SHRINES OF ITALY WITH SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
13 nights / 14 days – arrival city ROME departure city MILAN
DAY 01: ROME
Upon arrival in Rome, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
En route you will drive along Via Cavour, Piazza Della Repubblica with Najads Fountain, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia where you will drive by the monument of King Victor Emanuel II. Drive on the Via Dei Fori Imperiali for a panoramic view of the Roman Forum and capitol Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, Aventin Hill, and Porta S. Paolo.
Dinner and overnight in Rome
DAY 02: ROME’S MAJOR BASILICAS AND CATACOMBS
Breakfast in the hotel.
This morning we will start with a visit to St. Mary Major Basilica, Continue to Basilica of St. John in Lateran , the former residence of the popes prior to their return to Rome in 1377. St. John Lateran is Rome’s cathedral; it is here that the pope officiates in his capacity as bishop of Rome.
Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon we will visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, the burial place of St. Paul the Apostle. The chapel of relics has numerous relics, the most notable of which are a set chains said to be the prison chains of St. Paul, used in the last days before his execution.
We proceed then via the Appian Way on our way to visit the Catacombs where early Christians held their forbidden service to escape persecution.
Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 03 : PAPAL AUDIENCE AND VATICAN (MUST BE ON WEDNESDAY)
After Breakfast, transfer to St. Peter’s Square for the Holy Father’s General Audience and Blessing.
Proceed to visit the Vatican Museums, as well as the Sistine Chapel. Continue to Visit St. Peter’s Basilica built on the site where St. Peter was martyred. Construction of St. Peter’s began in 1506 and was completed in 1626. St. Peter is buried here along with many other popes.
Free time for lunch.
Dinner and overnight in Rome.
DAY 04: ROME/MONTE CASSINO/SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
After Breakfast , depart from Rome our first stop will be at Monte Cassino. Visit of the Abbey of Monte Cassino, the mother house of the Benedictines, which was founded by St. Benedict in 529.
Free time for lunch.
Proceed to San Giovanni Rotondo for dinner and overnight.
DAY 05: SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO/MONTE SANT’ANGELO/SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
After breakfast, morning visit of San Giovanni Rotondo famous in the world to house the remains of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, a Capuchin friar lived a long time in the town. We will visit the shrine of Our Lady of Grace with the tomb of Padre Pio. the Confessional of Padre Pio, the Crucifix from which Padre Pio received the stigmata.
Free time for lunch.
Proceed to Monte Sant’ Angelo. The small town located on the southern slopes of Monte Gargano and home to the oldest shrine in Western Europe. Visit the sacred cave where the Archangel Michael appeared in the 4th century. The sanctuary has been a popular place of pilgrimage for many centuries and has been visited by numerous Popes and Saints, including St. Francis of Assisi, St. Pio and also Pope John Paul II who visited the sanctuary in 1987.
Return to San Giovanni Rotondo for dinner and overnight.
DAY 06: SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO/LANCIANO / LORETO
After breakfast, proceed to Lanciano to visit of the site of the firt Eucharistic Miracle. This wondrous event took place in the 8th century when, during Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood.
Free time for lunch.
Continue to Loreto to visit the Holy House. According to tradition, angels transported the home of the Blessed virgin Mary from Nazareth to Croatia, and finally to Loreto in 1294, where in now lies in the Basilica of the Holy House.
Dinner and overnight in Loreto.
DAY 07: LORETO/NORCIA /CASCIA /ASSISI
After breakfast departure to Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. Visit the basilica dedicated to St. Benedict and the Gothic Church of St. Augustine
Here we will have break for a lunch, one must try excellent local specialties like smoked ham, salami and sausages all locally made.
Continue to Cascia, for the Visit at the Basilica Santa Rita da Cascia, view the incorrupt body of St. Rita in the Chapel, and then see the Eucharistic Miracle in the nearby minor Basilica. Afterward, we will proceed to the Convent of St. Rita, to see her relics, such as her habit, her wedding ring, and the crucifix from which she received her forehead stigmata.
Continue to Assisi for dinner and overnight.
DAY 08: ASSISI
After Breakfast we will begin our day with exploring the town of St Francis of Assisi.
