At 9:00 AM, Tour Manager Stefania introduced us to Diana, who would be our Lisbon guide for the next 4 hours. Diana led us on a very informative and interesting panoramic tour of the city, and there were multiple opportunities to hop on/hop off the bus for pictures. See below.
We saw the Edward VII park, named in honor of Portugal's strategic alliance with England, as well as rode to the suburb of Belém, about 6 km from the city center. Belém is a beautiful area home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Monastery of St. Jerome and the Tower of Belém -- the latter being the port from which Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama set sail to discover the new route to India!
The UGA Camber Choir will be performing under the direction of Dr. Mitos Andaya at the Conservatorio Superior "Manuel Castillo", in the city of Sevilla. on Wednesday, May 25th 2011, at 8:30 P.M.
The University of Georgia Chamber Choir, under the direction of Dr. Mitos Andaya, will perform at the very famous Sinagogue del Transito in Toledo on Saturday, May 21st 2011, at 8:00 P.M.
eyday under his reign (1350-1369), as they were protected even when a Papal Bulla had banned the erection of new Hebrew temples, and only allowed the refurbishment of those already constructed. When King Don Pedro built it, he defied all the laws about synagogues being smaller and lower than churches.
In the 16th century it became a church of Saint Benito. Later at the 17th century the name changed into Church of the Nuestra Senora del Transito. The name derives from the painting: Transit of Virgin. The synagogue was also used as military headquarters during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1877 the building became a national monument. The transformation of the building into the Sephardi Museum, as it is now officially called, started around 1910. 
The UGA Chamber Choir concludes its 2009 Incantato Italy Tour with two performances at the Vatican. The singers directed by Dr. Mitos Andaya will be the featured guest choir for High Mass at St. Peter's Basilica at 5 pm and then present a special recital in the Sistine Chapel.
Constituting the core of Vatican City, Saint Peter’s Basilica is the principal and one of the largest churches of the Christian world.
The present structure was built mainly between 1506 and 1626 on the original site of the Vatican cemetery and an early shrine to St. Peter. In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine built the first church of St. Peter, a wood-roofed basilica, with transepts, five aisles, and an atrium. It was said to be built over the grave of St. Peter. Here, Charlemagne and many other emperors and popes were crowned. In 1452, Pope Nicholas V. undertook the rebuilding of the choir and transepts after a design by Bernardo Rossellino. Pope Julius II appointed architect Bramante to rebuild the church in 1506. He appears to have originally planned a symmetrical Greek cross with a great dome over the center. Bramante was succeeded by Raphael (1514), Antonio da San Gallo (1520), and Michelangelo (1547), who completed the building up to the drum of the great dome. Giacomo della Porta modified the design and completed the dome.
Throughout the 16th century, there was controversy over the final form in which the church would be built - the centralized Greek cruciform plan or the shape of a Latin cross. The problem was resolved in favor of the Latin cross plan, when Carlo Maderno added the nave and facade (1607-14). Unfortunately his additions obscured the dome. The church was dedicated by Urban VIII in 1626. Between 1629 and 1662, Bernini completed the great composition of St. Peter's, creating a forecourt preceded by a majestic elliptical piazza bounded by quadruple colonnades. The great obelisk of Heliopolis, brought to Rome by Caligula, was moved by Domenico Fontana, and now adorns the center of the piazza. A monumental avenue leading to the piazza was added by Mussolini. From 1996 to 1999, the facade of the church was cleaned, and a dull straw color restored to lower portions of it.
The huge scale of all the elements of the interior prevents any accurate notion of its magnitude, and its effectiveness is chiefly due to the dome, which is 404 ft (123 m) high from the pavement. The interior diameter of the dome, 137 ft (42 m) is one of the largest in the world.
Beneath, it is the high altar covered by Bernini's superb bronze baldachino. At this altar only the pope may read Mass. The interior with its colored marbles, its sculptures, and its gilt and fresco decorations gives an effect of multicolored space.
Opening hours: Oct-Mar 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Apr-Sep 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: Piazza San Pietro, Roma -- Phone: 
(+39) ...
-- Website: www.vatican.va
ve arrived safely in Milan. Tour manager Stefania de la Rosa welcomed the group at the airport waving a Bulldogs' flag. They are now re-united with Dr. Andaya and the other tour participants that arrived independently. Together with Prof. Masciadri and some of his students, the travelers from Athens, GA are exploring Milan and Da Vinci's Last Supper in particular prior to continuing to their base for the next few days, the town of Salice Terme where a dinner is awaiting them at the hotel.
"Musica oltre i confini" is the theme for the 2009 UGA Chamber Choir Italy Performance Tour. Incantato Tour proudly presents the custom-designed poster for the highlight concert as part of the Ultrapadum Festival.
Concert Postcard which highlights all performances arranged by Incantato and serves both as a marketing tool while on tour, but also as a memory keepsakes for the singers, the organization t
hey represent and the members in the audiences.
The University of Georgia Chamber Choir is a select touring ensemble of members from all UGA choirs including the Concert Choir, University Chorus,Women's Glee Club, Men's Glee Club, the African-American Choral Ensemble,Classic City Jazz, and Collegium Musicum. The ensemble performs literature of all style periods – from early, classical, and contemporary music to spirituals and jazz. The Chamber Choir is formed biennially and has toured internationally since 2005, when the group went to England and Scotland. There, they were featured at the Dornoch Choral Festival and worked with distinguished conductor Simon Carrington. The choir also performed in Christ Church and Keble Colleges in Oxford, in York Minster, at Paisley Abbey in Glasgow, and in Stirling.
In 2007, the Chamber Choir toured Germany and Austria. Performances included the Kaiser-Wilhelm-
The current Chamber Choir consists of 24 voices including music and non-music majors from various courses of study at the University. The singers look forward to touring Italy in 2009, where they will be featured at the Festival Ultrapadum in Pavia and perform in Alessandria, the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, the Duomo in Florence, as well as the Basilica of St. Peter and the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to sing in some of Italy's beautiful churches, and I'm sure this will make my first trip to Europe even more memorable.” –Christina Esposito
"This will be my first time in Europe and I feel honored to be singing in some of the most beautiful places in the world.” –Morgan Roberts
"I'm so grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" –Stephanie Post
"This trip truly is a chance of a lifetime! I cannot wait to not only get to visit, but get to sing in some of the most magnificent venues in the world! I know this trip will be life-changing and I cannot wait to experience Italy's amazing culture to the fullest!" –Katie Sorrels
"This summer will be my first time to Europe, and I can't wait to sing in some of the beautiful, timeless churches.” –David Okun
