ENG
International folk, dance and music festival
"THE RHYTHM OF SUNNY LECO"
28 June - 2 July, 2019
Apply until 01.04.2019
Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Besides the famous cities of art, Italy is home to several magical places that look like they are straight out of a fairy tale. This time we will stay in North Italy, in region of Lombardy, which is a very interesting area located in the northern part of the country, near the border with Austria. Stretching from the Alps on the Swiss border over romantic Lake Como and Lake Maggiore to the vast plain of the Po. The name derives from the Lombard, who had invaded from northern Europe in the 6th century. Artistic heritage of long and significant history of this area can be seen in many large and small cities. Lombardy today is the leader in modern industry and developed agriculture. The main city of the region is financial and fashion center, Milan, with the developed wine market. You are welcome to discover North Italy, to feel summer sun and spirit. To dance and sing together and enjoying every moment here.
We are waiting participants to this festival from all Europe and other countries
from all over the world. More than welcome is Baltic States – Latvia, Lithuania
and Estonia.
Program
1st day - Arrival day – 28.06.2019. – Friday
Arrival in Italy. Meeting at the
airport or in the hotel. Transfer to hotel (if necessary).
Accommodation in a selected hotel. Leisure time for individual activities.
Dinner. Overnight stay.
2nd day - Lecco/Parade/Festival day – 29.06.2019. – Saturday
Breakfast.
Free time for relaxing in Lecco - Italian city in Lombardy, in the north of the country. It’s the province of Lecco Centre. It’s next to the lake of Como and every summer the city is visited by a lot of tourists. The city’s economic system use to be based on factories, but now tourism is dominating. Small, nice and a very lovely city, which is hidden between the mountains with a beautiful view all around.
During the day in Lecco you should definitely try a real Italian gelato (ice cream) and a local Italian
food.
FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAM
Stage testing, sound check, general rehearsal. Festival parade in the streets
of the Barzio city. Opening ceremony with musician and drummer REINIS REKIS
from Latvia. Performances of the participants. In the evening disco and workshops
for festival participants.
Dinner. Return to the hotel. Overnight.
3rd day - Bergamo/Festival day – 30.06.2019. – Sunday
Breakfast.
Optional excursion day to Bergamo with guide.
Except for the old funicular leading to the hill, only our legs will take us to visit a place where beauty stands in the journey itself, admiring terrific landscapes and lovely architectures. After visiting the ancient stronghold called Rocca, the main street leads us to Piazza Vecchia, the beautiful heart of the city, hosting one of Italy’s most ancient libraries along with the 52 meters-high tower, which can be climbed both on food and using the lift. Even the treasures embracing Piazza Duomo deserve a visit, while the Museums in Piazza della Cittadella provide an exciting journey across science and art. However, the descent towards Lower Bergamo is the best moment to fully enjoy the breath-taking view from here, along the Venetian Walls. (Included Funicular ticket one way - up).
During this day discover what the Bergamo kitchen can offer to end the meal. Typical dessert. The delicious reproduction of polenta e uccelli (polenta and birds) certainly makes for a sweet treat, and torta Donizetti (Donizetti cake) or torta di Treviglio (Treviglio cake), typical of the area of the Po plain, are also popular desserts in Bergamo city. Worthwhile tasting in the valleys are the tasty biscotti di San Pellegrino (San Pellegrino biscuits). Lastly, it would appear that the famous stracciatella flavor was invented in Bergamo, so don’t miss an occasion to savor some excellent home-made ice cream.
FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAM
Performances of the participants. Close ceremony and diploma receiving. Giving “Festival`s Sympathy” awards. Group photo.
Dinner. Return to the hotel. Overnight.
4th day – Mountains
day/Culture afternoon day – 01.07.2019. – Monday
Breakfast.
Optional excursion day to mountains with local guide. The north of Italy is beautiful for its mountains. In the Alps there are many different hiking trails. This day will be spent by enjoying the beautiful views of the mountains. Everyone will be able to walk in the mountains as much as they want.
Day in the mountains. Piani di Bobbio. Mountain for everyone
also in summer. If you are thinking of a unique Area near Milan,
where you can practice the sports you love and where you can
relax looking at uncontaminated nature, then you're thinking
of Piani di Bobbio, d'Erna, Artavaggio and Betulle in Valsassina.
In Piani di Bobbio you will find different rails of all levels
able to satisfy everyone’s taste: easy trails though grassy
areas or challenging climbs for trekkers. A walk or trekking
in the mountains with picnics. (Included ticket up and down
with a cable cart).
