Pilgrimage trips Italy...

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GRAND CATHOLIC ITALY TRIPS - 2008

Itinerary:
• Day 1 (Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
• Day 2 Arrival in Rome, Italy. (Mon.) Transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Enjoy this evening's welcome dinner with your traveling companions. (D)
• Day 3 Rome. (Tue.) Guided sightseeing of the VATICAN MUSEUMS, SISTINE CHAPEL, and ST. PETER'S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the River Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and ROMAN FORUM. (BB)
• Day 4 Rome. (Wed.) Attend the weekly general audience of the Pope (subject to availability). This afternoon, visit HOLY STAIRS, ST. JOHN LATERAN BASILICA, ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS, ST. MARY MAJOR BASILICA, and the CATACOMBS. (BB)
• Day 5 Rome–Montecassino–San Giovanni Rotondo. (Thu.) Visit the ABBEY OF MONTECASSINO, the first of the Benedictine monasteries founded by St. Benedict around 529. Then journey to Italy's eastern coast and San Giovanni Rotondo, home to the beloved St. Padre Pio. (BB,D)
• Day 6 San Giovanni Rotondo. Excursion to Monte Sant' Angelo. (Fri.) Visit the FRIARY OF PADRE PIO, including his tomb, cell, confessional, and the OLD CHURCH where he received the stigmata. Also visit the NEW CHURCH. Afterwards visit the nearby SHRINE OF MONTE SANT'ANGELO, one of Christendom's most celebrated shrines and where St. Michael the Archangel appeared in 490, 492, and 1656. (BB,D)
• Day 7 San Giovanni Rotondo-Lanciano-Loreto–Assisi. (Sat.) Visit Lanciano and the CHURCH, which is home to an 8th-century Eucharistic Miracle. Afterward, visit the HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO, where according to tradition, angels transported the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Arrive at the hilltop village of Assisi, home of St. Francis and St. Clare. (BB,D)
• Day 8 Assisi-Siena-Florence. (Sun.) Celebrate mass this morning followed by a guided walking tour of Assisi. Visit the BASILICAS OF ST. FRANCIS and ST. CLARE. See the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis. Also visit the ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS BASILICA and the PORTIUNCULA. On the way to Florence, stop in Siena and visit the SANCTUARY OF ST. CATHERINE and the BASILICA OF ST. DOMINIC. (BB,D)
• Day 9 Florence. (Mon.) Guided sightseeing features visits to the OPERA DEL DUOMO MUSEUM, the CATHEDRAL, and Giotto's Bell Tower. Balance of the day is at leisure. (BB)
• Day 10 Florence-Venice–Padua. (Tue.) Journey to Venice, one of the world's most romantic cities. Enter by PRIVATE BOAT and meet your Local Guide. Visit ST. MARK'S SQUARE AND BASILICA, DOGES’ PALACE, and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Depart for Padua and visit the BASILICA OF ST. ANTHONY to see the tomb and reliquaries of this miracle-working saint and patron of "lost things." Enjoy this evening's farewell dinner. (BB,D)
• Day 11 Padua-Venice. (Wed.) Transfer to Venice airport for flights leaving no earlier than 10 a.m. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)

INCLUDED FEATURES
• ROME Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing including headsets; visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Holy Stairs, St. John Lateran Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major Basilica, and the Catacombs
• MONTECASSINO Visit the abbey
• SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO Visit Padre Pio’s Friary, the Old Church, and New Church
• MONTE SANT’ANGELO Visit the Shrine
• LANCIANO Visit the Eucharistic Miracle Church
• LORETO Visit the Holy House of Loreto
• ASSISI Guided sightseeing; visit the Basilicas of St. Francis, St. Clare, and St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, and the Portiuncula
• SIENA Visit the Sanctuary of St. Catherine and the Basilica of St. Dominic
• FLORENCE Guided sightseeing including headsets; visit Opera Del Duomo Museum and the cathedral
• VENICE Private boat ride; guided sightseeing including headsets; visit St. Mark's Square and Basilica, the Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs
• PADUA Visit St. Anthony's Basilica; farewell dinner
  
  MEALs - 9 buffet breakfasts (BB); 6 three-course dinners (D), including welcome and farewell dinners QUALITY HOTELS
  
  ROME Mediterraneo (F) or Visconti Palace (F), SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO Gran Paradiso (F), ASSISI Subasio (F), FLORENCE Holiday Inn (F), PADUA Sheraton (F) AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers are included
  
  3/25/2007 4/4/2007 $2,617.00 Please Call