CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGES ITALY
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10 DAYS ITALY TOUR - Catholic Saints Tour
13 DAYS ITALY TOUR - Catholic Shrines of Italy
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ITALY CATHOLIC SAINTS TOUR
Venice - St. Marc, Padua - St. Anthony, Assisi - St Francis and St. Claire, Cascia - St. Rita, Norcia - St. Benedict and St. Scolastica, Siena - St. Catherine, Rome and Vatican
Day 1 - Italy Catholic Saints Tour starts with overnight intercontinental flight to Europe, to Venice. Dinner and breakfast meals are served on board of the plane.
Day 2 - Upon arrival to Venice airport we are transferred to our hotel in Padua. Time permit we will make a short visit the Basilica of the St. Anthony and afterwards to the hotel for diner and overnight.
Day 3 - We will start our day with bus drive to Venice, the city of romance , history and beauty. Our walking tour today will begin in the Piazza San Marco world-famous marble square lined with shops, charming cafes and galleries. Our main attractions here are the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace, the magnificent Basilica di San Marco that with the mixtures of Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic styles reflects the history of Venice. We will celebrate the Holy mass in basilica and after guided tour some free time before leaving back to Padua, boat ride to the mainland. Dinner and overnight is in our hotel.
Day 4 - Today is our walking city tour of Padua. We will start our sightseeing tour of this second oldest university in Italy at "Pratto Della Valle" one of the biggest squares in Italy. We will pass by the basilica of Santa Giustina and to the Basilica of St. Anthony. Narrow streets of old Padua will get us to the University founded in 1222, where first women ever got the university diploma. We'll walk through "Fruit" and "Vegetable" squares in between which stands "Palazzo Della Regione" or The Law Courts. University palace from the 16th century also known as Palazzo del Bo, actually got a name after an inn that stood in place, and famous cafe Pedrocchi are sites before our free time and return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 - This morning we leave Padua.We will be driving to Siena for a short visit and city tour. We will walk through the well-preserved old city of Siena, birthplace of St. Catherine Virgin and Doctor of the Church, we will stroll through the streets starting from impressive Italian Gothic basilica of St. Dominic hosting the relics of saint and continue down to Piazza del Campo, most popular because of the "Palio" horse race that takes place on square during the festival in July! We'll leave Siena and continue our journey. We expect to be in Assisi very late afternoon. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6 - Full day visit to Assisi and Santa Maria Degli Angeli. We will start by San Francesco basilica walking through the old town; visit of Piazza del Comune (Assisi's main square with medieval government buildings and the roman temple of Minerva), birth house of St. Francis, basilica of St. Claire, and Cathedral San Rufino. Second part of the tour will involve vast church of S. Maria degli Angeli with story of the life of St. Francis and his first community. Prayer in Porziunkola will be just one of the highlights on today's tour. Our tour includes the chance to have comprehensive guidance inside the Basilica of St. Francis with detailed explanations on frescoes of Giotto and Cimabue given to us by our guide.
Day 7 - Full day excursion to Norcia, St. Benedict and to Cascia to St. Rita monastery and city of Spoleto. We start our travel to Cascia first. Our visit to basilica and monastery of St. Rita and St. Francis after what we continue to Norcia. Here we will have break for a lunch, one must try excellent local specialties like smoked ham, salami and sausages all locally made. After lunch visit of Norcia includes the St. Benedict basilica, St. Augustin, the main square with the city hall, the cathedral Santa Maria Argentea and the papal castle Castellina. In this picturesque little town we'll have some free time to talk with the jung american Benedictines, who have come back to run the monastery and the basilica few years ago, after a long time of abandon. On the way back to Assisi stopover and a short walk through Spoleto to visit the Cathedral and the old town. although a long day we've got to know Umbria a much better, and got closer to life of roman catholic saints, St. Rita, St. Benedict, St. Scolastica...dinner and overnight in our hotel.
Day 8 - This morning we will leave Assisi and before head for Rome stop in Peruggia. You will enjoy the walking through the Corso Vannucci, the main street on the track of the ancient roman "cardus maximus" (street south-north), where the most important monuments of the ancient Perugia are: Palazzo dei Priori (13th Century's city hall), Fontana Maggiore ( one of the most beautiful italian gothic fountains, 13th Century), the Cathedral San Lorenzo, the Rocca Paolina (underground town), the old university and the magnificent panorama views from the southern and the northern hills. After Peruggia we continue to Rome where it is expected to arrive in afternoon for our visit to two Roman basilicas, St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. Truly Umbria and another day are behind us, dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 9 - Early morning is reserved
for our visit to Vatican museums, St. Peter basilica and square. After lunch
break we will continue with panoramic city tour passing by the most popular
landmarks of Rome: Piazza Venezia, Coliseum, Roman Forums, , basilica of St.
John Lateran and St. Mary Major, Circo Massimo to the basilica of St. Paul
Outside the Walls and Domitilla Catacombs.
Early evening is at leisure and dinner in one of the italian restaurants close
the famous Trevi Fountain.
Day 10 - Transfer to Rome international airport for our flight back home to US.
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INCLUDES:
+ round trip air fares USA - Venice, Rome - USA
+ accommodation in double/twin rooms
+ superior tourist 3* and first class 4* hotels
+ escort on the tour
+ local English speaking guides in Rome, Assisi, Venice, Padua, Siena, Peruggia
+ American or buffet breakfast and dinner daily
+ high class air-conditioned tourist bus
+ entrance fees to Vatican museums and Domitilla catacombs
+ porterage of one piece of luggage in/out hotels
+ daily Holy Mass arrangements
+ boat taxi to Venice
+ tickets for audience by Benedict XVI at St Peter's Square - always free of charge
NOT INCLUDED:
+ airport tax
SEND YOUR E-MAIL TO BLUE HEART TRAVEL WITH REQUEST FOR THIS TOUR
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CATHOLIC SHRINES OF ITALY
Rome, Montecassino, San Giovanni Rotondo, Lanciano, Monte San't Angelo, Loreto, Assisi, Florence, Venice, Padua, Milan
ITINERARY COMING SOON
SEND YOUR E-MAIL TO BLUE HEART TRAVEL WITH REQUEST FOR THIS TOUR