In the evening you are welcome to take a part in Culture afternoon – time to be together, to share culture and traditions, dances, songs. We will make some football match in Italian style and taste best Italian pizza. Dinner.
Keeping cultural values and teaching others is a way how to show our love to our own land, country, history and nation. During event all of us will teach something about our country and culture. During the event, we will look for common and different in our cultures, so we kindly invite you to teach some of your traditional dances and songs and present your country.
Return to the hotel. Overnight.
5th day – Departure
day/Optional excursion to Milan – 02.07.2019. – Tuesday
Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Departure of the participants.
or
OPTIONAL – if you stay more days
Optional excursion – For children theme park “Gardaland” or for adult’s excursion day to Milan.
1st option
- going to “Gardaland” (theme park) for children’s collectives
“Gardaland” is one of the best theme park in Europe and the
biggest theme park in Italy. You can find many attractions
there starting from caves and pirate ships for children ending
with exciting roller coasters and water slides for teenagers
and adults. You will spend the whole day having fun in the
park.
Whole day ticket 35eur for children and 40eur for adults.
2nd option - going to Milan. Milan is a beautiful and amazing city
Milan is an absolute behemoth of a city and has the most populated metropolitan area in Italy with 1.3 million people, and 3.2 million in the wider area surrounding central Milan. Some form of human settlement has been present in the region of Milan for thousands of years and archaeological findings date back as far as 222 BC. Indeed at one point, Milan served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Today Milan offers a sublime mix of historical architecture, modern high-rise skyscrapers, all mingled together with a dash of Italian life. The city is particularly known for its abundance of high end fashion retailers and the beautiful Duomo Cathedral.
At first we will visit Milan cathedral. Milan Cathedral is a truly monumental building and is famed for its sublime architecture and took over 600 years to complete. Located in the center of Milan in the self-named Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral was constructed in 1386 but not officially completed until 1965! With an Italian Gothic style, the front façade of the cathedral is truly magnificent and is crowned with countless towers, statues and decoration. The interior is just as decorative and features some beautiful stained glass windows bursting with color; furthermore in-between the central columns, there is a fantastic display of artwork and some finely detailed statue. This immense structure is truly the heart of Milan and no trip to this city is complete without steeping foot inside its huge doors.
Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. As you walk into the Grand Gallery, you might think you were stood inside the entrance hall to an opera house or palace – Not a shopping mall. But this is essentially what the Galleria is – An extremely opulent and extravagant indoor shopping area. Created in 1877, it stands as one of the oldest shopping malls in the world and was designed by Guiseppe Mengoni. The cross shaped mall is covered via four glass paneled arms that let in the sunlight perfectly, whilst the walls and shop fronts are decorated with ornate paneling and stucco artwork. High-end designer shops line the mall and you can expect to find such names as Prada, Versace and Luis Vuitton – If you are looking for a bargain, this is definitely not the place!
La Scala Opera. There are few buildings in the world that have hosted as many great artists as the Scala Opera. Located to the north of the Duomo and the east of Castello Sforzesco this opera house is one of the finest in the world and is renowned for its acoustic qualities and opulence. Inside the main auditorium the decoration and grandeur of the seating and stage is fantastic – 6 tiers of seating and individual boxes frame the stage in a semi-circle and the whole place is full of red velvet drapes and gold furnishings.
Castello Sforzesco. This 15th century castle has a central location in Milan and is set in extensive grounds and gardens. Created in 1370, the original design has been modified and added too greatly but still retains its elegance and status of power. At the front of the castle stands an immense brick wall lined with battlements and frame by a central guard tower. As you walk through into the central courtyard, you will notice the large guard towers and the sheer size of the castle will amaze you. Aside from the castle itself, there is also a host of small museums and collections that contain a myriad of interesting artefacts and historical information about the castle and Milan.
Sant Ambrogio. This ancient building is one of the oldest in Milan and was built in 379 AD by St. Ambrose. With a simple Romanesque design, the style of this church has not changed much since its creation and the city of Milan was built up around it, as it served as a focal point for the local population. Two large towers frame the front façade and a central courtyard is frame via a series of ornate arches. Due to its age, the interior of the church features some beautiful mosaics and artwork including the ceiling of the Oratory and the delightful depiction of Christ on one of the domes. A visit to this church will provide a fine insight into the history of Milan and its religious importance.