Assisi is a small Umbrian town in central Italy best known as the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi — patron saint of Italy, founder of the Franciscan order, and one of the most popular Catholic saints in history. Assisi’s main attraction is the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis, which contains the sacred relics of Francis and beautiful frescoes of his life. And there are at least seven other churches well worth visiting for their history, beauty, and connection with Francis or his friend Clare. We will visit St. Claire Basilica , which is a 13th-century church that houses the relics of St. Claire, friend and protege of St. Francis of Assisi, as well as the miraculous crucifix that spoke to Francis; and other major monuments of the city.
Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon, we continue our visit to Eremo delle Carceri: in the caves on the slope of Monte Subasio just outside the walls of Assisi, St. Francis and his followers established their first home at the Eremo delle Carceri (Carceri Hermitage). He often returned here during his life to pray and contemplate. Then we continue to San Damiano Convent where St. Francis first received his miraculous calling in 1205 and where St. Clare died in 1253, it is an important stop on the pilgrimage to the Franciscan holy city. We will visit also the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, much venerated as the place of St. Francis’ death. Inside the grand Baroque basilica are two small, humble structures: the Capella del Transito and the Porziuncola.
Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
DAY 09: ASSISI/ORVIETO/SIENA
After breakfast, we depart to Orvieto for a visit at the breathtaking Cathedral, which is known as the jewel of Italian architecture. Inside the Cathedral is the Chapel of the Corporal, which houses the chalice cloth involved in the Eucharistic Miracle, which occurred in nearby Bolsena. In the 13th century a pilgrim priest named Peter of Prague was celebrating Mass at the crypt of St. Christina. He was having a faith crisis concerning the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and while speaking the words of the consecration, blood started to drip from the consecrated Host. Subsequently Pope Urban instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Free time for lunch.
We continue on to the beautiful, medieval town of Siena for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10: SIENA/FLORENCE
After breakfast, we will discover Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets. We will admire the famous Piazza del Campo. This shell shaped square is the dramatic setting for the annual Palio bareback horserace. The piazza`s focal point is the Palazzo Pubblico, the public palace, which dates back to 1250. We continue uphill to visit the monumental Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Shrine and House of St Catherine, which has become a popular place of pilgrimage. The house of the saint, which was proclaimed Doctor of the Church, was converted into a sanctuary in 1464 and today contains a number of documents and paintings related to her.
Free time for lunch.
Proceed to Florence. Upon arrival we will take a panoramic view of Florence.
Dinner and overnight in Florence.
DAY 11: FLORENCE/PADUA
After breakfast, visit of Florence starts at the Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) the largest and most beautiful of all Italian Franciscan Churches and the burial place of Michelangelo and Galileo.
Continue to Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) the cathedral of Florence with its great representation of
Tuscan Gothic Architecture. Free time for lunch.
Continue to Padova.
Dinner and overnight in Padova.
DAY 12: PADUA/SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXII/MILANO
After breakfast, we will visit Padova which is famous for its saint, Saint Antonio, known throughout as THE SAINT and whose shrine attracts millions of visitors every year. The impressive Basilica complex also houses famous works of art including three affrescos by Tiziano.
Free time for lunch.
Continue to Sotto il Monte San Giovanni XXII, the place where Pope John XXIII was born and lived, a place of pilgrimage and popular devotion.
In the late afternoon we will arrive at Milano for a short panoramic tour.
Dinner and overnight in Milan.
DAY 13: MILANO /TURIN/MILAN
After breakfast, we will depart to Turin for a full day dedicated to the visit of the special exhibition of the Holy Shroud which will be held in a period of about 45 days between the Easter season (from mid-April 2015) and the closing celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of St. John Bosco, Father and Teacher of young people (August 16th, 2015). The visit will also include the sites where John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco, lived and where dedicated his life to the betterment and education of street children, juvenile delinquents and other disadvantaged youth.
Free time for lunch.
In the late afternoon return to Milan.
Dinner and overnight in Milan.
DAY 14: MILAN departure
Breakfast in the hotel.
According to the departure time of the flight, available time until transfer to airport.
