12 Days
Specific Tour
50 people
English
DAY 1: Monday, Departure
Depart the USA on an overnight flight to Italy.
DAY 2: Tuesday, Arrival / Padova, City of St Antony
Early morning arrival at Venice‘s airport. We will meet our tour manager after the baggage claim area, continue to Padova where we will explore the Basilica of St. Anthony and celebrate Mass Then transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight (D)
DAY 3: Wednesday, Venice, La Serenissima
We enjoy the entire day in Venice. An incredible site awaits us as we approach this romantic city by private. In the morning we visit the Basilica of St Mark, including the incredible PALA D’ORO, and walk through the city to see the most famous bridges: Rialto and Bridge of Sights. Break for lunch. The afternoon is at our leisure for optional tours (Murano and Burano islands to visit the glass factory) or a Gondola ride. Return to the dock by boat and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight (B. D)
DAY 4: Thursday, Venice / Pisa / Florence
Depart Venice after breakfast, to Pisa (approx. 4 hrs. drive) – Meet the guide to visit the monuments: Duomo and Baptistery. Time at leisure for lunch and for an optional visit to the Leaning Tower (313 steps to climb to reach the top) – Continue to Florence, check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight (BD)
DAY 5: Friday, Florence The Cadre of Renaissance
After breakfast in the hotel this morning, we meet our local guide, and we will soon discover why Florence is the undisputed cradle of the Renaissance era. Here one almost breathes art and culture into its charming medieval streets, in craftsmen’s workshops, Renaissance palaces, and the world-renowned museums, all found within the downtown area of Florence. The memories of the Medici family are united with the splendor of the works of illustrious artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli the day’s piece de resistance is unquestionably the pinnacle of our bus tour: we’ll enter The Academia Gallery, the location of Michelangelo’s incredible marble statue of David! We’ll visit the busy San Lorenzo Market in the heart of the city! The swarm of colors and delicious smells is truly a kitchen gourmet’s muse with its plethora of artisan bread in all shapes and sizes, tables overflowing with fruits and vegetables fresh from the farms, and surrounded by an immense variety of cheeses and cured meats. Gourmands and wine connoisseurs alike lap up the morning inside this fabulous market, followed by a Florentine wine & cheese tasting extravaganza. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore Florence on your own. A site not to be missed is the Ponte Vecchio, a bridge covered since medieval times with goldsmith shops featuring a Florentine specialty—handcrafted gold jewelry, with other unique creations. We meet up again at an authentic Florentine wine bar. This exclusive food-lover’s excursion allows you to be guided by a distinguished sommelier as he matches four traditional wines with a luscious tasting of an assortment of locally sourced artisan cheeses accompanied by the many other authentic Italian food pairings that are traditionally served with wines—such as fresh figs, truffle honey, aromatic strawberry preserves, aged balsamic vinegar from Modena, and fresh bread. In the afternoon continue with the walking tour, to see the Baptistry of St. John, (Outside) the religious historic jewel of the city with Michelangelo’s Gates of Paradise, so called because of their exquisite beauty; it is believed that the creation of these art pieces marked the beginning of the period to be known as the Renaissance. We see the Piazza Della Signoria, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and Giotto’s Bell Tower And then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight (BD.)
DAY 6: Saturday, Florence / Siena/ Assisi
After breakfast, we check out and drive to Siena where we delight in exploring the birthplace of one of the most popular saints, St. Catherine [1347-1380 CE], patron saint of Italy and of Europe. This ancient city is also famous for its cuisine and the rich red color of its medieval cityscape. The historic center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We meet the guide to see the city’s major treasures, including the fabulous marble Gothic Duomo Cathedral, and the Piazza del Campo—town square—Continue to Assisi. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight (BD)
DAY 7: Sunday, Assisi
This morning, we will have a guided tour of this famously charming and historic city, the birthplace of the beloved St. Francis! We will visit the Church of Santa Chiara and then we proceed to the site where St. Francis was born: the house where he spent his childhood. We reach the very heart of the town, the Piazza del Commune (Town Hall square), with its Roman and medieval buildings, continuing towards the ancient city walls to the Basilica of St. Francis built above the inspiring final resting place of the saint. The interiors of the basilica are intricately decorated with frescoes from the 12th and 13th centuries depicting the various stages of the saint’s life and spiritual transformation to a life of poverty and dedication to the poor) After breaking for lunch and for shopping, in the afternoon we also explore Santa Maria Degli Angeli built over the place where Francis lived in his later years. We will see the Portiuncola Chapel and the Chapel of Transit. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)
DAY 8: Monday, Assisi / Lanciano / San Giovanni Rotondo
After a good breakfast, we check out and drive to Lanciano, to visit the Church of St Francis. This Church is the site of the Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. Celebrate Mass. Continue to San Giovanni Rotondo Check in at the hotel, have Dinner and overnight at the hotel (BD)
DAY 9: Tuesday, San Giovanni Rotondo / Rome
This morning is dedicated to Saint Padre Pio. We honor his work as we visit his tomb, his cell, his confessional, and the Capuchin Monastery of Our Lady of Grace. where we celebrate Mass, We will also visit the new Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie and the Home for the Relief of the Suffering. After breaking for lunch we depart for Rome, where we arrive in the evening. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight (BD)
DAY 10: Wednesday, Papal Audience / Major Basilicas
This morning we will join the pilgrims that come from all over the world and seat in San Peter’s square (or in the Paolo VI Hall) to attend the Papal Audience and blessing. – After breaking for lunch, we continue our guided tour by visiting two of the other major basilicas of Rome. We begin our tour with the Basilica of St John in Lateran which houses a fragment of the table on which Jesus consumed his last supper, from there we cross the street to the Holy Stairs so named because they are the steps that lead to the praetorium of the Roman Procurator Ponzio Pilato, finally we reach the Basilica of St Mary Major. The crypt is built to resemble the cave of Nativity in Bethlehem and there is a reliquary containing part of the Holy Crib in which our Lord Jesus Christ once lay. – We celebrate Mass and return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD
DAY 11: Thursday, Vatican Museums / Trevi Fountain
We will begin the day with a visit to 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. Its 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. – After breaking for lunch, we will reach the city center. Celebrate Mass at a selected church. Enjoy a walking tour starting from Navona Square, we walk to the Pantheon and to the Trevi Fountain. The balance of the day is at our leisure. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)
DAY 12: Friday, Departure
After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our flight home. We will arrive home on the same day. (B)
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