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Saga has expanded their offering for the Verona Opera Festival 2017 giving guests more choice and flexibility to enjoy memorable opera performances in Verona's magnificent Roman amphitheatre.

The seven night holidays feature two operas, three concert talks by an expert music host, two included excursions and a variety of optional excursions.

Guests stay on a half board basis at the Active Hotel Paradiso & Golf (4Q), situated just two kilometres from the shores of Lake Garda. The holiday includes a boat pass to spend the day on Lake Garda and a half day wine-tasting tour plus optional excursions to Verona and Vicenza.

In order to meet demand, on selected dates, guests can also fly from Manchester and will stay at the Villa Quaranta Park Hotel (4Q), just 20 minutes from Verona. The original 17th century villa is now the annex to this modern hotel. Here guests can enjoy an included full-day in Verona and a half day to explore the charming hamlet of Borghetto and the gardens of Sigurta, plus optional excursions to Sirmione and Lake Garda and Mantua. An exclusive solos departure on July 12, will also stay at this hotel.

Depending on departure date guests also have the following included operas:

June 28 Nabucco • Rigoletto

July 5 August 2 and 16 Nabucco • Aida

July 12 Rigoletto • Aida

July 19 and August 9 Madame Butterfly • Aida

July 26 Rigoletto • Madame Butterfly

August 23 Tosca • Aida

ENDS

For details call free on 0800 300 500 or visit saga.co.uk/europe/Italy

Seven nights from £1,329 with a choice of departures from London Gatwick and Manchester airports. All dates flying from Gatwick July 5, 12, 19, 26 and August 2, 9, 16, 23 stay at the Hotel Paradiso & Golf, with Manchester regional flights available at a supplement on selected dates. Manchester exclusive dates, June 8 and July 5, stay at the Villa Quaranta Park Hotel.

Exclusive Solo’s departure from £1,599 stays at the Villa Quaranta Park departing July 12 from London Gatwick, with Manchester regional flights available at a supplement.

Prices include return flights, airport taxes, accommodation, all breakfasts, two lunches and five dinners, two operas, three talks and two excursions; porterage, expert music host and Saga representative, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights, or a discount if passenger has own insurance.

Editors:

Peter Grevatt, will host all dates at the Active Hotel Paradiso & Golf.

Nabucco – This new production of Verdi's opera is based on the biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar. King Nabucco's daughter and Israelite prisoners face death but are saved when the King converts.

Aida – Egyptian military commander Radames must choose between his love for enslaved princess Aida and loyalty to the Pharaoh. Guests can see the 1913 version of Verdi’s opera on July 5, 12 and 19 departures or the contemporary production by Fura del Baus on June 23 and August 23 departures.

Rigoletto – Verdi's tale of revenge ends in tragedy as the jester Rigoletto discovers it is his own daughter who has been assassinated, not her seducer as he intended.

Madame Butterfly – Puccini's heart-breaking love story is one of devotion and abandonment, as Cio-Cio-San waits in Japan for the return of her American husband, only to end in tragedy.

Tosca – In Puccini's tragic opera Tosca is promised her lover will not die if she gives herself to the cruel Scarpia. Stabbing Scarpia, she rushes to her lover's side, but it is too late.

Saga Holidays is the winner of 16 Gold British Travel Awards 2015 including Special Interest Holiday Company large for the 3rd year in a row.

Saga is a leading provider of products and services primarily tailored for customers over the age of 50 in the UK. The Saga brand has been carefully developed over the past 60 years to become one of the most recognised and trusted brands among UK consumers aged over 50. Saga is synonymous in the UK with the over 50s market and is recognised for its high quality products and services. These include cruises and holidays, home and motor insurance, savings and share dealing and the UK’s award winning Saga Magazine.