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Rome, Venice & Florence
Italy
Proposed Itinerary
Day 1 - USA - Italy
Depart from New York, JFK or from your hometown for the overnight flight to
Rome. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Day 2 - Arrive Rome
Upon arrival your escort will warmly greet you this morning and welcome you to
Italy. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon for rest, relaxation,
adjusting to local time or exploration (on own). Your tour escort can suggest
sights or walks for you to enjoy. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3 - Rome
(Papal Audience and Vatican Museum Tour)
Wake up in Eternal City, one of the greatest centers of Western Civilization and
the first truly cosmopolitan city on earth! It is also spiritual capital for all
the Catholics around the world. Today is truly a day you will have in your mind
for many years to come. This morning you will go to Vatican City to attend the
weekly Papal Audience or Blessing given by His Holiness Pope
Francis I (pending papal schedule). Following the audience you
will visit the Vatican Museums, a group of most impressive edifices with
hundreds of galleries filled with art treasures. See awe-inspiring relics and
works of art donated throughout centuries as tributes of faith. You will see
The Tapestry Gallery, The Raphael Rooms and the most overwhelming Sistine
Chapel, Michelangelo's Masterpiece, restored mural of the Last Judgment.
Later, enter the largest church in Christendom St. Peter's Basilica,
built on the site where St. Peter was martyred. Unsurpassed in beauty, a
monument to the long history of the Catholic Church, to which pilgrims come from
around the world, St. Peter's is the grandest of the world's churches. Marvel
Pieta and Bernini's amazing bronze canopy. You will also visit the grave of
Pope John Paul II located at the Vatican (time permitting). Before
dinner, there will be some time at leisure, to explore your own paths, to shop, or
just to sit in one of the outside cafes and watch the world
go by.
Day 4 - Rome
This morning depart for a sightseeing tour entitled "Christian Rome" 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; the Holy Stairs, the Basilica of the St.
John the Lateran, The Basilica of the St. John in Lateran, is the
former residence of the popes prior to their return to Rome in 1377; St.
Paul Outside the Walls, which houses the remains of St. Paul under its main
altar; and the Appian Way -- the oldest road from Roman times--plus the famous
Domino Quo Vadis Chapel; see the ancient Baths ofCaracalla, Arch of
Drusus; Tomb of Celilia Metella, and the catacombs of St. Callixtus
where the early Christians hid themselves to escape persecution. Also
enjoy a visit to the Trevi fountain. Dinner and overnight for your last
evening in Rome.
Day 5 - Rome - Monte Cassino - San
Giovanni Rotondo
This morning you will leave the Eternal City and head south, cross through the Roman countryside
with its villas and vineyards, stopping at the Abbey of Montecassino, a
beautiful town founded by St. Benedict in 529. Continue through the countryside
heading east to Padre Pios town of San Giovanni Rotondo, our base for the
following two nights. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 6 - San Giovanni Rotondo - Monte
Sant'Angel (St. Michael's cave)
After celebrating Mass at the tomb of Padre Pio, tour the sanctuary,
see the old church and the crucifix from which he received the stigmata in 1918.
You will see the confessional where Padre Pio spent innumerable hours with a
multitude of pilgrims, directing them on their journey toward God. Enjoy a
breathtaking view of the Cargano Peninsula and a visit to the Grotto of
Michael the Archangel. Six different popes, St. Francis and at least four
other saints have knelt in prayer at this grotto, seeking the protection of St.
Michael. A panoramic view of the ocean and the surrounding countryside awaits
you at this most celebrated shrine of early Christianity, a shrine consecrated
by St. Michael himself in 490. Return to San Giovanni for devotions, reflection,
and a restful overnight.
Day 7 - San Giovanni Rotondo -
Lanciano - Loreto - Assisi
You will have breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a drive up the Adriatic
coast to Lanciano where you will see the Eucharistic Miracle and celebrate Mass. Then continue on to the great Marian Shrine of Loreto to visit
the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. More than
50 popes have made a pilgrimage to the house transported by angels to this hill
in central Italy in 1294. Tradition has it that this is the house in which Mary
first prayed the Magnificat, in which Jesus grew to manhood, and in which the
Holy Family lived. Continue to Assisi for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 - Assisi
Visit the tomb of St. Francis. Explore the quaint hilltop birthplace of
St. Francis that still retains something of the atmosphere of the early 1200s,
the period when St. Francis began his ministry. Contained within the huge
13th-century Basilica are many of the saint's possessions and a series of
frescoes depicting his life. You may kneel before the crucifix from which Jesus
spoke to St. Francis, asking him to rebuild His church. It was in St. Mary of
the Angels Basilica where St. Francis spent most of his life. Here visit
the Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where
the saint retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact little
town. After stopping at an outdoor cafe with a view of an ancient Roman temple,
go to the Church of St. Clare to see the saint's incorrupt body. The foundress of the Order of Poor Clares followed the teachings of St.
