DAY 1 - JUNE 4TH USA DEPARTURE

Your Christian journey starts as you depart on transatlantic flight to Italy, Rome.

DAY 2 - JUNE 5TH ROME

Arrival to Rome and start of the Christian tour with the visit and Holy Mass at St. Mary Major’s basilica, transfer to hotel, rest of the day at leisure until dinner.

DAY 3 - JUNE 6TH VATICAN - AUDIENCE - SISTINE CHAPEL

Wednesday is for the general audience with Benedict XVI. You will be joined with thousands of Christians from all over the world in this unique privilege to celebrate the Word of God with Pope Benedict XVI. Lunch break and some short free time before you leave Vatican. Following is visit to Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's basilica, and with some free time for shopping before return to hotel. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 - JUNE 7TH CHRISTIAN TOUR OF ROME

Today group will continue pilgrimage with the visit of the basilica of St. John Lateran, Holy Steps, St. Paul Outside the Walls and Domitilla Catacombs. In the afternoon we visit sites like Trevi fountain, Dominican church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva and through the traffic and streets of old Rome walk to Piazza di Spagna, and most preserved master piece of Roman architecture – Pantheon where our day will end with the dinner in one of the restaurants by Pantheon.

DAY 5 - JUNE 8TH MONTECASSINO - MONTE SAN'T ANGELO

We leave Rome and stop two hours away from it at Monte Cassino. St. Benedict himself was involved in building of this spectacular Benedictine Abbey in 6th century. After visit to the Monastery we continue towards San Giovanni Rotondo, passing by it you will aririve to Monte Sant´ Angelo. Here brief visit the Grotto of Michael Archangel. Little shrine visited by many Popes, by padre Pio, true old Italian pilgrimage destination for the 6th century! Everyone loves the walk thru this small picturesque town Monte San’t Angelo. Tonight you will stay here for dinner and overnight - In the evening enjoy fascinating panoramic view on the Adriatic Sea.

DAY 6 - JUNE 9TH SAN GIVANNI ROTONDO - LANCIANO - LORETO

In the morning after breakfast group will leave for 30 minutes drive to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo. Visit will include museum inside the church that holds many precious relics and objects that used to belong to padre Pio, his room, thousands of letters…after a sightseeing of the place of Padre Pio you will continue along the Adriatic Sea towards Lanciano. Later in the afternoon is a brief visit to the church of St. Francis in Lanciano - greatest Eucharistic miracle in the world. Chance for a lunch in self served restaurant right by the church. Your day ends in Loreto. Overnight is in Loreto within the walls of medieval town.

DAY 7 JUNE 10TH LORETO - ASSISI

After the Holy Mass in the Basilica of the Holy Family you will tour this beautiful medieval town of Loreto it will include visit to the basilica with the remains of the house of the Holy Family, little town square “Piazza della Madona". Here we will spend one memorable afternoon. "The Angel of the lord declared unto Mary, and She conceived of the Holy Spirit". In the afternoon after the lunch in one of the restaurants overlooking the valley you will continue to Assisi. After arrival to Assisi and dinner at your hotel 2 min walk from basilica of St. Mary of Angels – Santa Maria Degli Angeli.

DAY 8 - JUNE 11TH ASSISI

This morning city tour of Assisi will start with visit of Santa Maria Degli Angeli with story of life of St. Francis and his first community. Prayer in Porziuncola will be just one of the highlights on today’s tour. Tour follows with Assisi and our walk through the old town; visit of Piazza del Comune (Assisi's main square with medieval government buildings and the roman temple of Minerva), house of birth of San Francesco and Basilica di Santa Chiara. Our tour includes comprehensive guidance inside the Basilica of St. Francis with detailed explanations on work of Giotto and Cimabue frescoes. Some free time for shopping and lunch in one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Umbria. Overnight here in Santa Maria Degli Angeli.

DAY 9 - JUNE 12TH NORCIA - CASCIA

Group will leave Assisi for one day excursion to the town of Norcia birthplace of Saint Benedict and his sister St. Scolastica. After Norcia you will visit Shrine of St. Rita in Cascia. Return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

DAY 10 - JUNE 13TH SIENA - FLORENCE

Today we leave Assisi for Florence via Siena town of St. Catherine. You will walk through well preserved city of Siena, birthplace of St. Catherine Virgin and Doctor of the Church, stroll through the streets from the church hosting the relics of St. Catherine to the Piazza del Campo! Hear all of the Pallio horse race that means the world to citizens of Siena! Same afternoon continue to Florence, dinner and overnight in Florence.

DAY 11 - JUNE 14TH FLORENCE - PADUA

After the breakfast follows the walking visit to Florence. Sightseeing will include church of The Holy Cross or "Santa Croce" and one of the most beautiful squares in the city "Piazza Signoria" with most important buildings such as Old Palace or "Palazzo Vecchio", museum Uffizi and a sight on the "Ponte Vecchio". Our tour of Florence will finish here at Piazza Duomo with view on Giotto's Bell Tower, on the St. John's Baptistery and 13th century cathedral. After the city tour group will have aboutfree time in the center of the old Florence, lunch and shopping time or simply enjoying depart for Padua. Early afternoon continue to Padua, dinner and overnight.

DAY 12 - JUNE 15TH VENICE

You leave Padua for whole day excursion to Venice. Group will have Holy Mass in the Cathedral of St. Marc and the sightseeing of it as well as St. Marc Square. Hundreds of souvenir shops, restaurants and the beauty of Venice is just ours for the whole day. In the early evening is your return to Padua, for dinner and overnight.

DAY 13 - JUNE 16TH DEPARTURE

Transfer for flight back home to the USA, from Venice International Airport

Rates:

MIAMI, HOUSTON, ATLANTA - $ 3685,00

MINNEAPOLIS - $ 3645.00

NEW YORK, WASHINGTON - $ 3585.00

Single room supplement $ 420,00

Includes:

• round trip USA - Rome & Venice - USA
• first class hotels and superior tourist class hotels
• accommodations in double rooms
• breakfast and dinner daily
• escort throughout the tour
• local guides in Rome, Montecassino, Loreto, Assisi, Florence, Siena, Venice,
• porterage in/out of one piece of luggage per person
• entrance fees to Vatican Museums, Catacombs, Assisi frescoes tour
• high class A/C tourist bus
• Venice boat taxi to St. Marc's Square
• entrance fees to Vatican Museums, Catacombs, "Santa Croce" in Florence
• daily holy mass celebrated by the priest in the group

Not included:

• airport tax of about 250,00 $ - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
• tips for driver and guides ( 7$ per day) beverages at meals
• travel insurance, available upon request
• all other items of personal nature

Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Poland, Germany, Russia, Portugal, Croatia...
Rome, Medjugorje, Czestochowa, Krakow, Loreto, Padua, Fatima, Lourdes, Oberammergau Knock, Nevers, Assisi, Cascia, Lanciano,
San Giovanni Rotondo, Sankt Petersburg, Vienna, Melk, Altoetting, Cologne, Aachen, Norcia, Montecassino, Santiago de Compostela
Avila, Salamanca, Burgos...