Shrines of Italy

11 day Pilgrimage to Assisi - Loreto - Lunciano -
San Giovanni Rotondo Pompeii - Rome

from $2,195 (from New York) Journey to the sacred sites of our faith, as you visit the Sistine Chapel, the basilicas of Christian Rome, and the catacombs. In the heart of Christendom, you will attend a Papal Audience, and tour the Mother Church, St. Peter’s Basilica. Travel to Assisi where you can celebrate Mass at the Tomb of St. Francis, and see the shrines and vast collections of art dedicated to the saint. In the renaissance city of Florence; visit the Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s superb David, and attend Mass the the 13th century Franciscan church of Santa Croce. The religious art, music, and architecture of Italy help create a pilgrimage experience that you will never forget.

ITINERARY

Day 1> Depart USA

Day 2> Arrive Rome - Assisi
Upon arrival at Rome’s Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, you will soon be on your way to Assisi, one of the high points of any travel experience.  Overnight in Assisi.

Day 3> Assisi/Sites of St. Francis and St. Clare - Erremo delle Carceri - St. Damiano
Early morning, walk to the Basilica of St. Francis to attend the 7:15am., the Friars service of prayer and Lauds at the Tomb of the Saint Francis, followed by Mass. Explore the Basilica, where you can see the world-famous Giotto frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Francis. Visit the Basilica of St. Clare; the Chiesa Nuova; and the home and cloth workshops of Pietro Bernadone and Lady Pica (parents of Francis). See the church where Francis was born and spent his youth. Take a taxi to Eremo delle Carceri, a place of retreat for Francis and his companions.  Proceed to St. Damiano, crossing a rural road among vines and olive trees. Overnight in Assisi.

Day 4> Santa Maria degli Angeli - Loreto
Leave Assisi on your excursion to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which enclosed the shrine of the "Porziuncula" or the Little Portion Chapel. Continue to the Adriatic coast to the great Marian Shrine of Loreto to visit the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine.
Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Day 5> Lanciano - San Giovanni Rotondo
Drive south along the Adriatic coast to Lanciano to visit the Eucharistic Miracle at the Church of St. Francis. Celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Francis in Lanciano. Continue to San Giovanni Rotondo for overnight.

Day 6> San Giovanni Rotondo - Monte Sant’ Angelo
Celebrate Mass at the Tomb of Padre Pio. Tour the sanctuary led by one of the friars who knew Padre Pio personally. You will see the old church and the crucifix from which he received the Stigmata in 1918. You will see the confessional where Padre Pio spent innumerable hours with a multitude of pilgrims, directing them on their journey toward God.
Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Cargano Peninsula and a visit to the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. Return to San Giovanni for devotion and reflection.
Overnight at San Giovanni Rotondo.

Day 7> San Giovanni Rotondo - Pompeii - Sorrento
Rosary and Holy Mass at the tomb of Padre Pio. Leave San Giovanni Rotondo to visit Pompeii. Explore the city destroyed by the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. Overnight in Sorrento.

Day 8> Isle of Capri - Montecasino - Rome
Drive to the harbor to take the fast hydrofoil for the romantic Island of Capri, where you will visit the magical “Blue Grotto.” Leave Capri, and on your way to Rome, stop at the 5th century Abbey of Montecasino, the cradle of the Benedictine Order. Celebrate Mass at Montecasino.
Continue to the "Eternal City." History evolving over 2,500 years will be made visible for you by the Roman ruins, 15th-century churches, 17th-century palaces, 20th-century monuments.
Overnight in Rome.

Day 9> Tuesday: AM/Tour of the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel/St. Peter’s Basilica -PM/Tour of Ancient Rome Early morning, celebrate Mass at the Tomb of St. Peter.
Begin your morning with a visit to the Vatican Museums.  Continue on to the Sistine Chapel.  End your morning tour in St. Peter's Basilica, where you will see Michelangelo's magnificent Pieta, and take in the awesome architecture and the statuary adorning this largest of all Christian churches. Continue with a visit to the Church of St. Peter in Chains to see the original chains in which St. Peter was brought captive to Rome, and the statue of Moses, one of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces. Visit the ancient Roman Forum. See the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Constantine and proceed to the Coliseum for a fascinating explanation of its history. Continue to the Trevi Fountain to toss in a coin to ensure your "Arrivederci Roma."
Dinner and overnight at hotel in Rome.

Day 10> Wednesday: AM/Papal Audience - PM/Tour of Christian Rome - Evening/Farewell dinner with wine and music
You will be transported into the heart of Christendom for an audience with our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. Your Pilgrimage will be acknowledged during the English language portion. Visit St. Mary Major, one of the four major basilicas built by Pope Sixtus III in the fifth century. See the elegant Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the second largest church in Rome. Your next stop is the Catacombs. Celebrate Mass at the Catacombs.
Your farewell dinner to Rome will be at "Azienda Agricola Il Castellaccio," a charming hilltop farmhouse that offers a warm welcome in the incomparably beautiful scenery of the Agro Roman Country. Experience an atmosphere of hospitality and friendship, and taste the Mediterranean cuisine in a typical Roman atmosphere with wine and music. 
Overnight in Rome.

Day 11> Return to the USA