Arrival in Italy | Welcome Dinner: 

Upon our arrival in Rome, we will be greeted by our tour escort who will be accompanying us during our time in Italy. We transfer to our hotel and take some time to relax before gathering to enjoy a special Welcome Dinner.

Overnight: Rome (Dinner*)

Papal Audience | Basilica of St. Mary Major | Basilica of St. John: 

We begin the day by attending a Papal Audience in the Vatican followed by visits to two of Rome’s major basilicas: St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.

Overnight: Rome (Breakfast, Dinner)

St. Peter’s Basilica | St. Paul Outside the Walls*: Our tour of the Vatican Museum ends with a viewing of the Sistine Chapel followed by a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. After some free time to explore, we transfer to the last of Rome’s four major basilicas, St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Overnight: Rome (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Rome | Visit Orvieto | Arrive Assisi: 

Leaving Rome, we stop in Orvieto to learn about the Eucharistic Miracle for which the town is famous. At lunch, we sample the Orvieto Classico wines before departing for the medieval town of Assisi to close the day.

Overnight: Assisi (Breakfast, Dinner)

Visit Loreto | Basilica of St. Francis | Basilica of St. Clare | Convent of San Damiano: 

After breakfast, we visit the nearby town of Loreto to pray in the Sanctuary of the Holy House. We then return to Assisi to visit the basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare as well as the Convent of San Damiano.

Overnight: Assisi (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Assisi | Flight to Tel Aviv, Israel | Arrive Bethlehem: 

Getting an early start, we return to Rome where we will board our flight to Tel Aviv. Upon our arrival in the Holy Land, we will be greeted by our Christian Tour Escort and then transfer to our Bethlehem hotel to close the day.

Overnight: Bethlehem (Breakfast, Dinner)

Ein Karem | Church of Visitation | Shepherd’s Fields | Church of the Nativity: 

On our first day in the Holy Land, we head to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St John the Baptist and to the Church of Visitation followed by a visit to the Shepherd’s Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Then we visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem that stands upon the site where Jesus was born.

Overnight: Bethlehem (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Bethlehem | Stella Maris | Nazareth | Cana | Arrive Tiberias: 

After breakfast, we will travel north to visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel before continuing to Nazareth and the Basilica of Annunciation, where we will celebrate Mass. Later, we visit Cana, where couples will have the opportunity to renew wedding vows. We continue to Tiberias where we check into our hotel before dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Tiberias (Breakfast, Dinner)

Sea of Galilee | Capernaum | Mt. Beatitudes: 

Today’s highlights include a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to see the synagogue and St Peter’s house, a visit to the Mount of the Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was given, a visit to Tabgha to see the splendid mosaic about the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and to the nearby Church of Peter’s Primacy where Peter was told “ Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” There will be an unforgettable Mass near the shores of the Sea of Galilee at the Primacy or Mt Beatitudes.

Overnight: Tiberias (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Tiberias | Mount Tabor | Jericho | Dead Sea | Bethany | Arrive Bethlehem: 

This morning, visit Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration where we celebrate Mass. Continue to the river Jordan where we remember Christ’s Baptism. Afterwards, we proceed to the oasis town of Jericho, visit the excavations of the oldest city in the world and view Mt. Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. Before arriving in Bethlehem there is time for a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea.

Overnight: Bethlehem (Breakfast, Dinner)

Mount of Olives | Palm Sunday Road | Dominus Flevit | Gethsemane |Cave of Assumption | Last Supper | Davids Tomb | Pater Noster | Palace of Caiaphas: 

We begin with a visit to the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed and continue to the Chapel of Ascension where Jesus ascended into heaven. Next, we visit the church of Pater Noster where Jesus taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer before walking the Palm Sunday Road, stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Then to Gethsemane, the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His last prayer before his arrest. Next, we head to Mount Zion, visiting the cave of Assumption (Dormition Abbey) of Mary to heaven. We visit the room of the Last Supper, King David’s Tomb, and the Church of St. Peter Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times. We end our day visiting the Palace of Caiaphas, home of the corrupt Jewish high priest.

Overnight: Bethlehem (Breakfast, Dinner)

Via Dolorosa | St Anne’s Church | Ecce Homo | Church of The Holy Sepulcher | Notre Dame Center: 

We start in Jerusalem with a visit to St. Anne Church (the traditional birthplace of the Virgin Mary). Continue to view the Sisters of Zion, Ecco Homo where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man.” Next, we retrace the last steps of Jesus as we walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow), through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross at each station shrine, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice. Finally, we arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Mass. We visit the Notre Dame Center in Vatican property, where we visit the Museum of the Shroud of the Man (three-dimension replica of the Shroud of Jesus).

Overnight: Bethlehem (Breakfast, Dinner)

Return Home: 

Today we board our return flights home, carrying with us memories and keepsakes that will last a lifetime.