renowned inventor in the field of energy transfer telecommunications, was born in Croatia. His most valuable contribution was alternating current.
• The Opatija Riviera was, next to the Cote D'Azur, the main destination of the Habsburg elite and it still carries the nickname "Nice of the Adriatic"
• The Croats have their own script. It is called Glagolitic and originates from the 9th century. It was in regular use, together with Latin, until the 18th century!
• The city of Zadar has the first sea organ in the world. It produces sounds using only the power of wind and sea waves.
• The Republic of Dubrovnik was the first state to recognize the independence of the United States of America.

SMCC homeward bound - Arrival in LAX may be delayed

Dear Family and Friends of the San Marino Chamber Choir travelers, just a quick note that the group's return, Turkish airlines flight TK 9, had a last minute schedule with the new departure being 12:45 pm local time, however then left with a delay as well. At the moment, this is the predication from the TK website, however we recommend you check again closer to their scheduled arrival.
Here is link to the website: http://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/ then click on the third tab for Arrival/Departure and look up by flight (you just need to enter the number 9 after TK and today's date).
We wish everyone a safe and smooth return home

City / Airport	Aircraft Type	Scheduled	Estimated	Actual	Status
Departure Airport	Istanbul - Ataturk	B777	12:45	13:01	13:01	DEPARTED
Arrival Airport	Los Angeles - Los Angeles	B777	16:30	17:38

More pictures from the 2012 San Marino Chamber Choir Tour: Istanbul, Turkey

Looking back to SMCC in Neuschwanstein

More Istanbul Impressions from Terry Fouché

HD video of the Incantato SMCC Friendship Concert in Istanbul

Visiting Galatasaray High School on Friday, April 6

Here are some impressions from the famous soccer team's high school that SMCC will be visiting on Friday, April 6 for a meet and greet with students followed by your finale concert of the 2012 Performance Tour.

San Marino Chamber Choir presents a join Highlight Concert at Bosphorus University on Thursday, April 5

Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Müzik Kulübü, Amerika'dan gelen misafirlerini Albert Long Hall'de ağırlıyor!
California merkezli Howard Cheung yönetimindeki San Marino Chamber Choir ve BÜMK Caz Korosu, 5 Nisan Perşembe akşamı saat 20 da en güzel şarkılarını Albert Long Hall sahnesinde seslendiriyor olacaklar.
Bu güzel konserde bizimle olun!Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Müzik Kulübü
'Müziğin kalbinin attığı yer'

Boğaziçi University Music Club welcomes our guests from America at Albert Long Hall!
California based San Marino Chamber Choir conducted by Howard Cheung, and BUMC Jazz Choir will be singing you their nicest songs on Albert Long Hall's stage on Thursday night, April 5 at 20 pm.
Please be our guests at this wonderful concert! 

Merhaba from Istanbul - We made it and have a great day ahead

Just a quick note that all of us and even every single piece of luggage made it to Istanbul late last night. A buffet dinner with traditional Turkish specialities like Koefte and Lahmacun awaited the group from San Marino California at the Hotel Volley. On today's agenda is a first orientation tour of this fascinating city, followed by an exchange and highlight concert at Bosphorus University.

More SMCC Tour Impressions from Terry Fouché: Wieskirche, Germany

San Marino in Neuschwanstein

SMCC live from Munich: "Ave Maria" in HD

More SMCC Tour Impressions from Terri Fouché: Salzburg, Austria

SMCC sings in Munich: "Ave Maria" by Biebl