The Shrines of Italy

Rome | Pompeii | San Giovanni | Saint Michael | Lanciano | Loreto |Assisi | La Verna | Siena | Florence | Padua | Venice

March 18-29, 2019

Your Tour Includes…

Day 1: Departure For Rome, Italy

Set aside all of your cares in the world as you embark on your spiritual journey.

Day 2: Arrival – Rome, Italy

Welcome to Italy. Upon arrival, we will meet our tour conductor and transfer to our hotel. Dinner, relax, rest and get a good night sleep.

Day 3: Rome

After breakfast, we will drive through Capitoline Hill, Roman Forum, Coliseum, and Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, Old Appian Way, and Palazzo Venezia on our way to St Peter Square for the Papal Audience. Lunch by the Trevi Fountain. Thereafter, we will tour three major Basilicas in Rome: St Mary Major, contains relic from the Manger where the Infant Jesus was laid; The Basilica of St John the Lateran, the former residence of all the popes.While in the vicinity, we will visit the Holy Stairs; St Paul Outside the Walls – houses the remains of St. Paul under the main altar.  Celebrate Mass here.

Day 4: Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican’s Museum, Sistine Chapel, The Scavi (if possible)

We will begin our journey to the Vatican. We will visit St. Peter’s Basilica – the largest church in Christendom & known to be built on the site where St Peter was martyred. Celebrate Mass here (subject to availability). We will explore the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and the Scavi (if possible) – known as the place where St. Peter’s remains was buried. Lunch at your leisure the rest of the day.

Day 5: Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, San Giovanni Rotondo

After breakfast, we will drive to Pompeii & Sorrento for a city tour and continue to San Giovanni. Dinner & overnight.

Day 6: San Giovanni, Monte Sant’ Angel, Grotto of Saint Michael

After celebrating Mass at the tomb of Padre Pio, we will tour the sanctuary, see the old church and the crucifix from which he received the stigmata in 1918 and pray before his incorrupt body. We will visit the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. After lunch, enjoy the panoramic view of the ocean and the surrounding countryside. Return to San Giovanni and enjoy a relax visit for meditation, contemplation & devotion.

Day 7: San Giovanni, Lanciano, Manoppello, Loreto & Assisi

We will drive to Lanciano to visit the Church of St. Longinus where you will see the Holy Eucharistic Miracle. We will continue to Manoppello (if time allows) to see the Shroud of Jesus – The Holy Face. We will proceed to celebrate the Mass (subject to availability) at the great Marian shrine of Loreto and visit the Holy House of Nazareth (known to have been transported by angels) and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. We will continue our drive to Assisi.

Day 8: Assisi

We will visit the tomb of St Francis, celebrate Mass, explore his birthplace & meditate at the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St Francis. We will visit St Mary of the Angels Basilica where St Francis spent most of his life, see the Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact little town. Enjoy your free time for lunch & shopping. We will continue to see the Church and relics of St. Clare – foundress of the Order of the Poor.

Day 9: Assisi, Gubbio, LaVerna, Siena

Today, we will drive through the beautiful Umbrian mountains of Gubbio. We will celebrate Mass at St. Francis Church and enjoy the town that seems painted onto the hill. The town has been freed by St. Francis from a terrible and fierce wolf who afflicted it. We will continue to La Verna, the place where St. Francis received the stigmata. We will pray in the Chapel of the Stigmata. We will drive and overnight in Siena.

Day 10: Siena, Florence

Celebrate the mass and visit the birth place of St Catherine and the Shrine containing her Sacred Head. Enjoy Piazza Del Campo during lunch. Continue to Pisa, Florence and enjoy the city at your own leisure.

Day 11: Florence, Padua, Venice

We will drive to Padua, celebrate the Mass, visit the Basilica of St Anthony and the Scrovegni Chapel. If time allows, we will continue to Venice and visit the Basilica of St Mark.

Day 12: Venice to USA

Home sweet home!