Beautiful Catholicism Your Italian pilgrimage unpacked Index Scripture to consider………………...……………………………………… Page 3 Hotel Information…………………………………………...………………. Page 4 Day 2 (Arrive in Italy and bus from Rome to Florence)……………………... Page 5 Day 3 (Florence)……………………………………………………………… Page 6 Academia & Uffizzi………………………………………………………. Page 7 San Marco Convent Museum…………………………………………….. Page 8 Florence Cathedral………………………………………………..………. Page 9 San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain) …………………….. Page 10 Day 4 (Siena)………………………………………………………..………... Page 11 Saint Catherine Biography……………………………………………….. Page 12 Basilica Cateriniana di san Domenico………………………..…………. Page 13 Day 5 & 6 (Assisi)……………………………………………………………. Page 14 Santa Maria Degli Angeli, Assisi………………………………………... Page 15—16 St. Francis’s hermitage…………………………………………………... Page 17 Basilica of St. Francis………………………………………………..…... Page 18 Umbrian hill town of Assisi and Santa Chiara church………………….. Page 19 Day 7 (Orvieto & Rome)……………………………………….…………….. Page 20 Cathedral of Orvieto & Eucharistic Miracle……………………………... Page 21 St. Peters Basilica (Rome)……………………………………………….. Page 22 Borgo Pio Neighborhood; Day 7 dinner…………………………………. Page 23 Day 8 (Papal Audience, Major Basilica’s, Sacred Relics)…………………… Page 24 Papal Audience (St. Peters Square)……………………………………... Page 25 St. John Latern The worlds cathedral…………………………………… Page 26 Santa Maria Maggiore (Mary Major)…………………………………… Page 27 Holy Stairs, Pillar of Scourging, Relic of the true cross: Basilica's of Scala Santa, St. Praxedes & Santa Croce …………………. Page 28 Day 9 (Mass at tomb of St. Peter & Vatican Museum)……………………… Page 29 Mass at Catacombs of St. Peter & Sistine Chapel tour………………….. Page 30 Vatican Museum………………………………………………………… Page 31-32 Day 10 (St. Paul Outside Walls, Basilica’s, Peter in Chains, Pantheon)…………... Page 33 Basilica of Saint Paul outside the walls…………………………………. Page 34 Santa Maria Sopra Minerva and San Pietro in Vincoli (Peter in Chains)….. Page 35-36 The Panthon……………………………………………………………... Page 37 Day 11 ……………………………………………………………………….. Page 38 Catacombs of Santa Priscilla & The Colosseum………………………… Page 39-40 2 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-19 3 Hotels Hotel Corona d’Italia : Florence Hotel Corona d’Italia is located in the historical city center of Florence and awaits you in an elegant early 19th-century palazzo. The rooms, spacious and bright, are equipped with all modern comforts and decorated with precious materials, such as Florentine terracotta and Tuscan marble. Located in the district of San Lorenzo, the heart of the historical district, and less than 200 meters from the Santa Maria Novella train station, you will enjoy the convenience of being near the monuments and museums of Florence and close to the Fortezza da Basso convention center. The 80 rooms of the Hotel, all with private bathrooms, are decorated in an elegant and modern-style, with marble and terracotta floors typical of the Tuscan region. Spacious, bright, and soundproofed, these rooms are equipped with air conditioning, satellite television, direct phone line, hairdryer, safety deposit box, minibar, and Wi-Fi internet. Room service provided by our professional and courteous staff. Hotel San Pietro: Assisi The hotel has 35 rooms and 2 suites. Every room is furnished with great taste and is exclusive for comfort and hospitality. Completely sound-proofed and air conditioned, they are all equipped with a private bathroom, direct-dial telephone, mini bar and satellite television to offer you a delightful stay. Domus Carmelitana: Rome The religious guest house Domus Carmelitana is centrally located, a short walk from Castel Sant’Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica. The sober yet elegant, warm and pleasant environment makes the house an ideal place for individual guests to stay, as well as for organized groups. The courteous and professional staff takes their role in promoting the serenity and comfort of our guests seriously. The house has 54 rooms, each equipped with all amenities, an evocative restaurant, a splendid conference hall, a magnificent rooftop terrace overlooking Rome, a large parking lot for private cars and coaches, an internet facility, WIFI connection, air conditioning, as well as a meeting room dedicated to inter- religious dialogue. The bar and reception are open 24 hours a day. 4 Arrive in Florence Afternoon free Welcome Dinner 5 Florence 6 Florence Museums The academia & The uffizzi Michelangelo's David Circa 1501 Former hospital in the 14th century, then an Academy of Fine Arts, it houses ”David”, the absolute masterpiece by Michelangelo, a must for all visitors of Florence. Sculpted between 1501-1504 to be an outside decoration of the Cathedral of Florence, it became instead a symbol of the