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CLASSIC SHRINES OF ITALY - 2008 Tours

10 days Priced from $1,749.00 Land only

Itinerary:
• Day 1 (Mon.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
• Day 2 Arrival in Rome, Italy. (Tue.) 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. (Wed.) Attend the weekly general audience of the Pope (subject to availability). This afternoon, visit the HOLY STAIRS, ST. JOHN LATERAN BASILICA, ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS, ST. MARY MAJOR BASILICA, and the CATACOMBS. (BB)
• Day 4 Rome. (Thu.) Guided sightseeing includes visits to the VATICAN MUSEUMS, SISTINE CHAPEL, and ST. PETER'S SQUARE and BASILICA. Then cross the River Tiber and visit the ROMAN FORUM and COLOSSEUM. (BB)
• Day 5 Rome–Montecassino–San Giovanni Rotondo. (Fri.) 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. (Sat.) 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. Afterward, 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. (Sun.) 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. (Mon.) This morning enjoy 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 ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS BASILICA and the PORTIUNCULA. Balance of the day is at leisure. (BB)
• Day 9 Assisi-Cascia-Rome. (Tue.) In Cascia explore the life of St. Rita, known as the “saint of the impossible.” Visit the BASILICA, the EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE, and the CHAPEL with her incorrupt body and crucifix from which she received the stigmata. Return to Rome and enjoy a farewell dinner this evening. (BB,D)
• Day 10 (Wed.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)

INCLUDED FEATURES:
• ROME Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, including headsets; visit the Holy Stairs, St. John Lateran Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major Basilica, the Catacombs, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, Colosseum, and Roman Forum, farewell dinner
• MONTECASSINO Visit the abbey S
• AN GIOVANNI ROTONDO Visit Padre Pio’s Friary, Old Church, and New Church
• MONTE SANT’ANGELO Visit the Shrine
• LANCIANO Visit the Eucharistic Miracle Church
• LORETO Visit the Holy House
• ASSISI Guided walking tour; visit the Basilica of St. Francis, the Basilica of St. Clare, St. Mary of the Angels Basilica and the Portiuncula
• CASCIA Visit the basilica, the Eucharistic Miracle and the chapel
  
  MEALS - 8 buffet breakfasts (BB); 5 three-course dinners (D), including welcome and farewell dinners
  
  QUALITY HOTELS ROME (Start) Mediterraneo (F) or Visconti Palace (F), SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO Gran Paradiso (F), ASSISI Subasio (F), ROME (End) Holiday Inn Rome West (F) or Jolly Midas (F) Airport transfers are included.