Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SAVONLINNA OPERA FESTIVAL
enviably dramatic setting: the covered courtyard of Olavinlinna Castle. It offers four
weeks of top-class opera performances in July. The atmosphere in town during the festiv-
al is reason enough to come; it's buzzing, with restaurants serving post-show midnight
feasts, and animated discussions and impromptu arias on all sides.
The festival's excellent website details the program: there are rotating performances of
four or five operas by the Savonlinna company, as well as an international guest company
performing, and a couple of concert and ballet performances. The muscular castle walls
are a magnificent backdrop to the set and add great atmosphere. There are tickets in
various price bands. The top grades (€115 plus) are fine, but the penultimate grades (€85
to €120) put you in untiered seats, so it helps to be tall. The few cheap seats (€50) have a
severely restricted view. Buy tickets up to a year in advance online.
Sleeping
Prices rise sharply during the opera festival, when several student residences are converted
to summer hotels. Book July accommodation well in advance.
Kesähotelli Vuorilinna
SUMMER HOTEL
hostel s €30/40; Jun-Aug; )
Set in several buildings used by students during term time, this is run by the Spahotel
Casino and has an appealing location across a beautiful footbridge from the town centre.
Rooms are clean and comfortable; the cheaper ones share bathroom and kitchen (no
utensils) between two. Happily, dorm rates get you the same deal, and there's a HI dis-
count.
SKO
HOSTEL
( 015-572-910;
www.sko.fi
;
Opistokatu 1;dm/s/d €25/70/90, s/d without bathroom €45/70;
)
