DECEMBER 3-12, 2023!
Join me in Italy this December for the premiere of our new Italian puppet opera:
San Nicola: lo straordinario viaggio della sua vita
(Saint Nicholas: the extraordinary journey of his life! )
The premiere will be held on December 8th at 6:30 PM at the beautiful Teatro Maria Caniglia, a 1930’s opera house in the snow-capped mountains of Italy.
I’ll be taking a group of anyone who wants to come along and experience this week in style! We’ll see a few famous sights in Rome, then spend the rest of the time in the ancient city of Sulmona, 2-/12 hours southeast of Rome.
Scroll down to see what I’ll be doing! Then click the button if you’d like to join me — whether for part or all of the trip — even if you’re only remotely interested!
DAY 1 – Fly to Rome
Sunday, December 3 – Before you say “I can’t afford it!” get this: round-trip tickets from Chicago to Rome for this particular week are only $570 right now! (in summertime, flights alone are $2,500!) If there’s ever a time to see Italy, this is it!
DAY 2 – Arrive in Rome
Monday, December 4 – We’ll arrive in Rome and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city, stroll by Trevi Fountain, and share a meal at a sidewalk cafe. Relax, you’re in Rome!
DAY 3 – The Sistine Chapel
Tuesday, December 5 – In the morning, we’ll tour the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
& the Colosseum!
That same afternoon, we’ll tour the Roman Colossuem, including a walk through the newly-opened underground passages.
DAY 5 – Hike to Celestine’s Cave
Thursday, December 7 – We’ll take a short ride and then a beautiful hike up a nature trail to the Cave of Celestine V, who stayed in this hermitage in the 1200’s after stepping down suddenly from his role as pope. We’ll also have a picnic lunch in nature and see the remains of the Temple of Hercules, who also hails from this region.
DAY 6 – The Premiere!
Friday, December 8, 6:30 pm – Tonight’s the night! We’ll be premiering our new Italian puppet opera in the beautiful Teatro Maria Caniglia, a 4-tiered, regal opera house built in the 1930’s. The show is called San Nicola: lo straordinario viaggio della sua vita (or in English: Saint Nicholas: the extraordinary journey of his life!
DAY 7 – Enjoy Sulmona!
Saturday, December 9 – Sleep in, enjoy some coffee and a criossant, or go window shopping. Later in the day, we’ll take a walking tour of Sulmona and a tour of the costume museum above the puppet workshop!
Snow-capped mountains surround Sulmona’s main plaza, framed in this photo by a Roman aquaduct.
Sulmona’s famous confection, confetti (sugar-coated almonds), fills the shop windows in elaborate displays.
Nothing soothes the soul like a creamy gelato (Italian ice cream).
DAY 8 – Worship & Celebrations!
Sunday, December 10 – We’ll worship locally in the morning and enjoy a time of celebration with the cast & crew & friends later in the day.
DAY 9 – Anversa & Castrovalva
Monday, December 11 – We’ll take a short drive to Anversa where we’ll have lunch at a working sheep farm–with a traditional multi-course Italian meal–truly from farm to table! Then we’ll take an easy hike from Anversa to Castrovalva, two cities made famous, in part, by drawings by M. C. Escher.
DAY 10 – Return!
Tuesday, December 12 – We’ll take an early bus ride back to the airport in Rome for our departure. If you’re flying back to the States, you’ll likely be home that same night… with memories to last a lifetime.