A Spiritual & Cultural Journey to Italy Including , Assisi, Loreto, Lanciano, San Giovanni Rotondo & Much More! 12-Day Sample Itinerary

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DAY 1: DEPART THE USA: We depart for Atlanta Francis and St. Clare, where we change planes and board our flight to Rome, including the Chiesa with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft. Nuova, built over the home of Francis’ family, DAY 2: ARRIVE ROME / TRANSFER TO ASSISI, ST. and the Cathedral of MARY OF THE ANGELS: We arrive in Rome and are San Rufino, with the met by our Catholic Travel Centre representative who baptismal font of the will accompany us throughout our journey. We make . We then visit the our way to the tiny Umbrian town of Assisi, which clings Basilica of St. Clare, where St. Clare lies in repose. Here to the side of Mt. Subasio. Assisi is home to Ss. Francis we see the original ‘San Damiano’ crucifix that spoke and Clare. Here we enjoy an included lunch at a local to Francis, urging him restaurant. to “rebuild My Church”. After lunch, we visit the village of Santa Maria degli Francis interpreted the Angeli, where we dream literally and went celebrate Mass to work on repairing at the Basilica the building at San of St. Mary of Damiano. Only later did the Angels, he understand the deeper containing the meaning of the dream. Porziuncola, built We continue to the Church of San Damiano. by St. Francis and After lunch on our own, we meet at the Piazza near his followers. The St. Clare’s Church and take taxi’s up the winding road Porziuncola is a (buses cannot make these sharp turns) to the Eremo delle tiny church constructed within the Basilica, like a ship in Carceri (Hermitage), secluded some 2 1/2 miles outside a giant bottle. Nearby is the site of Francis’ death. After the town of Assisi. Here is where St. Francis often retired our visit, we continue on to our hotel in Assisi, for some to pray. Here, in the midst of the lush green forest and time at leisure. Dinner tonight is at our hotel. ( L, D) the singing birds, one gets a deep sense of the spirit of St. Francis. After some time for our own private reflections, DAY 3: ASSISI: VISIT OF THE TOWN & EREMO we transfer to the lower town. Dinner tonight is at a local DELLE CARCERI (HERMITAGE): Today we begin with restaurant walking distance from our hotel. (B, D) Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis. After Mass we enjoy a tour of the Basilica. We continue with a walking tour DAY 4: ASSISI / LORETO / LANCIANO / SAN of the city, visiting the major sites associated with St. GIOVANNI ROTONDO: This morning, after breakfast, we depart Assisi for Loreto, Italy’s Marian Shrine, to visit “This is the best planned trip I have ever the Holy House of Loreto. Legend tells us that in 1291 been on. You guys did great. I will definitely the Mary’s House was miraculously transported by use Catholic Travel Centre again!” angels from Nazareth to Croatia, then further transported - Fr. V.G. - California here to Loreto in 1294. We find the Holy House inside the Basilica. Here we celebrate Mass. After Mass, we make our way to Lanciano, site of the number of martyrs and a great many Christians, contain Miracle of the Eucharist that dates back to the eighth an intricate network of passages and chambers hewn century. Lunch is on our own en route. Our final stop from the soft Roman tufa. of the day is San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pio, Next, we visit the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, Dinner this evening is at our hotel. (B, D) housing the Tomb of St. , affectionately known as the Apostle of the Gentiles. Here we celebrate DAY 5: SAN GIOVANNI: VISIT, EXCURSION TO MT. Mass. After Mass, we enjoy a panoramic tour of ancient ST. ANGELO: After breakfast at our hotel, we celebrate Rome as we drive by the Roman Forum, the Coliseum, Mass at the tomb of Padre Arch of Constantine, and the Circus Maximus. We make a Pio. We visit the Church stop at Santa Maria of St. Marie delle Grazia, in Cosmedin, the church where St. Pio where we see the received the stigmata, Bocca della Veri­ta plus Padre’s most famous (Mouth of Truth), charitable work, the which is found Home for Relief and in the courtyard. Suffering. We will see the confessional where St. Pio Medieval tradition spent innumerable hours with the multitude of pilgrims, had it that the directing them on their journey toward God. We have formidable jaws would snap shut over the hands of those time for lunch on our own. who told lies. We return to our hotel for dinner and the Later this afternoon, we enjoy a breathtaking view of evening. (B, L, D) the Cargano Peninsula en route to the Grotto of the . Six