A Pilgrimage to Italy, Venice

DAY 1: : Depart the USA

Today we embark on our Journey to the Holy Land. Prepare

ourselves for a life-changing experience.

Get some rest on the overnight flight. Meals are served on board.

After collecting the luggage, we will meet our tour manager and

head to the city center. Our first stop is the Basilica of St. Paul

Outside the Walls. We will have a break to celebrate Mass and

lunch. We will then continue with a panoramic tour of Imperial

Rome. We will walk to the Colosseum (visit from the outside)

and pass by the Roman Forum, Trajan's Forum and Column, and

up to the Capitoline Hill and Venice Square. Return to our bus

and drive to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Early in the morning, we will head to St. Peter's Square to join

pilgrims from around the world who come to Rome to attend the

weekly papal audience and receive the blessing. After the audience,

we will have the visit of St. Peter’s Basilica with our local

guide. After the visit, transfer by bus to the Spanish Steps and the

Trevi Fountain. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will

visit the main basilicas of Rome: St. John Lateran, Holy Stairs,

and St. Mary Major. Before ending the tour, we will celebrate

Mass. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

DAY

After breakfast, we will head south for approximately 2 hours to

reach Montecassino, where we will stop to visit the Abbey. We

can celebrate Mass in the chapel where St. Benedict and his sister

St. Scholastica are buried. Our guided tour also includes the

abbey museum. After lunch, we will continue our journey to San

Giovanni Rotondo. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight

stay. (B, D)

This morning is dedicated to St. Padre Pio. We will honor his

work by visiting his tomb, cell, confessional, and the Capuchin

Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, where we will celebrate Mass.

We will also visit the new Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and

the Home for the Relief of Suffering. In the afternoon, we will

visit the Cave of St. Michael the Archangel.

Overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo. (B, D)

After a good breakfast, we will depart and head to Lanciano to

visit the Church of St. Francis, site of the Eucharistic Miracle that

occurred in the 8th century. We will celebrate Mass. After a lunch

break, we will continue to Cascia to visit the Sanctuary of St.

Rita. Then, we will proceed to Assisi. Check-in at the hotel,

dinner, and overnight stay. (B, D)

After breakfast, transfer to the Basilica of St. Francis to celebrate Mass at

the Tomb of St. Francis. We will visit the Basilica of St. Francis with a

local guide. We will explore the complex of the Basilica, composed of

two churches built one above the other. The crypt houses the tomb of St.

Francis. Independent lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the Basilica

of St. Clare, the Sanctuary of San Damiano, and the Basilica of Santa

Maria degli Angeli. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (B,

D)

After a very early breakfast, we will leave Assisi for Florence. Here we’ll

have a city tour with our local guide in this amazing city. Then, we’ll

continue to Siena, where we will visit the cathedral and the historic

center. We will continue our journey to Padua, where we will visit the

Basilica of St. Anthony and celebrate Mass. We will then proceed to

Venice/Mestre. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay. (B, D)

After breakfast, we will head to the pier and take a private boat to the

island of Venice. We will take a guided tour of the narrow streets of

Venice (Calle) and the Rialto Bridge. We will visit St. Mark's Basilica.

Free lunch. In the afternoon, free time for optional activities such as a

gondola ride or a visit to a Murano glass factory. We will celebrate Mass

and return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

In the morning, transfer to Venice ’s airport. Departure