Hershey's Secret Italy
October 11-19, 2025
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Exclusive Excursion
Dear friends and fellow travelers...
It has been my honor to perform for you in Orange County and particularly at South Coast Repertory these past few years as George Gershwin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and also singing great American songs with audiences.
As many know, I make my residence in Florence and Venice, Italy, where I am the Artistic Director of Florence's oldest and most historic theatre Teatro Niccolini (1648), and where I am also known as a filmmaker and composer of opera. My work in Italy has granted me access to places and individuals not open to the general public that I am able to share with friends. It was with this in mind that I created "Hershey's Secret Italy" with my costar in "Rachmaninoff and the Tsar," Jonathan Silvestri, a Roman, as fundraising excursions to benefit theatres in the United States that I call home. South Coast Repertory is one of those theatres.
What we offer below is a specialized once-in-a-lifetime trip to some of the most storied places in the world. Our travels explore theatre, gastronomy, arts and artists in ways that the general public never gets to experience. There is always live music and arts discussions led by leading artists, and one can always find me at the piano making music in intimate settings for our gathering. Jonathan and I look forward to hosting you for this very exciting time.
HERSHEY
This event is being co-sponsored by The Felder Foundation and South Coast Repertory.
Program dates:
ARRIVING VENICE, ITALY, Saturday, October 11, 2025.
DEPARTING FLORENCE, ITALY, Sunday, October 19, 2025.
For those wishing to arrive earlier and leave later, our offices can help with your arrangements.
Program cost:
$12,000 per person ($2,000 tax deductible)
All hotels and residence stays, two meals per day, excursions, ground transportation and all events are included in fee.
NB: Flights to and From Venice And Florence not included.
Booking:
Please book by July 25 by contacting Kari Venaas at [email protected] or (714) 708-5525. (For questions about the trip, please use the button below.) To reserve your spot, an initial deposit of $8,000 is required. The total cost per participant is $12,000, which is due by September 1.
ITINERARY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025
VENICE, ITALY. Arrivals upon exit from customs will be met by a team member with a "Hershey's Italy" sign, who will guide you to our private boat who will transport you to Venice proper and to our Hotel Ca'Nigra. Those who have arrived earlier will already be present and arrangements have been made for all transport.
WELCOME DINNER, TALK & MUSIC
Private dinner in the 15th century Palazzo on the Grand Canal. Our special guest this evening will be SHAUL BASSI, world renowned Shakespeare specialist. Music will follow dinner and our speaker.
6:15 p.m. Hershey and Jonathan will meet everyone in the lobby of the Ca' Nigra hotel for quick welcome and introductions. Together we will walk over the bridge to Hershey's home for dinner and music around the piano and a chat with our special guest, Shaul Bassi.
Shaul Bassi is a professor of English at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy. He was the coordinator of the cultural program related to the quincentennial of the Ghetto of Venice (1516-2016), where he spearheaded the first performance of The Merchant of Venice in the Ghetto and the moc trial presided by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. His publications include Shakespeare's Italy and Italy's Shakespeare, Place, 'Race,' and Politics (Palgrave Macmillan 2016).
(All photos are of actual locations we will experience...)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2025
- HOTEL BREAKFAST
- 10:30 AM departure for VENETIAN GHETTO and CANNAREGIO
- A special personal guided tour of original VENICE
- Tour of the VENETIAN JEWISH GHETTO and SYNAGOGUES by leaders of the Venice community
- 1:00 PM LUNCH at historic MICHELIN STARRED - CANNAREGIO RESTAURANT, LA COLOMBINA - for a classic Venetian lunch!
- 3:00 PM - Weather permitting, GONDOLA EXPERIENCE and TOUR - GRAND CANAL and CANNAREGIO-SAN MARCO CANALS (alternate event, SAN ROCCO ACCADEMIA visit in case of rain with paintings by Titian and Tintoretto).
- RETURN TO HOTEL ON FOOT FOR AN AFTERNOON REST.
