10 Days
Specific Tour
35 people
English
DAY 1 Sunday, October 12 Depart the USA
Depart USA on an overnight flight to Italy.
DAY 2: Monday, October 13 Arrival – ROME –Rome: City of Apostles, Missionaries, and Martyrs
We begin our day with a stop on the way into town at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the walls. In 313 the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which marked the end of the Christian persecutions and conferred on them freedom of worship, encouraging the construction of places of prayer. In virtue of this, the site of St Paul’s martyrdom, which had been a place of unceasing pilgrimage since the first century, was enhanced by the creation of a modest basilica of which only the side of the apse remains. It was most likely a small building with three naves which housed, close to the apse, the tomb of Paul, decorated with a golden cross. Paul’s death is not the end of the story: on the contrary, it is the beginning of the development of Christianity and the Good News. During the following days, we will learn, how much important it has been for Paul to preach in Rome, from where the greatest witness of the Risen Christ spread far and wide.
Also on the way into town, we drive by the Coliseum and stop in the storied church of San Clemente to view some of the finest mosaics in the world, and three worship spaces from 3 different eras built on top of each other. Check in at the hotel. Dinner and/or free time in Rome.
DAY 3: Tuesday, October 14 ROME – Vatican Museums/ Saint Peter’s Basilica
We will begin the day with 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 2nd vault back wall.
Note: This day is a long day and since we don’t want to exit the secure zone, we will have lunch in the museum (or snack on your own).
After the museums we will visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic Basilica ever built. Its soaring dome, baroque masterpiece was engineered by Michelangelo. 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. The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure for free time and reflection. Dinner and overnight
DAY 4: Wednesday, October 15 ROME –See of Peter and Center of History: Papal Audience & Central Rome
We will begin the day with 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.
Note: This day is a long day and since we don’t want to exit the secure zone, we will have lunch in the museum (or snack on your own).
After the museums we will visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic Basilica ever built. Its soaring dome Baroque masterpiece, was engineered by Michelangelo and the artist’s famous Pieta sculpture and countless other artistic wonders make St. Peter’s Basilica one of the most awe–inspiring buildings in the world. Celebrate mass The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure for free time and reflection. Dinner and overnight
DAY 5: Thursday, October 16 ROME – Basilicas of Rome: The Passion of Jesus Christ
Easier of access for European pilgrims than the Holy Land, in the Middle Age Rome became the major destination for pilgrims. Rome became home of many saintly martyrs, holy relics and miraculous events.
We will begin our Jubilee pilgrimage visiting the basilicas to pray on the relics of the Passion of Jesus Christ. We will begin the tour boarding the bus for a trip to the Basilica of St Lawrence outside the Walls, where we will celebrate Holy Mass and pray for our Bishop Larry. Next, we will travel to 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. Nearby is the Church of Santa Praessede, containing the relics of early martyrs and the pillar of the scourging of Christ. After a break for lunch, this afternoon we will visit Basilica of St John Lateran which houses a fragment of the table on which Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples. From there we cross the street to the Santa Scala ‘Holy Stairs’, so named because they are the steps which lead to the praetorium of the Roman Procurator Pontius Pilate and reliquary of a famous icon of Christ. Nearby, we will also visit the Basilica of Holy Cross in Jerusalem so named because it was built over spread earth brought from Jerusalem. Founded by St Helen AD 320, this church houses the relics of the true cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Here there is also a nail from Jesus’s crucifixion, 2 thorns from is crown, pieces of the pillar to which he was tied, and the Titulus Crucis which, according to experts is perfectly compatible with the references in the Bible, in particular the Book of John “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.” Return to the hotel for Dinner and overnight.
DAY 6: Friday, October 17 ROME –Eternal City: Ancient Rome & Artistic Treasures
Today is a flex day in Rome! Begin with Mass at the Basilica of Saints Cosmas & Damian on the Forum, Generalate house of the TOR Franciscans (Loreto, PA) and home of a much-beloved late medieval mosaic apse. Next, we take a tour of ancient Rome visiting, the Coliseum, the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.
Grab a light lunch in town with a free afternoon. You can visit: the Capitoline Museum, the Galleria Borghese (you must register at time of booking the tour), or have free time to explore central Rome, the Trevi Fountain, and for shopping near the Spanish Steps. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Saturday, October 18 ROME/ORVIETO/ASSISI –Christianity from Catacombs to Cathedrals
An early rise and breakfast will set us out we return to the bus to visit the Catacombs of Sant’Agnese and Celebrate Mass at the basilica dedicated to our patron saint, Sant’ Agnese fuori le mura.
Afterwards, we board the bus and head out to Orvieto first for a nice lunch and then to visit to the famous Duomo. The Italian gothic Duomo was 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.” Two-hour trip to Assisi for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8: Sunday, October 19 ASSISI ––Land of Francis
After early breakfast, transfer to the Basilica of St. Francis to Celebrate Sunday Mass in the Basilica of Saint Francis. After Mass, visit the Basilica of St. Francis. Our local guide will take us to explore the Basilica complex, which is actually composed of two churches built one atop the other. Beneath both churches is the crypt that houses the tomb of St. Francis. The lower Basilica dates from 1228 to 1230, and is richly decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, and paintings done by some of the most important artists of the 13th and 14th centuries. In the upper Basilica, built from 1230 – 1253, we will marvel at the monumental frescoes painted by Giotto, which depict scenes from the life of the saint. Continue to visit the Basilica of St. Clare, the first and most important heroine of the Franciscan movement, view her remains and see the miraculous Crucifix. Independent lunch – In the afternoon we will visit San Damiano Sanctuary, it is also where Christ, on the crucifix, spoke to Francis “Rebuild My Church” On a morning in April of 1211 the Lord welcomed Clare together with her first sisters. Perhaps here today the Lord will speak to you. May your faith be firm and may the Lord grant you peace. Return to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 9 Monday, October 20 ASSISI – Assisi, City of Peace
After breakfast we will visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Crowned by the magnificent dome designed by Alessi, this great Basilica was built in 1569. It enclosed the shrine of the “Porziuncola” or the Little Portion Chapel around which the first Franciscan community was centered, the place where Clare received the habit from Francis, and the Capella Del Transito, which marks the spot where the Saint died. Afternoon visits to the town square, the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, San Rufino. We depart Assisi and drive approx 3 hours. We continue to Castel Gandolfo, where we will celebrate our farewell dinner at a hotel overlooking the lake. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 10 Tuesday, October 21 Departure
In the morning, celebrate mass and transfer to Rome ’s airport for your departure flight home.
