Incantato Concert Tours proudly present the San Marino Chamber Choir at the Euphrasian Basilica in Porec

The Euphrasian Basilica in Porec on the Croatian Coast is one of the most preserved cathedral complexes in the region. This means that the basic components - church, memorial chapel, atrium, bapistry and episcopal palace - are preserved. The Basilica is an example of Byzantine architecture which is a characteristic example of 5th and 6th century religious architecture.

At least four churches were built in succession and only the last, the Basilica of Euphrasius has survived.  The present church was built in the mid-6th century to the orders of the bishop whose name it retains, Euphrasius. All the buildings are richly ornamented with mosaics, alabaster, marble, mother-of-pearl, and stucco. The central feature inside the dome is a representation of the Virgin Mary, holding the Christ Child and flanked by angels, local martyrs and Bishop Euphrasius. Because of its exceptional value, it has been inscribed on the  UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.

San Marino Chamber Choir the featured guest singers for Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padova,Italy

The San Marino Chamber Choir will be singing twice in Italy. Once at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and also in the Basilica Pontificia di Sant'Antonio di Padova at 11 am on Friday, April 5. The Basilica of St. Anthony, as it is called in English, is a Roman Catholic church and basilica in Padua, northern Italy. 
Construction began in 1232, one year after the death of St. Anthony, and completed in 1310. 
The Basilica is the result of different constructions which took place between 1238-1310. The church of Santa Maria Mater Domini, which is the original burial site of St. Anthony, was integrated into the Basilica and what is now the Chapel of the Black Madonna. The second construction is that of the Friary, dating back to 1229 and likely founded by St. Anthony himself, who died in 1231 in Arcella, northern Italy. 
The Chapel where the tomb of St. Anthony lies has been called the "Ark" from the beginning. While the tomb is in the altar in this chapel, it was temporarily located in the center of the Basilica from 1236-1310, although it has remained in its current location since 1350. 

Confirmed Venue: St. Mark's Basilica, Venice

On Saturday, April 6, the San Marino Chamber Choir will be the featured guest choir for the prominent Saturday Mass at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. 
St. Mark's is a cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice and one of the most famous of the city's churches. 
The Basilica dates back to 828 when it was first a temporary building in the Doge's Palace when Venetian merchants stole the supposed relics of Mark the Evangelist from Alexandria. It was replaced with its own building on the present site in 832. 
This monument was made unique by a combination of wealth of history and striking facade and interior, marked by a Byzantine character. Over the centuries, the Venetians embellished the Basilica with precious objects and works of art, creating a grand, compact monument in Venice. The famous Mosaics in the interior illustrate St. Marco's tales, as well as scenes from the Old and New Testaments. 

Incantato Welcomes you to Istria!

Istria is the largest peninsula in Croatia and known for its colors: blue seas, white stone and green interior. In this small area, you will come across a wide variety, from an ancient heritage and green, rolling hills to the Adriatic coastline. The peninsula is dotted with tiny towns, some old fishing villages, and other fortified medieval towns in between a hilly landscape. Almost every hill in Istria has a town or village perched on top and each has its own characteristic streets, squares, and churches. Enjoy the local cuisine and savor the famous locally produced olive oil, honey or delicacies from the sea. 

Discover the marks left throughout history by the Celts, Romans, Venetians and all the way up to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. See examples of architecture of Antiquity in Pula, a city that has existed for three thousand years and is Istria's largest urban center. Just like Rome, the town lies on seven hills. Be sure to visit the Amphitheater, a monument dating back to the 1st century AD and initially designed for fighting gladiators. Today, it is a world-famous concert and festival venue.
As the jewel of Istria's unspoiled nature, the Brijuni National Park is a group of 14 islands strung along the coast. This monument of cultural and historical heritage and a veritable treasure trove of nature can be reached by boat from the town of Fazana. 

Discover the city of Pula, Croatia with Incantato Tours

Pula, the largest town on the Istrian peninsula, is well-known for its magnificent monuments from the Roman era. In Roman times, Pula was a colony known as Pietas Julia. In 425, the town became an episcopal seat and still features the foundations of some 5th-century religious buildings today. 

In the course of Pula's three thousand year old history, several landmarks and monuments have emerged. These include:
Triumphal Arch of the Sergi from the 1st century B.C. It was built for three brothers who held important positions in the Roman Empire.
Twin Gates, dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries, and Hercule's Gate, built in the 1st century B.C., the oldest and best preserved Roman monument in the city. 
 

Temple of Augustus, which stands in the square that was once the site of the Roman forum. A very good example of Roman architecture, the temple dates back to the 1st century.

