Grand Italy Pilgrimage
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Pilgrimage Overview
Join us on a Pilgrimage to Grand Italy with Fr. Jordan Sanchez!
DAY 1
Depart USA
Depart for your flights to Rome. Dinner on-board, relax, and anticipate your arrival the next day.
DAY 2
Arrive Rome
Upon arrival we are greeted by our Holy Land Travel Center Representative who will accompany us throughout our tour. We will transfer to San Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four major basilicas in Rome, where we will celebrate Mass and visit the tomb of St. Paul. After Mass we will continue to the Basilica of St. Lawrence outside of the walls where we will visit his tomb. We then retire to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
Rome
After breakfast, the group will attend one of the highlights of the trip, the Papal Audience. In the afternoon, we visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the oldest basilica of the Western World. We then visit the Holy Stairs, believed to be those that led to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, and the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the oldest and most important shrines in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
DAY 4
Sicily
We will begin the day with a visit at one of the most important museums in the world. Legally its own country, Vatican City is the head and administrative center of the Catholic Church. One of the most extensive museum collections in the world, the museum is also home to the Sistine Chapel, where the legendary Michelangelo created one of his most famous masterpieces on the ceiling. After the museums we will visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic Basilica ever built. It’s soaring dome was engineered by Michelangelo and the artist’s famous Pieta sculpture and countless other artistic wonders make St. Peter’s church one of the most awe–inspiring buildings in the world.
*Scavi Tour will be this morning based on availability.
DAY 5
Caput Mundi (Rome)
The ancient Romans referred to Rome as Caput Mundi – the head of the world. As the center of the Roman Republic and then the Empire, Rome witnessed 1,000 years of one of the greatest civilizations in the world before becoming the seat of what is now the Catholic Church. Evidence of the glory of ancient Rome and the Italian Renaissance can be seen throughout the historical center. Next, we explore the famous Colosseum – the largest ancient amphitheater in the world and the site of countless gladiator games. Continue to the Roman forum, the administrative capital of the Empire and the site of some of the most famous speeches in history by the likes of Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony and Cicero. We continue walking to marvel at the sight of the illuminated Trevi Fountain before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6
Orvieto & Assisi
We depart Rome and drive to Assisi via Orvieto, where we visit the Gothic Cathedral built to house the holy relics of the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto. It was this miracle that occasioned the proclamation of the Feast of Corpus Christi and inspired St. Thomas Aquinas to write the famous hymn “Tantum Ergo.” Here we celebrate Mass. We enjoy lunch in a local restaurant with tasting of the Orvieto and Orvieto Classico wine that this region is famous for. We proceed to Assisi and settle into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7
Assisi
In Assisi, we will visit the Basilica of St. Francis, the upper Basilica with Giotto’s frescoes representing the life of St. Francis, then the lower Basilica and the Tomb of St. Francis. We then proceed to the Basilica of St. Clare for a tour. After lunch, we will transfer to the Convent of San Damiano, where St. Francis received his call to rebuild the Church and where St. Clare lived and died. Here we celebrate Mass before returning to Assisi.
DAY 8
Siena / Florence
This morning we depart to visit the medieval town of Siena in Tuscany. We visit the Basilica of San Domenico, where the incorrupt head and finger of St. Catherine lies, and to explore the center and the Piazza del Campo on our own. We continue to Florence in the heart of the Tuscany region.
DAY 9
Florence
Today we have a full-day tour of the Renaissance city of Florence, starting from the Academy Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s “David”. Free time during lunch to explore the famous San Lorenzo market. In the afternoon, we will explore the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its great representation of Tuscan Gothic Architecture, like the giant dome of the church, designed by Brunelleschi. We will see Giotto’s Bell Tower, a 14th century masterpiece that rises to a height of 292 feet and the Baptistry of San Giovanni, withs East Door which is called the Gates of Paradise. The doors took artist Ghiberti 27 years to complete. Then we will visit Michelangelo’s parish church, Santa Croce, where Dante is buried. Here we celebrate Mass before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10
Padua
We depart Florence to Verona, time at leisure to visit the city on our own. Don’t miss Juliet’s balcony! Break for lunch and continue to Padua, where we will visit the famous Cathedral of St. Anthony, guarded by Donatello’s “Gattamelata”. We will also visit the Basilica of Saint Giustina, the second most important pilgrimage site in Padua after St. Anthony’s. Here, the tomb of Luke the Evangelist is housed. We continue to our hotel in Venice by boat for our dinner and overnight.
DAY 11
Venice
After Breakfast, we take our private boat to San Marc’s Square and explore Venice, nicknamed “la Serenissima”. We begin with a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, one of the largest open spaces in Venice. We visit two of its landmark buildings, the Basilica of San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs. We enjoy a free afternoon to explore on our own, sightsee, shop or take a gondola ride with music on one of Venice’s scenic canals. Dinner will be at leisure tonight.
DAY 12
Return USA
Today we board our return flights home with memories and keepsakes that will last a lifetime.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 4-5 Star Hotels
- Roundtrip Flights
- Excursions per Itinerary
- 11 - Nights Accommodations
- All Meals per Itinerary
- Professional Catholic Tour Guide
- Spiritual Director
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Passport and Visas (Refer to the section below for Passports or Visas help)
- Gratuities
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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