Walk down the Naviglio Grande. Not many people realize that Milan actually has two canals, one of which is the Naviglio Grande – This canal stretches from the Porta Ticinese to the Ticino river some 50km to the west. Constructed originally in 1177, the canal was worked on for many years and continued to expand into what it is today. The section of the canal situated within the city center is a fantastic place to walk and is lined with old buildings plus a variety of shops and restaurants.
Bosco vertical or vertical forest. Bosco Verticale is a pair of residential towers in the Porta Nuova district of Milan, Italy, between Via Gaetano de Castillia and Via Federico Confalonieri near Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station. They have a height of 111m and 76m and will host more than 900 trees on 8900sqm of terraces. Within the complex is also an 11-story office building; its facade does not host plants. The towers were designed by Boeri Studio . It also involved input from horticulturalists and botanists. The building was inaugurated in October 2014.ConceptThe project was designed as part of the rehabilitation of the historic district of Milan between Via De Castillia and Confalonieri. It consists of two residential towers of which the largest is 26 floors and 110 meters high (called Torre E) and the smaller tower is 18 floors and 76 meters high (called Torre D). It contains 400 condominium units priced from 3,000–12,000 Euro per square meter is called Bosco Verticale because each tower houses trees between three and six meters which help mitigate smog and produce oxygen. It is also used to moderate temperatures in the building in the winter and summer.
During the excursion day – time to eat lunch in some nice restaurant and visit, for example, Leonardo Da Vinci art and science museum. Leonardo Da Vinci was a great artist, inventor, musician and much more! He is considered one of the greatest artists, inventors and all together the greatest person that ever lived. In the museum you will see many of his inventions starting from the first mechanical counting machine and ending with expositions dedicated to trains, boats, air balloons and so much more!
6th day – Departure day – 03.07.2019. – Wednesday
Breakfast. Check out from the hotel.
Departure of the participants.
***
Participation
fee:
- 270 Euro per person in 3*** comfort hotel (4 nights with 2 meals per day – breakfast (served in hotel) and dinner (served in other place)).
- Every 21st person in the group is free of charge (20 paying participants + 1 free).
Payment
rules:
- Approved groups pay in advance a 10% guarantee fee, which is to be deducted at the final payment.
- Next stage payment 30% for booking of accommodation.
- Rest of payment 60% - 30 days before start of festival.
Participation
fee includes:
- Airport transfer (if necessary).
- Accommodation according to the price selected.
- Meals - breakfast and dinner.
- Participation fee.
- Official letter of invitation and other documents.
- Participation in the festival concert with rehearsal on the main stage.
- Water during the performance for every participant.
- Souvenirs and certificate for every participant.
- A companion to your group.
- Organization and implementation of the festival.
- Culture afternoon – time to be together, to share culture and traditions, dances, songs.
- Transport –hotel to festival events and back.
- Free parking for the bus (if necessary).
Participation
fee does not include:
- Transport to Italy and back.
- Optional tours.
- Travel insurance.
Extra pay
(optional):
- All extra excursions with transport (included: transport, guide, tickets fee) – 129 Euro.
- All extra excursions without transport (included: guide, tickets fee) – 79 Euro.
If you stay
more days (optional):
- Extra day in comfort hotel – 55 Euro per person (included breakfast).
- Excursion to Milan – if you stay more days – in 5th day (transport, guide; entrance tickets not included) - 50 Euro.
- Excursion to adventure park “Gardaland” – if you stay more days - in 5th day (transport, guide; entrance tickets not included) - 40 Euro.
Conditions
of the festival:
- In the festival can take part folklore dance and song groups, vocal groups, instrumental groups, as well as groups from other art styles - majorettes, jazz, hip hop, classic ballet ect.
- There is no age limit.
- Number of participating groups is limited.
- Organizers provide invitation letters.
- Groups from all over the world can take part in this festival.
- Folk dance groups, modern dance groups, choirs, but also majorette teams and brass bands and orchestras are welcome to apply.
- The number of participants and followers is not limited.
- It is necessary to prepare two programs with the duration of 10 - 12 minutes per program.
- Each group should bring the national flag of the country that they represent.
- It is also necessary to visibly display panel on which the name of your group and the name of your country is inscribed.
- It is recommended that groups should bring about 12 – 15 small gifts for exchange.
- Participants can perform with live music or with recorded music (on CD or USB).
- To participate in this festival, every group needs to fill in an application form. When applying, if possible, please provide some photos, videos or brief history of the group. These materials will be used for promotional and advertising purposes (in advertisements, fliers and posters).
- After receiving the application form and completion of advance payment, the organizer will send an official letter of invitation for participation at the Festival.
Any group willing to participate must submit an Application form >>>