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DAY 01:
New
York - Europe.
Tour members will depart to Rome from New York. Dinner and breakfast
will be served aboard the flight.
DAY 02:
Rome- Siena- Florence. Arrival at Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport
and meet with our professional tour manager. Transfer by coach (3 hrs
drive ) to Siena, ”the sole living model of a medieval city”. After a
guided walk through the most important sites and buildings, we arrive at
the Sanctuary of the House of Santa Caterina. Tour continues with Holy
Mass at the Church of San Domenico, a Gothic style Basilica.
 Inside
is the Chapel of St. Caterina whose tabernacle contains a reliquary with
the hand of the Saint. Day ends travelling by coach (1 hr drive) to
reach Florence for room allocation, dinner and overnight.
DAY 03:
Florence. A full day guided visit of one of the most significant
capitals of the arts in Italy, if not of the world. Visit includes: the
Baptistery of St. John- the religious essence of the city-, the Duomo
with the Medici Chapel, the Church of St. Lorenzo, Piazza della Signoria,
Piazza San Marco with the Church of San Marco and the Academy Gallery.
Tour ends at the Basilica of Santa Croce, a masterpiece of Gothic art
and the pantheon of famous Italians. Mass will be Celebrated at a selected location.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
DAY 04:
La Verna – Sansepolcro – Assisi. This
morning an early departure to discover the Sanctuary of La Verna. Here
St Francis with a few companions built a cluster of huts. In September
1224 he received the stigmata and from then on, the place became an
important sanctuary. We can celebrate Holy Mass in the Chapel of the
Stigmata, which harks back to 1263. Mass will be Celebrated here. Proceed
then by coach to Sansepolcro, the so called “Little Jerusalem ”, since
settled around the chapel containing the relics St. Egidio and St.
Arcano bought from Jerusalem. Free time to walk through this medieval
city and have lunch (on your own). In the afternoon, continue by coach
to Assisi. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 05:
Assisi. A full day guided visit of this charming town- the
pilgrimage centre where St. Francis and St. Clare lived. Visit the
Basilica of
 St.
Francis (Upper and Lower) with its Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto
and Cimabue, and the Basilica of St Clare.
In the afternoon visit of the Church of St. Damiano,
where St. Francis probably wrote his famous canticle to the sun and to
the moon. Mass will be Celebrated at the Porziuncola. Dinner and
overnight.
DAY 06:
Greccio / Subiaco. Travel southwards by coach through the
Umbrian Valley and the picturesque cities of Spello and Spoleto to reach
the hermitage of Greccio, the “New Bethlehem”. The edges of the building
blend into the lush Holm oak woods that greeted Saint Francis on his
solitary retreats. The sanctuary is famous because Saint Francis chose
it as the backdrop to one of the Highest and most lyrical moments in his
life: the first recreation of the Bethlehem Nativity in Christianity on
Christmas Eve, 1223. The visit of the Sanctuary starts from the Chapel
of Nativity” and continues through the ancient Convent: the refectory,
the dormitory and the cell dug where St Francis slept. Mass will be
Celebrated here at the Chapel of Nativity.
After free time for lunch continue
travelling by coach (2 hrs drive) to reach the little village of Subiaco.
We will spend two nights in this mystic place St. Benedict (5th
Century) chose to spend a period of prayer and meditation. Room
allocation and dinner at the monastery to experience the idea of the
monastic life.
DAY 07:
Subiaco. A full day to relax with an intense and suggestive
atmosphere of peace and serenity in this quiet, intimate place. Lunch
is included today. Mass will be Celebrated here. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 08:
Mentorella. In the morning visit of this imposing monastic
complex: the Grotto of Sansepolcro - where St. Benedict spent his years
 of
isolation -, the Grotto of Shepherds, the Abbey of St. Scolastica - St.
Benedict’s twin sister -, the Library of the Archive - containing copies
of ancient codexes -, the Cloister and the Church. In the afternoon
half day guided visit to the Sanctuary of the Mentorella- the most
ancient in Italy, founded thanks to Costantine1800 years ago.
Experience the strong religiosity and harmony of this place where art,
faith and nature coexist in an unreal silence pervaded by the fragrance
of an ancient
”sweet -
smelling mint”. Mass will be Celebrated here. In the evening back by
coach to Subiaco for dinner and overnight.
DAY 09:
Montecassino. Early morning departure to visit the famous Abbey
of Montecassino, founded thanks to St. Benedict in 529. On this site
the Saint established the principles of the Rule (540), and was buried
with his sister Saint Scolastica. The relics, fond in 1950, are now
preserved in the crypt. Mass will be Celebrated here. In the late
afternoon proceed by coach to Rome for dinner and overnight.
 DAY
10:
Rome. After breakfast transfer to the Vatican to visit the
Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Continue with a visit of St.
Peter’s Basilica, to admire the famous Michelangelo’s Pieta. After a
break for lunch tour will continue with a drive along a section of the
old Appian Way: see the huge slabs that originally paved its length and
several surviving patrician tombs that once lined its way. Visit of the
Catacombs and then proceed by coach to visit the Basilica of St. Paul
Outside the Walls. Mass will be Celebrated at a selected location.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
DAY 11: Rome.
After breakfast a walk through the very core of Roman Antiquity. See
Trajan’s market, Nero’s Golden House, Trajan’s Forum and Column, Arch of
Constantine, House of Knights of Rhodes. Visit the Mamertine Prisons –
where St Peter was held prisoner, the Roman Forum - the civic heart of
Republican Rome -, the Coliseum and St. Peter in Vincoli to see
Michelangelo’s Moses. Free time in the afternoon for a walk at Trevi
Fountain, Pantheon, Spagna and Navona Square. Mass will be Celebrated
at a selected location. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
DAY 12:
Rome – USA. After breakfast transfer by coach to Rome Leonardo
da Vinci Airport for your return flight to the United States – the end
of a most memorable tour. |
