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Including Milan, Padua, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Siena, Bolsena, Assisi, Loreto, Lanciano, San Giovanni Rotondo, Subiaco, Rome & The Vatican.
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Day 1 - USA / MILAN
We depart the U.S. on our transatlantic flight to Milan. Meals served on board.
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Day 2 - MILAN / PADUA
We arrive in Milan this morning and are met by our Pilgrimage Tours' tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour. We'll take a driving tour of the city, stopping to see Castello Sforzesco and LaScala Theatre, the most renowned opera house in the world. We visit the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the restored The Last Super by Leonardo da Vinci is on display. We'll also visit and have Mass in the Duomo. After lunch, we'll see the Chiesa San Ambrogio, where St. Ambrose baptized St. Augustine. In the late afternoon, we drive to Padua, where we check into out hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Day 3 - VENICE / PADUA
After breakfast, we drive to Venice, famous for its canals. We visit the Basilica of St. Mark, one of the most distinguished creations of medieval architecture and symbol of the ancient Venetian Republic, which contains the tomb of St. Mark the Evangelist, patron saint of the city. Here we celebrate Mass. We also visit the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxed, romantic gondola ride. The rest of the day is free to stroll through the streets of Venice and for a time of personal prayer and reflection. Late in the afternoon, we return to Padua, where we visit the Basilica of St. Anthony. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Day 4 - PADUA / RAVENNA / FLORENCE
After breakfast in Padua, we drive to the Adriatic port city of Ravenna, famous for its Byzantine mosaics and art as well as the most ancient baptisteries on Christendom. While there, we visit the church of San Francesco, where Dante, author of "The Divine Comedy" is entombed. We depart for Florence for dinner and overnight.
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Day 5 - FLORENCE
We spend the entire day in Florence! This morning after breakfast and Mass in one of the beautiful churches of this center of the Renaissance, we have a guided tour of the main sights, which include the Cathedral with it's magnificent Dome by Brunelleschi, Giotto's elegant belfry and the Baptistery with Ghiberti's Gate to Paradise; then the Galleria dell'Accademia where, among other art treasures, we see Michelangelo's powerful David. The tour ends with a drive to the Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy a wonderful view of the city. In the afternoon, we visit the Church of St. Ambrose where in the "Chapel of the Miracle" a monstrance holds a vial of miraculous blood. According to tradition, in 1230 a priest did not properly dry the chalice after Mass and afterwards found blood instead of the consecrated wine he carelessly left behind. The rest of the day is leisure for visiting historic churches, shopping or walking in the city center.
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Day 6 - FLORENCE / SIENA / BOLSENA / ASSISI
We rise in the morning to a Tuscan breakfast, followed by a drive to Siena, home to St. Catherine, the 14th century mystic. We stroll through the medieval streets of the beautiful town, second only to Florence in its contribution to the Renaissance. We stand on the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo (the more fit of our group can walk up the steps to the bell tower!), and celebrate Mass in the magnificent dark-green and white striped Duomo. After a Tuscan lunch, we drive to Bolsena, where in the Church of Santa Cristina, we pray in the chapel of the miracle. According to tradition, in 1263 a Bohemian priest who had doubts about the transubstantiation of the Eucharist celebrated Mass and, at the moment of consecration, the Sacred Host bled, staining the alter linens. We continue our journey to Assisi, the birthplace of the gentlest of saints, St. Francis. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
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Day 7 - ASSISI
This morning we celebrate Mass in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis. After Mass we explore the basilica with its wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto. Next we visit the Basilica of St. Clare, Francis' friend and foundress of the Poor Clare nuns, and see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis in San Damiano. We go to San Damiano to pray in the place where Francis wrote the "Canticle of the Sun." Then we visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli built to enclose the tiny Church of the Porziuncola, St. Francis' first retreat and place of prayer and where he consecrated Clare as the Bride of Christ. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
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Day 8 - ASSISI / LORETO / LANCIANO / SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
We rise early for our Umbrian breakfast that starts our full day. First, we drive northeast to Loreto, one of Italy's leading pilgrimage sites famous for its House of the Annunciation, where local tradition says angels moved the house that had been the Holy Family's home in Nazareth. Next we drive to Lanciano, where we will say Mass at the site of the Eucharist miracle. During a celebration of the Mass, a priest in Lanciano who was struggling with his beliefs in the Real Presence witnessed the host turn into flesh and the wine into blood. Continuing south, into the region of Puglia, to reach San Giovanni Rotondo, one of the most renowned pilgrimage destinations in Europe because of the extraordinary life and reputation for sanctity of the Franciscan Padre Pio da Pietralcina, who lived, labored, and in 1968 died here. We have Mass in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie where Padre Pio lived and afterwards hear about his life and works from the Franciscan friars then visit the institutions he left behind. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni.
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Day 9- SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO / SUBIACO / ROME
After breakfast, we hit the road for Subiaco, where Benedictine monks built a monastery that would withstand the attacks of invaders - right into the side of the mountain! We visit this beautiful abbey, where we celebrate Mass. After lunch, we turn our sights to Rome, where we check into our hotel. Following dinner, we participate in a panoramic sightseeing tour of "illuminated Rome by night". Overnight at our hotel in Rome.
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Day 10 - ROME - Papal Audience
This morning we celebrate Mass at the Catacombs of St. Calixtus. Following Mass, we depart for St. Peter's to participate in the Papal Audience with the Holy Father. The afternoon is free for prayer, reflection, relaxation or shopping at religious gift shops. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
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Day 11 - ROME
Our day begins with a visit to St. Paul's Outside the Walls where the Apostle was martyred and is buried. Next we visit the remaining major basilicas of Rome, first stopping at St. Mary Major, the most important church in the world devoted to Our Lady. We celebrate Mass here where Mass has been celebrated every day since the 5th century. We then depart for a visit to St. John Lateran, the Pope's cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under the main altar. The remainder of our day will be spent visiting the churches of San Clemente and its Crypt and also San Croce in Gerusalemme, which house pieces of the True Cross.
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Day 12- ROME
After breakfast our day begins with our own celebration of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. While at the Basilica we see a young Michelangelo's masterpiece, the deeply moving, magnificent Pieta. Then we visit one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. We see the Tapestries Gallery, the Belvedere with its marvelous statues. We also visit Raphael's Rooms, the Pincio Garden and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel that has been restored to its original beauty. After lunch we will see the Mamertine Prison where Peter and Paul were held and many Christian martyrs died. We will then visit St. Peter in Chains. We will also see the Colosseum, Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Imperial and Roman Forums and Constantine's Arch.
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Day 13- ROME / USA
We rise for breakfast, pack and depart for the airport for our flight home. Though our pilgrimage draws to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer each day to the Lord.
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