September 3-12, 2015
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Join Rev. Marcia Sutton and Dr. Mark Vierra on a journey to... Italy Including visits to: Rome•Assisi•Siena•Florence•Ravenna•Padua•Venice September 3-12, 2015 $4,419 per person from Los Angeles or Phoenix For more information please visit: www.pilgrimages.com/sutton Sample Day By Day Itinerary: of frescoes depicting his life. You may kneel before the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St Francis, asking him to rebuild His church. It was in St Mary Day 1 | Thursday, September 3: Depart for Rome of the Angels Basilica where St Francis spent most of his life. Here we visit Depart US by overnight flights to Rome. Meals will be served on board. the Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact little town. After stopping Day 2 | Friday, September 4: Arrive Rome - Vatican Museums at night at an outdoor cafe with a view of an ancient Roman temple, we go to the Welcome to Rome, one of the most magnificent and interesting cities in the Church of St Clare to see the saint's incorrupt body. The foundress of the world, also known as the “Eternal City”! Upon arrival in Rome Airport you will Order of Poor Clares followed the teachings of St Francis by living a life of find your luggage and exit the baggage claim into the arrivals hall where you poverty and humility. We will visit these two saints' tombs before retiring for will be greeted by your tour escort and/or driver. After a warm welcome to the evening. Italy, you will be escorted to your transportation to your hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon for rest, relaxation, or exploration. This evening we will visit the Day 6 | Tuesday, September 8: Assisi - Montepulciano (Olive Oil testing) Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. Walk through - Siena - Florence breathtaking galleries like Raphael’s Rooms, a series of interconnecting papal After breakfast we will board our bus and drive north, through Tuscany, until chambers that showcase the artistic genius of Renaissance master Raphael we arrive in Florence. On the way to Florence we’ll drive through the vine- and his pupils. Stop to look at mesmerizing paintings like the School of Ath- yards of Montepulciano, medieval hill-town in Tuscany with flavorful wine, ens, which features images of Michelangelo and Raphael himself, and hear cheese and olive oil! We will stop for olive Oil Testing before we continue to about the rivalries that resulted in some of the most influential works of West- Siena, the birthplace of Saints Catherine and Bernardine (known as the ern art ever created.Stroll through more captivating rooms including the Gal- “Apostle of Italy” for his efforts to revive the Catholic faith in the 15th century). lery of the Maps and Gallery of Masks, and then head inside the Sistine Chap- Siena is one of Italy’s loveliest medieval cities. Here we will stroll the Piazza el - the popes’ private place of worship. Besides its sacredness, the main Del Campo, one of Italy’s finest squares and visit the Cathedral and the Basili- draw of the Sistine Chapel is the incredible frescoes, created solely by Michel- ca of St. Francis, containing the miraculous consecrated hosts that remained angelo. Gaze skyward at The Creation of Adam ceiling fresco, and look to the intact since 1730. View the incorrupt head of St. Catherine at the Basilica of back wall to see The Last Judgement.Finish with a walk inside St Peter’s St. Dominic. We continue to Florence for dinner and overnight. Basilica - Italy’s largest and infinitely most spectacular church that’s built on the site of St Peter’s supposed burial place. Marvel at La Pieta, one of Michel- Day 7 | Wednesday, September 9: Florence angelo’s early sculptures, and stop to rub the foot of St Peter himself for good A true paradise for culture and art lovers, Florence drew to itself the greatest luck and a blessing. Your tour then finishes outside the church. artists of the Renaissance: Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, We will conclude our day and wonderful stay in Rome with delicious Italian Botticelli, Donatello and many others. After breakfast, we will enjoy a guided dinner. tour of Florence which includes magnificent Franciscan church of The Holy Cross or Santa Croce with the beautiful facade, church is a burial place of Day 3 | Saturday, September 5: Rome: Ancient Rome nobles, among which is Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Walking tour Following breakfast we will start our half-day tour by visiting Colosseum. Head through Piazza della Signoria, pass by Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi and Ponte inside to explore the second and third tiers