Italy Pilgrimage with 3 Day Ireland Extension
Date
Activity Level
Moderate – High
Book By
Group Limit
30
Italy Pilgrimage with 3 Day Ireland Extension
Pilgrimage Overview
Join us as we explore one of the most powerful and influential cities throughout history, as well as home to the Catholic Church, the Pope, and the site of the Vatican City.
Book With Confidence
Book With Confidence
All new travel bookings automatically come with our Book with Confidence Travel Plan*—free of charge. This plan gives pilgrims the ability to move their booking to another destination or simply a different available departure date in our vast travel portfolio, no questions asked. They just need to let us know 120 days* before departure and we’ll waive all penalties and get them booked on a new pilgrimage.
*The Book with Confidence Travel Plan allows for any new booking made with Holy Land Travel Center to be changed to a different destination or to another available departure date. Notice of change in travel plans must be given 120 days before departure; standard cancellation penalties will apply for full cancellation without rebooking or changes made within 120 days to departure. Applicable price and eligible promotions for the new tour will apply; if new trip is less expensive, a future travel credit will be issued for the difference in price. Cannot be applied to Passion Play Pilgrimages. No cash value. Credit is fully transferable. Offer reliant on space availability. Effective 10.7.2020. May be withdrawn at any time. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details.
Itinerary
Itinerary
DAY 1
Depart USA
Our Pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our flight to Naples Italy.
DAY 2
Arrive in Naples
Upon our arrival in Naples we will proceed through customs and baggage claim before being met by our HLTC guide and driver. Time permitting, we will enjoy a brief panoramic city tour of Naples before continuing to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
Naples
We begin the day by celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of Naples. After Mass, our group will take some time to view some of the beautiful artwork and statuary found inside the structure before proceeding to the nearby Catacombs of San Gennaro. Dating back to the 3rd century AD, these catacombs hold a special significance to the people of Naples as it was here that their ancestors fled for protection from the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 472 AD. Once inside, their prayers were answered by Saint Januarius, Patron Saint of Naples, and the eruption ended, saving the city. After lunch, we continue our tour of Naples with a visit to the Church of San Domenico Maggiore. Founded by the friars of the Dominican Order, the church is built over the remains of a smaller church dating from the 10th century. We will also explore the monastery next to the church which was originally the site of the University of Naples where Saint Thomas Aquinas taught for a time. You can see the room that St Thomas occupied while he studied and lived here; a relic of the saint; as well as the image of the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to him and commended him for writing so well of Him. We then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
Sorrento
After breakfast, we set out for Pompei. There we will go on an archaeological journey through the ancient city. Buried under a layer of ashes and lapilli by a sudden eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, after 1700 years, the excavations have brought to light Pompei, a town whose daily light of Imperial Age has been petrified, as if under a spell. Furthermore, visiting the “frozen city”, we will see houses, shops, temples, squares, streets and understand the way of living of the ancient Romans. After we break for lunch, we will celebrate Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine before heading to Sorrento to check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5
Rome
Today we drive towards Rome where St. Paul lived for two years. On the way, we stop at the Abbey of Montecassino. Founded nearly 1500 years ago by St. Benedict of Nursia, the Abbey has endured as a place of Catholic spirituality and worship despite centuries of political upheaval and warfare within Italy. After lunch, we continue our journey to Rome. Upon arrival, we will drive along the Appian Way “Regina Viarum” and see the Church of Quo Vadis, located where Christ appeared to Peter, and the Apostle asked “Domine, quo vadis?” (Where are you going, Lord?) The Lord replied, “I am going to Rome to be crucified for the second time.” Peter understood the message and returned to face his martyrdom. We see the Inn where St. Paul stopped for rest before arriving at the seat of the former Roman Empire. We visit the Catacombs of St. Sebastian where the early Christians hid, prayed and buried their dead and the remnants of the original basilica dedicated to Peter and Paul. We will then continue to the Abbey of the Three Fountains, the place of Paul’s martyrdom, where tradition has it that three different springs gushed out at each spot touched when Paul’s head fell down. Our tour ends at Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall, a Benedictine Abbey who shares its origins with the adjoining basilica. Visit the Basilica where the bones of Paul have recently been found and celebrate Mass. Continue to hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6
Rome
Rome, St. Peter’s, Sistine Chapel, Imperial Rome: We begin the day with a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica and take in the awesome architecture and the statuary adorning the largest of all Christian churches, including Michelangelo’s magnificent “Pieta.” We will then enjoy a tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. After lunch, we’ll begin our panoramic tour of Imperial Rome with brief visits to the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Arch of Constantine and the Coliseum. Later, we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7
Rome
Today we transfer to St. Peter’s Square to join the thousands of pilgrims coming to Rome for Pope Francis’ blessing. After free time for lunch, we continue to a tour of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The crypt is built to resemble the Cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem and here there is a reliquary containing part of the Holy Crib in which our Lord Jesus Christ once lay. After, we visit the Holy Stairs, so named because they are the steps which led to the Praetorium of the Roman Procurator Ponzio Pilato. From there we visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran which houses a fragment on the table on which Jesus consumed his last supper. We then retire to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
Assisi
Assisi: Today we visit the sites of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis, including the Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli (Our Lady of Angels). Inside this Basilica, we explore the Portiuncola, the Chapel of the Transitus and the Rose Garden. We continue to the Basilica of St. Clare, the Town Hall Square, and the Basilica of St. Francis. We enjoy an afternoon at leisure exploring the lovely town with its quaint streets and alleys. We then continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9
Flight Home/ Dublin
We bid farewell to our fellow pilgrims as they return to the USA before boarding our flight to Ireland. Upon arrival in Dublin, we’ll enjoy a tour of Ireland’s capital beginning with the main thoroughfare of O’Connell Street. We’ll see the General Post Office (GPO), the Custom House, and Phoenix Park. This part of the city is also dominated by Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells, a splendidly illuminated version of the Christian Gospels. We’ll also explore Christchurch Cathedral, the site of Dublin’s first wooden church. Then we’ll begin a tour of the Guinness Brewery before enjoying some free time to further explore the city before checking into our hotel to enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
DAY 10
Dublin
DAY 11
Dublin
St. Patrick’s Cathedral: After a leisurely breakfast, we will be released to enjoy a day of independent exploration around Dublin. The group’s guide and driver will be available to help with transportation and suggested sites. In the late afternoon, the group will reconvene at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to experience a tour and Choral Evensong performance held there. Afterwards, we will head to a local restaurant to celebrate our travels together with a farewell dinner before returning to our hotel to overnight.
DAY 12
Dublin
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 4-5 Star Hotels
- Air-conditioned Motor Coach
- Professional Licensed Tour Guide
- One Checked Bag
- Accommodations (based on double occupancy)
- Entrance Fees as per itinerary
- Meals (per itinerary)
- Gratuities
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
-
Passport and Visas (Refer to the section below for Passports or Visas help)
- Round Trip Flights ( unless selected with registration)
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We recommend that all travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect themselves and their trip investment. Travel protection plans can provide coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical expenses and emergency evacuation/repatriation, trip delay, baggage delay, and more. Please go to the link below to learn more Click here for Travel Insurance Details.
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