Francis by living a life of poverty and humility. The group will visit these two
saints' tombs before dinner and retiring for the evening.
Day 9 - Assisi - Siena
Today you will embark to the beautiful town of Siena, the birthplace of Saints
Catherine and Bernardine and one of Italy’s loveliest medieval cities. Here
you will stroll the Piazza Del Campo, one of Italy’s finest squares and
visit the Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Francis, containing the
miraculous consecrated hosts that remained intact since 1730. View the incorrupt
head of St. Catherine at the Basilica of St. Dominic. Return to Assisi
for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 - Assisi - Florence
After a brief drive through the beautiful Tuscan countryside, we arrive in
Florence. A paradise for art lovers, Florence drew to itself the greatest
artists of the Renaissance: Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael,
Botticelli, Donatello and many others. Dinner and overnight.
Day 11 - Florence
After Mass, enjoy a guided tour of Florence which includes magnificent
Franciscan church of The Holy Cross or Santa Croce with the beautiful
facade, church is a burial place of nobles, among which is Michelangelo,
Galileo and Machiavelli. Walking tour through Piazza Signoria, pass
by Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio. Continue through Republic
Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore 13th century cathedral.
Day 12 - Florence - Padua
Next stop is Padua, where St. Anthony, patron saint of lost things is
honored. After Mass, at the Basilica built in his honor, we continue on a
sightseeing tour including one of the oldest universities, Tomb of St.
Anthony and his relics . Pass by Pratto Della Valle, one of the
biggest squares in Italy, basilica of Santa Giustina. Some time to relax
before dinner. Overnight in Padua.
 Day 13 - Padua:
Full day excursion to Venice
After breakfast leave for Venice (Padua is Only * 25 miles away from Venice)
for tour and visit of some of the greatest sights you’ll ever see: St. Mark’s
Square, The Golden Basilica of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, and the
extraordinary visit of Dodges’ Palace. After tour you will have some free
time to shop, to explore Venice on own and perhaps take an optional gondola
ride, or enjoy an afternoon at a charming cafe. Return to Padua for our dinner
and overnight.
Day 14 - Venice - USA
Bid farewell to your new friends and to a pilgrimage which will be in our
memories and heart for a long time to come. After breakfast depart from the
hotel to Venice Airport for your return flight to the USA.
Tour Features
- Round trip airfare from New York (Includes ALL
Airport Taxes & Fuel Surcharges)
- Accommodations in Superior Tourist and/or First Class Hotel, twin-bedded rooms with private
facilities
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Transfers between airport and lodging with porterage at
hotels
- Multi-lingual Tour Escort
- Sightseeing as specified in itinerary
- Welcome Packet / Document Portfolio
- Daily Mass and all spiritual activities coordinated
Prices
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2017 Pilgrimage Dates |
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RV17 0626 |
June 26 - July 9, 2017 |
$5,495 |
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RV17 0717 |
July 17 - 30, 2017 |
$5,495 |
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RV17 0821 |
August 21 - September 3, 2017 |
$5,495 |
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RV17 0925 |
September 25 - October 8, 2017 |
$5,395 |
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RV17 1002 |
October 2 - 15, 2017 |
$5,395 |
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RV17 1016 |
October 16 - 29, 2017 |
$5,395 |
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RV17 1127 |
November 27 - December 10, 2017 |
$4,999 |
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2018 Pilgrimage Dates |
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RV18 0212 |
February 12 - 25, 2018 |
$4,799 |
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RV18 0312 |
March 12 - 25, 2018 |
$4,799 |
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RV18 0416 |
April 16 - 29, 2018 |
$5,399 |
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RV18 0430 |
April 30 - May 13, 2018 |
$5,399 |
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RV18 0604 |
June 4 - 17, 2018 |
$5,499 |
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RV18 0625 |
June 25 - July 8, 2018 |
$5,499 |
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RV18 0716 |
July 16 - 29, 2018 |
$5,499 |
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RV18 0820 |
August 20 - September 2, 2018 |
$5,399 |
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RV18 1015 |
October 15 - 28, 2018 |
$5,299 |
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RV18 1029 |
October 29 - November 11, 2018 |
$5,099 |
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RV18 1126 |
November 26 - December 9, 2018 |
$4,899 |
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Single Supplement: $1,299.00
*Departures from other Cities are available
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Click here to register on-line
For Information Contact:
 CATHOLICJOURNEYS.COM
800-715-6670 / 504-834-4951
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