of the Roman amphitheater with Vecchio. Continue through Republic Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore 13th your guide. Hear how seating was allocated to social status, with the Emper- century cathedral. After lunch we will visit L'Accadamia where we will view ors and senators enjoying the best seats in the house, and plebeians toward Michelangelo's "David" as well as other works of art. You will have free time to the top. The stadium’s gladiatorial contests were its main attraction, and you’ll explore the museum and city before the dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight hear tales of the gory games where trained gladiators would fight each other in Florence. for the amusement of the crowds. After your Colosseum tour, set off to ex- plore the surrounding area, discovering places that once represented the Day 8 | Friday, September 10: Florence - Ravenna - Padua financial, commercial and political center of Ancient Rome. The main relics After breakfast we will enjoy and experience cooking class in Florence and and ruins are clustered throughout the Roman Forum, so head inside to wan- continue to Padua where St. Anthony, patron saint of lost things is honored. der seeing history set in the site’s stones. Hear fascinating tales about the Our sightseeing tour includes one of the oldest universities in Italy, the Tomb power and treachery associated with the Emperors of Ancient Rome while of St. Anthony and we have an opportunity to see several of his relics. We will seeing the ruins of once-important monuments like the Temple of Caesar. pass by Pratto Della Valle, and see the Basilica of Santa Giustina. We arrive Stop for photos by the white marble Arch of Septimius Severus, and gaze in at our Hotel in time for dinner and a restful overnight. wonder at the colonnaded Regia – once the home of the Kings of Rome. Oth- er highlights include the Gemonian stairs and Temple of Vespasian and Titus. Day 9 | Saturday, September 11: Padua - Venice (Full Day Excursion) Leave the Roman Forum and walk to Capitoline Hill, one of the Seven Hills of After breakfast, we depart for nearby Venice, where the streets are paved with Rome. Stroll around Piazza del Campidoglio, a square designed by Renais- water! We will enjoy a tour and visit to some of the greatest sights you will sance artist Michelangelo, and gaze down at the sights of Ancient Rome. ever see: St. Mark's Square, The Golden Basilica of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, and we will even have an extraordinary visit of Dodges' Palace. After Day 4 | Sunday, September 6: Rome: Papal Blessing - Trevi Fountain / the tour you will have free time to explore Venice on own, shop and perhaps Piazza Novona - Basilica of St. John the Lateran and St. Mary Major - take a gondola ride. Don't forget to enjoy a cappuccino and gelato at one of Church of San Luigi dei Francese the cafes in St. Mark's Square, a “must” for any visit to Venice. We will return Following breakfast, we will make our way to St. Peter’s Square to attend the to our Hotel in time for Dinner and overnight. Papal Blessing known as the “Angelus”, led by His Holiness, Pope Francis. Following the Blessing, we will make our way to the Trevi Fountain built in the Day 10 | Sunday, September 12: Depart Venice - Arrive USA 15th Century to mark the ending destination of the Aqua Virgo – a man-made We will bid farewell to our new friends and to a Pilgrimage which will be in our channel erected in 19 B.C or Piazza Novona where at the center: Fontana dei memories and hearts for a long time to come. We depart for Venice Airport for Quattro Fiumi “Fountain of the Four Rivers. After free time for lunch we will our return flights home. We fondly say, Arrivederci Italia! visit the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under the main altar. It was here that Pope Francis was formally installed one year ago as Bishop of Rome. Contin- ue to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the most important and the oldest church FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: dedicated to Our Lady. St. Mary Major contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus. We will continue to the Church of San Luigi dei Francese to REV. MARCIA SUTTON admire some of the most gorgeous Caravaggio’s paintings. TEL: (520) 509-1583, EMAIL AT: [email protected] OR Day 5 | Monday, September 7: Rome - Assisi DR. MARK VIERRA Following breakfast, we will head north and cross through the Roman country- side with its villas and vineyards on our way to Assisi, the hometown of St TEL: (818) 762-7566, EMAIL AT: [email protected] Francis, the patron Saint of animals and the environment, and the founder of the Franciscan Order.