The most famous monument, however, is the Roman amphitheater, popularly known as the Arena of Pula. The arena is one of the six largest Roman amphitheaters still in existance today. The first two floors have 72 arches and the third has 64 large rectangluar openings. Built in the 1st century AD and enlarged in 79 AD for gladiator fights, the amphitheater could hold 23,000 people. It remained intact until the 15th century. Recently, it has been restored and was adatped for musical events.

2013 San Marino Chamber Choir Tour Route

View Larger Map

Home away from home: NH Laguna Palace, Venice

 
 The grand finale of the 2013 SMCC tour will be in Venice, Italy, where the group is staying at the NH Laguna Palace Hotel for three nights from Thursday, April 4 to Saturday, April 6.
One of the largest covered structures in Europe, this four-star hotel features free WiFi, phone, radio, air conditioning, coffee/tea station, hairdryer as well as a refrigerator in the rooms. Breakfast is served buffe-style and the Laguna hotel restaurant serves international and Italian dishes. 

Home away from home: Hotel Bristol, Opatija

 

Founded in 1906, the Bristol Hotel in Opatija, Croatia, will be the San Marino traveling group's home away from home on Tuesday, April 2, 2013.

The renovated, four-star hotel has a total of 78 rooms which all feature a TV, phone, in-room safe, as well as WiFi and climate control. 

There is also a spa & beauty area that includes a whirlpool, sauna, steam bath, fitness area, and massages. 

Aside from the restaurant, which serves local and international fare, the hotel also offers its own coffeehouse, the Cafe Palme, which serves Croatian specialties and coffees.   

     

Home away from home: Hotel International, Zagreb

The journey continues for the travelers of SMCC, as the group goes from one capital city to the next. After Ljubljana, Slovenia, the next stop is Croatia's capital city of Zagreb. The four-star Hotel International will be the group's home away from home for two nights on Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1, 2013. 
The four-star Hotel International has a total of 205 rooms, all equipped with a coffee/tea station, phone, TV, hairdryer, and air conditioning. The internet is also free of charge. Breakfast is served buffet-style in the mornings in the hotel restaurant. 
If you are interested, click here for further information and pictures. 

Home away from home: Austria Trend Hotel, Ljubljana

 

The first home away from home for the San Marino Chamber Choir and family & friends will be in Slovenia. The group is staying at the Austria Trend Hotel in the country's capital city of Ljubljana for two nights on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30. 

Any of the 214 rooms feature a hairdryer, safe, TV, as well as air conditioning as part of their standard amenities. The hotel also offers free wireless internet. The hotel restaurant, where breakfast is also served in the mornings, offers domestic specialties, as well as international fare. The Wellness Club features massages, a sauna, and a whirlpool. For more impressions of the Austria Trend Hotel, be sure to check out the Gallery on the website. 

Incantato's Zagreb

In July 2013, the Croatian capital, which dates back to 1094, will be the next European capital to join the European Union. Despite this fact, however, Zagreb is not as international as one might expect. It has managed to retain much of its street-level character that is shaped as much by local tastes as global commercial imperatives. 
With the exception of a few, most of the businesses you will encounter in Zagreb are local ones. Explore the courtyards leading off of the main shopping street and you are sure to discover a unique world of boutiques and workshops. Many of these sell hand-made jewelry or individually-crafted hats and shoes. Zagreb is still able to boast professions such as millinery (hat making) and cordwainery (shoemaking/cobbler) with businesses still located in their traditional places in the city center. Additionally, unlike many of its fellow European capitals, Zagreb is a city where the main outdoor fruit and vegetable market still occupies center stage, just a few steps from the main square. All journeys through the city will cross the main square, as you can walk almost anywhere in this big village.
Although Zagreb may lack the big-city vibe of Vienna or Budapest, this is really where the charm of the city lies. It is a city where you can easily wind down, as it has remained compact in Central European fashion and most old-school entertainment options such as restaurants, concert halls and theaters are concentrated in a relatively small area. Sightseeing should involve a walk around the cobbled Upper Town, as well as a stroll of the grid-patterned streets of the Lower Town.

Mind the Blast:
Every day since 1877, a single loud cannon blast from Upper Town has signaled noon, so don't be scared when alarmed when you hear cannon fire. 
Marvel at the Cathedral:
If Zagreb has an iconic freature, it is the two towers of the Cathedral, created by Hermann Bolle after an earthquake struck in 1880. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary Right is right in the heart of town and a five-minute walk from the main square.
An icon returns:

One of the biggest attractions the city is currently able to offer is that of the Croatian Apoxyomenos, one of the country's oldest artworks. The statue was salvaged from the ocean floor in 1999 and has been dated to the first century BC. Currently, Croatia's most famous Roman-era statue is on display at the Mimara Museum. 

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