Policies

Festival Ascoli Piceno is truly the high point of the classical music season. In 2008, the 12th annual festival presented 40 concerts in venues ranging from the Duomo di Sant’Emidio, the cathedral of Ascoli Piceno, the Sala della Vittoria of the Pinacoteca Civica, and the famed Caffè Meletti on the Piazza del Popolo, to exquisite small churches in medieval mountain top villages throughout the province, wine-producers´cantine and private villas.

The festival artistic director, Michael Flaksman, has enjoyed an illustrious career as a cellist both in Europe and the USA, and brings the top European talents to the festival each year. Maestro Flaksman is currently Vice President and Professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst di Mannheim. Along with outstanding concerts in beautiful places, he has promised us the opportunity to meet the musicians and local arts supporters in informal encounters.

We have the opportunity to stay in the city’s two most luxurious hotels, each only blocks from the main concert venues in Ascoli. Both of these 4-star hotels have preserved the best antiques and architecture of the region and the period in which they were built. The Palazzo Guiderocchi (www.palazzoguiderocchi.com), equipped with all modern comforts, has remained faithful to the palace’s style with its antique furnishings, fabrics and frescos. The Residenza 100 Torre (www.centotorre.com), designed and created by the Tassi family ‘from a noble building of the 18th century’ opened only a year ago. The hotel has preserved the old architecture and offers touches of modernity in a balanced mix of tradition and design. This hotel was mentioned in the May 2008 Conde Nast Traveller Hot List. Either hotel can be requested up to the number of rooms we have reserved in each. (12 rooms 100 Torre and 15 rooms Palazzo Guiderocchi).

For those desiring it, one meal per day (besides breakfast, which is included at each hotel) can be provided on a half-board basis. Meals will be arranged in a variety of Ascoli restaurants, or you may arrange meals entirely on your own. Tickets to all concerts are included in the price. For a very modest fee the festival will organize English and Italian guided excursions to small provincial villages and towns where some of the concerts take place (Colle San Marco, Acquasanta, Offida, San Benedetto del Tronto, Grottammare, Acquaviva Picena, etc.)

Please complete the application form and send it with the application fee (€275 per person) before February 28, 2009. The application fee is included in the prices listed below. Final payment is due by May 1, 2009. There will be a Late Booking Supplement (per room) after February 28. Requests for a specific hotel will be honored in order of application. All travel to and from Ascoli is at each participant’s expense and arrangement. Musical Passages will be happy to provide information on local transportation, and can arrange additional stays either before or after the Ascoli week in Cortona (Tuscany), Ripatransone (Ascoli Piceno) or Urbino (Umbria).

Refund policies for this specific trip are listed on the Reservation Form. Private travel insurance is highly recommended.

All prices are in € (euros) and payment to me will be in euros. Choice of 2 hotels, single, double or twin room. Prices are per person and include seven nights bed and breakfast, first night welcome dinner, guidebooks and all concert tickets. Parking is available at both hotels if required. Guiderocchi indicates on their website they also offer daily newspapers (Italian), use of bicycle, a coffee corner, free wireless internet, satellite TV and Pay-Per-View in the room, safe in the room, minibar. Residenza 100 Torri probably has similar amenities.

Residenza 100 Torri
Single €1250
Double/Twin €975

Palazzo Guiderocchi
Single €1110
Double/Twin €935

Half board supplement, add €150

Late booking supplement (after February 28), add €100 per room