- 7:15 PM LOBBY MEETING. Return to Hershey's Palazzo for dinner and a special musical guest Venetian superstar - GIADA VALENTI for a private concert! Have a look here.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2025
- HOTEL BREAKFAST
- 7:30 AM Lobby meet and greet. following breakfast, depart for SAN MARCO via private boat.
- 8:15 AM Private boat to SAN MARCO and DOGE'S PALACE - Exclusive private tour of the palace
- A visit to SAN MARCO SHOPPING DISTRICT and free time
- 1:00 PM - Lunch at ANTICO SACRESTIA, exclusive traditional Venetian restaurant in San Marco.
- 3:30 PM Walk to and TOUR OF "LA FENICE" OPERA HOUSE along with other location surprises.
- Water taxis as needed or walk to the hotel.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025
- HOTEL BREAKFAST
- 9:15 AM Lobby meet and greet, walk to train station and train to FLORENCE
- 12:45 PM Florence arrival, van pick up to CASTLE RESIDENCE. All guests will be staying in a private castle in the hills of Florence overlooking the Duomo and the city. PLEASE NOTE: no posting of any photos or location identification for security purposes.
- 12th and 15th Century Castle, closest castle of its kind to the centre of Florence, once belonging the Salviati Family, (who there, plotted to murder the Medici.)
- Afternoon check in castle, light buffet lunch and TOUR OF CASTLE GROUNDS
- DINNER AND MUSIC AT THE CASTLE WITH MUSICAL GUESTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
- CASTLE BREAKFAST, LEISURELY MORNING
- 11:00 am - PASTA MAKING CLASS in Hershey's kitchen, given by JONATHAN and HERSHEY followed by light lunch at castle.
- 2:30 PM Departure for TOWN CENTRE (Dress for afternoon and evening)
- 3:15 PM Visit to PALAZZO PITTI and BOBOLI GARDENS
- 6:30 PM PRIVATE KITCHEN EXPERIENCE (In the kitchen taking part in three star meal prep) with Superstar CHEF VITO MOLLICA, followed by dinner ATTICO MOLLICA
- Musical soiree at PALAZZO PORTINARI-SALVIATI
- 10:00 PM vans return to CASTELLO
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
- CASTLE BREAKFAST AND LEISURELY MORNING
- 12:00 PM Castle departure (Dress for afternoon and evening.)
- LUNCH AT CASA TOSCANA by SANTA CROCE (Famous Classic Tuscan Cuisine)
- 3:15 PM guided visit to PALAZZO VECCHIO, SEAT OF TUSCAN GOVERNMENT
- DINNER ON OWN, AND EVENING WANDER
- 8:30 PM Showtime at TEATRO NICCOLINI - Hershey's Teatro in Florence.
- 10:30 PM Transport back to Castello from Town Center
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2025
- BREAKFAST AT CASTELLO
- 10:30 AM Van departure for WINE COUNTRY
- Luncheon wine tasting and gastronomy at FONTERUTOLI
- Wine tasting and gastronomic lunch, as well as an exploration of the secret archvies where you will see Benjamin Franklin's and Thomas Jefferson's wine orders. There are lots of surprises and American connections here.
- 4:00 PM CIity drop off for evening wander and dinner on own or leisurely evening at Castello.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2025
- BREAKFAST AT CASTELLO
- 12:00 PM Van departure for CITY CENTRE and FREE WANDER.
- 6:30 PM Farewell dinner at famed CIBREO RISTORANTE
- 9:30 PM Vans return to Castello
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2025
AIRPORT OR CITY TRANSFERS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULES
DEAR FELLOW TRAVELERS...
What a journey this will be for us all. I am so excited to host you on this project. Jonathan and I will be leading the groups with friends and my production team. We will make it intimate and fun and a little crazy, and we'll eat (far too much) and just enjoy life, beautiful things, art, nature, humanity. It has been a rough time these past years for all. As complicated as things might be in the world, let us leave that behind for just our short time together and remember how beautiful it is to be able to experience both nature's and humanity's contributions to the magic of our world.
See you all soon... soon... SOON! And Travel Safe! Ci Vediamo in Italia!
XOXO Hershey