different and St. DAY 8: ROME: ST. PETER’S, LEISURE TIME & TOUR have knelt in prayer at this Grotto, seeking the protection OF VATICAN MUSEUMS: This morning, after of St. Michael. We return to San Giovanni Rotondo for breakfast, we visit the Basilica of St. Peter housing the dinner at our hotel. (B, D) Tomb of St. Peter. Here we celebrate Mass. We will then visit the DAY 6: SAN GIOVANNI / Basilica with our local guide. PIETRALCINA / ROME: This We will see Michelangelo’s morning, after breakfast we depart famous statue of the Blessed San Giovanni for Pietralcina, the Mother holding her crucified birthplace of Padre Pio. We visit Son. We know it as The Pieta. his birth house and celebrate Mass We also visit the tomb of at the Church of St. Mary of the John Paul II. Angels. Then we continue on to our hotel in Rome, for dinner and the evening. (B, D) After some leisure time in the Vatican area, we enjoy an DAY 7: ROME: PAPAL AUDIENCE, ST. PAUL’S included lunch at a local OUTSIDE ROME & PANORAMIC TOUR OF ANCIENT restaurant. This afternoon our ROME WITH CATACOMBS: This morning, after group visits the Vatican breakfast, we make our way to the to attend the Museums and Sistine Chapel to General Papal admire the masterworks of Audience with Michelangelo. The evening is Pope Francis at your leisure with dinner on (subject to the our own (B, L). Holy Father’s schedule). After an included lunch at a local restaurant, we visit of the Catacombs of St. Calixtus housing many of the tombs of the early Popes and mar­tyrs. Called by Pope John XXIII “the sublimest and most famous in Rome,” these underground burial places for 16 popes, a large DAY 9: ROME: ST. JOHN LATERAN, ST. MARY begin at the Piazza Navona, with MAJOR, SAN ANSELMO & LEISURE: This morning we its beautiful fountains. We see the visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the largest church in Church of San Luigi dei Francesi Rome dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Here we celebrate with its three stunning paintings by Mass. Nearby we see the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Caravaggio. It is here that St. Francis persuaded Pope Innocent III Then we visit the Pantheon, to give permission to begin the Franciscan Order. The originally built to honor all the gods night before, the Pope had seen a man in a dream and of Ancient Rome. We continue with the man was supporting the tottering building of St. John a visit of the Basilica of Santa Maria Lateran. The next day, when Francis appeared before Sopra Minerva, housing the tomb of Pope Innocent, His Holiness recognized the face from St. . Here we celebrate Mass. the dream and consented to Francis’ request. Nearby we We make our way to the visit the Scala Sancta, purportedly the stairs which Christ Spanish Steps and stroll climbed prior to his condemnation by Pontius Pilate. through this fashionable We visit and enjoy lunch at San Anselmo Abbey followed shopping district. We stop by a tour. The College of St. Anselm (Sant’Anselmo) was at Trevi Fountain, where we founded in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII as an international toss our traditional three school of theology for Benedictines. The primary coins into the fountain to goal of San Anselmo is to provide quality theological make our three wishes - one education both to the Benedictine Confederation, other for love, one for money, and one to return to Rome. After monastic congregations, and to the Church around the enjoying a festive farewell lunch at a local restaurant, the world. Finally, we can check out the keyhole at Piazza d. balance of the day is at Cavalieri di Malta. (It’s said you can see three countries leisure. Dinner tonight is through the keyhole!) The balance of the day is at leisure on our own. (B, L) to explore on our own. Dinner tonight is on our own. (B, L) DAY 12: RETURN TO THE USA: This DAY 10: ROME: EXCURSION TO CASTELLI morning we transfer to ROMANI: COOKING CLASS, WINETASTING & the Rome airport with LEISURE IN ROME: Today, after breakfast, we travel to our suitcases overflowing with memories of our Spiritual Castelli Romani. Get ready to enjoy a cooking class, wine & Cultural Journey to Italy. (B) tasting and lunch. After our visit, we return to Rome for the balance of the day at leisure. Dinner tonight is on our own. (B, L, WT) Note: While no changes are anticipated, there may be DAY 11: ROME: HISTORIC WALKING TOUR & unforeseen occasions when certain alterations become LEISURE: This morning, after breakfast, our guide will necessary to this itinerary, either due to changes in airline lead us on a walking tour of historic central Rome. We schedules or for other reasons.

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