Tour ITA4

Day 1

Depart for Rome

Take your overnight flight. Your meals will be served on board.

Day 2

Rome

Arrive at the Da Vinci Airport in Rome. After passport control, meet your Tour Manager and board the private motor coach for the first roman experience by visiting the famous Catacombs of St. Callixtus, underground cemeteries where the early Christians used to be buried, and where 16 popes and many martyrs were buried. Then time to relax and rest at the hotel. Dinner, overnight.

Day 3

Rome

We’ll start our day with an early Mass in St. Peter Basilica, the biggest church in the world which was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. It is here that you will view Michelangelo’s Pietà (Piety). This stunning marble sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion, dead, and removed off the cross before being placed in the tomb. Our morning will be dedicated to the visit of the famous Vatican Museums, seen every year by millions people, an ensemble of different museums mixing ancient Roman arts with Renaissance tapestries and frescoes, including the awesome Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. Free lunch. This afternoon we depart for a “Christian Rome tour” which includes: the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, a shrine that contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus, with our daily Mass; then the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, the Roman Cathedral, the former residence of the popes prior to their return to Rome in 1377; the Holy Stairs, the ones brought to Rome by St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, from the city of Jerusalem, along with fragments of the Holy Cross of Jesus that we’ll see in the nearby St. Cross in Jerusalem church. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 4

Rome

Early Mass at the fourth of the four major Basilicas in Rome, the second largest in the city, St. Paul outside the Walls which houses the remains of St. Paul under its main altar, where all the portraits of the Popes may be seen, from St. Peter to Pope Francis. Then we go to the Three Fountains Abbey, place of St. Paul martyrdom, with a nearby Monastery where monks today still produce oil, wine, beer. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon we’ll move to the Sanctuary of the Divine Love, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Then a small city tour before reaching a picturesque restaurant for our farewell dinner offering typical lovely folk Italian music, awaiting us to sing along the singers “Arrivederci Roma”. Overnight in Rome.

Day 5

Rome Papal Audience – Orvieto – Assisi

This is the day we’ll meet His Holiness Pope Francis in His weekly Audience in St. Peter, with the chance to take Him a picture right in front of you! Later we’ll travel through the Umbrian countryside to reach the interesting town of Orvieto, famous for its beautiful “Duomo”, the church which celebrates the Eucharistic Miracle. Mass in Orvieto, then we proceed to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

Day 6

Assisi

Enjoy an early breakfast, followed by a full day to discover the hometown of St. Francis, the “Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment.” You will become captured by the atmosphere which didn’t change since St. Francis began his ministry, in the early 13th-century. We will start our day with an early Mass in one of the many chapels in the St. Francis Basilica, then, with the help of a local guide, we’ll discover all the details of this famous church, visiting the tomb of St. Francis, and view a series of outstanding frescoes made by Giotto in the 13th century, depicting the life of the Saint. From there, we move to the church of St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clare Sisters. This Saint followed the teachings of St. Francis very closely by living a life of poverty and humility. In the afternoon, you can join the optional tour to the jewel of St. Damiano church, the first monastery of the Order of St. Clare where she spent most of her life or enjoy some free time on your own. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Day 7

Assisi – Siena

We’ll spend the morning to see the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, the one which gave the name to the famous American city of Los Angeles. This is where St. Francis spent most of his life. This Basilica is made up of two structures, both of which you will visit. The first structure, the older, is the “Porziuncola”, which is where St. Francis founded his order of the Friar Minor (Franciscans). The second, is the “Transit Chapel”, which is the place of St. Francis’ death. During your time here, you will have the opportunity to celebrate your private Mass and visit the beautiful Rose Garden where St. Francis and other friars lived, as well as the cave where the Saint retired to pray. Then we move to the Medieval town of Siena, where we’ll visit St. Domenico Church with remains of St. Catherine, patron, along with St. Francis, of Italy. A nice walk through the narrow city streets will lead us the Duomo, beautiful Cathedral, and the famous Piazza de Campo ( Campo’s Sq. ), where each year the Palio horse race takes place, for your free time. Dinner and overnight in Siena.

Day 8

Siena – San Gimignano – Pisa – Florence

From Siena we move to San Gimignano, famous all over the world for its medieval towers. Visit of this nice town and Mass. After lunch we go to Pisa, where in the Miracle Sq., thousand pictures will be taken in front of the Leaning Tower. After a short transfer we reach Florence for dinner and overnight.

Day 9

Florence

The cradle of Renaissance, a paradise for art lovers, the city where the greatest artists worked: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello and others. We’ll enjoy a guided tour including magnificent Franciscan Church of The Holy Cross or Santa Croce with the beautiful facade, which is a burial place of illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Mass. Visit to the Academy to see some amazing works like the David by Michelangelo and many others. Then a walking tour through the city center and free time for an unforgettable shopping. Dinner, overnight.

Day 10

Florence – Padua – Venice

Early departure heading to Padua, city of St. Anthony. Mass in His Sanctuary, one of the most visited Italian shrines. After lunch, we soon arrive in Venice, known around the world for its unique architecture, fully built on water. We’ll leave our coach and proceed through a motor boat to reach our hotel. Dinner, overnight.

Day 11

Venice

A full day to discover this fantastic city. First, Mass at the St. Mark Basilica, then guided visit to the Doge’s Palaces and the rest of the day will be free to enjoy the unforgettable atmosphere that only Venice can give you. Optional visit to a Murano Glass factory as well as a Gondola (boat) ride through the city canals. Dinner, overnight.

Day 12

Venice Airport

This morning you will be accompanied by your Tour Manager to the airport and assisted with check in formality to board the flight home.

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