commitment of the Florentine State to freedom and independence, as well as a symbol of the Medici's defeat in 1494. It still personifies energy, vigor and courage, symbolizing the whole of mankind fighting for survival. His anatomy, later reproduced by Michelangelo’s contemporaries, was carefully depicted, thanks to the in-depth studies carried out by the great artist. In addition to David, four statues of the Slaves commissioned by Pope Julius II as a decoration of his grave, the “Mourning over Jesus Christ” and “St. Matthew”. The museum houses an interesting collection of paintings from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early 17th century.1 “Madonna enthroned” by Giotto Circa 1310 The Uffizi, (1560-1580) was originally meant to be an Ufficio (office) for magistrates as well as judges, technicians and merchants of Florence, the top floor was turned into a private gallery for the pleasure of the ruling family of Florence, the Medici, and their guests. In addition to paintings, statues, jewelry, scientific instruments, even weapons, were displayed there, which made it one of the most interesting and precious collections in the whole world. Since 1865 it became a museum, nowadays with 50 rooms housing paintings ranging from the 13th century to the 18th century. The highlights are the famous “Madonna enthroned” by Giotto, the “Battle of San Romano” by Paolo Uccello, the double portrait by Piero della Francesca, “Federico da Montefeltro”, the “Birth of Venus” by Botticelli , in addition to three works by Leonardo, one by Michelangelo, a few by Raffaello and many by Tiziano. All paintings have been displayed chronologically, so it is possible to fully appreciate all the innovations in art throughout the centuries.2 7 San Marco Convent museum The present convent stands on a site occupied since the 12th century by a Vallombrosan monastery which later passed to the Silvestrines; they were driven out of San Marco in 1418, and in 1438 the convent was given to the Dominican Observants. In 1437 Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici decided to rebuild the entire complex, at the suggestion of Antonino Pierozzi the Vicar- General. The work was entrusted to Michelozzo, and the decoration of the walls was carried out between 1439 and 1444 by Giovanni of Fiesole, known as Fra Angelico, and his assistants, who included Benozzo Gozzoli. The church was consecrated in 1443 in the presence of Pope Eugenius IV. The 14th-century structure was modified by Michelozzo; further alterations were made in the later 16th century by Giambologna, and in 1678 by Pier Francesco Silvani. Inside, the aisle-less nave has a carved and gilded ceiling. The side altars, designed by Giambologna in 1580, have 16th- and 17th-century altarpieces: the most interesting are the Madonna and Saints by Fra Bartolomeo (1509), and St. Thomas in prayer before the Crucifix, signed by Santi di Tito and dated 1593. In the Sacristy is the original tomb of St Antoninus, archbishop of Florence from 1446, with the figure of the Saint in bronze. His bones lay here for over a century, before they were translated to the church and placed beneath the altar in the Salviati Chapel dedicated to him, which was commissioned from Giambologna, and frescoed by Passignano with the Translation and recognition of the Saint’s remains (after 1589). The chapel is decorated in marble and bronze, and has paintings by Alessandro Allori, Giovanni Battista Naldini, and Poppi. The frescoes in the dome are by Bernardino Poccetti. He also frescoed the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, where there are canvases by Santi di Tito, Passignano, Jacopo da Empoli and Francesco Curradi. On the high altar is a Crucifix painted by Fra Angelico between 1425 and 1428. In San Marco are the tombs of Pico della Mirandola (1494) and the poet Agnolo Poliziano (1494). Many of the great figures of 15th-century culture and spirituality lived and worked in the convent: Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici, who had his own cell here, where he loved to pray and meditate; Archbishop St Antoninus; the Blessed Fra Angelico, who painted the frecoes; and, from 1489, Fra Girolamo Savonarola, who in his sermons fulminated against the immorality of the age, and who was hanged and burnt in Piazza della Signoria (1498). Fra Angelico decorated the cells on the first floor, and other spaces in the convent, with frescoes charged with profound spiritual and ascetical meaning; he began with the lunettes above the doorways in the Cloister of St. Antoninus, which Michelozzo had built before 1440. The lunettes in the vaulting of the cloister were frescoed in the late 16th and early 17th century by Bernardino Poccetti and other artists with scenes of the Life and miracles of St Antoninus.