PILGRIMAGE TO VENICE, FLORENCE, ASSISI & ROME

ITINERARY

Day 1. Wednesday, November 19: USA – Venice

Board your transatlantic flight to Venice.

Day 2. Thursday, November 20: Venice

Welcome to Italy! After boarding your private motor-coach at the Venice airport, head to your hotel for a welcome dinner with fellow pilgrims. Overnight in Venice. (BB, WD)

Day 3. Friday, November 21: Venice

Enjoy a full day in Venice! Visit the famous Piazza San Marco, described as the most elegant drawing room in Europe. Have a guided tour of the magnificent Basilica of St. Mark and pray before the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist. See the treasury and admire the Pala d’Oro, a splendid altar-piece made up of gold panels encrusted with jewels and relics. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this amazing city on water. Dinner and overnight in Venice. (BB, D)

Day 4. Saturday, November 22: Venice – Florence

Travel to Florence, a vast and fantastic monument to the Renaissance. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of Florence’s downtown. Visit the red-domed and richly decorated Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore, the fourth largest church in Europe and one of the oldest buildings in Florence. Also admire the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate to Paradise”. Dinner and overnight in Florence. (BB, D)

Day 5. Sunday, November 23: Florence

Begin a full day of sightseeing in Florence with a visit to the Convent and Museum of San Marco, and visit its church to render homage to St. Antonino, archbishop, and patron saint of Florence. Continue to the Church of Santissima Annunziata to pray before the miraculous painting of Our Lady and the relics of St. Julianna Falconieri. Browse the shops along the famous Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence. Choose from many options to have lunch on your own. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Florence (BB, D)

Day 6. Monday, November 24: Florence – Assisi

Journey to the medieval city of Assisi. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica housing the Porziuncola Chapel, where St. Francis spent most of his life; the rose bush; and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Continue to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Blessed Carlo Acutis’ remains are. In the afternoon, visit the Church of St. Clare to venerate the saint’s relics. Finally visit the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis, housing his relics. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. (BB, D)

Day 7.  Tuesday, November 25: Rome

This morning, travel to Rome. Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic driving view of the Eternal City. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church and the center of Christianity. The church is built on the site where St. Peter died a martyr and where he was buried in 64 AD. Walk through the massive, jubilee doors to gain the Jubilee Year indulgence, touch the beloved statue of St. Peter, and admire Michelangelo’s Pieta. Pray before the incorrupt body of St. Pius X and render homage to the many buried popes. Visit also the Treasury, which contains church ornaments, statues, papal miters, and various objects, usually gifts of kings or princes. Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)

Day 8. Wednesday, November 26: Rome

This morning, at the Vatican Museums, see the famous collection of art and sculptures from centuries of Church history, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Rome (BB, D)

Day 9. Thursday, November 27: Rome

Today, enjoy a walking tour of downtown Rome beginning with the Spanish Steps, in the heart of the Piazza di Spagna. Head to the Church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, where St. Maximilian Kolbe celebrated his first Mass and Alphonse Ratisbonne’s conversion took place and then to SS. Apostoli. Then visit Il Gesu, the Jesuit Mother Church and the headquarters chosen by St. Ignatius shortly after he founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. Finally, in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, one of the few Gothic structures in Italy, which houses the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Italy, pray before her relics; a devotional chapel made from the room where she died can be visited by entering the sacristy. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (BB, D)

Day 10. Friday, November 28: Rome

This morning, begin your visits to four of the major basilicas by heading to the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, erected directly over St. Lawrence’s tomb and also housing the relics of the first martyr, St. Stephen. Next, Visit Santa Croce in Gerusalemme Basilica, which contains fragments of the Cross, a nail, two thorns from Christ’s crown, a piece of the sponge that was offered to Him, a fragment of the scroll that hung on the Cross, and one of the 30 coins of Judas. Earth from Calvary lies beneath the floor. Then, admire the mother of all churches, St. John Lateran, the Pope’s Basilica, from which he makes solemn declarations ex cathedra. Nearby, visit the Scala Santa, the sacred stairs upon which Our Lord walked after His scourging. In some places, stains of the Precious Blood could still be seen.  Continue to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, housing two of Christianity’s greatest treasures: the manger from Bethlehem in which the Baby Jesus was laid following His birth, and a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Salvation of the Roman people. The basilica was built on the site where a miraculous snowfall occurred in August of 356. Finally, visit the Coliseum, Rome’s historical symbol and greatest amphitheater which staged deadly combats for many years. Tonight, dinner is on your own. (BB)

Day 11. Saturday, November 29: Rome

This morning, visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, the oldest and most important cemetery along the Via Appia. The area includes the tombs of many martyrs and popes, including Sixtus II, a venerated pontiff who was killed with his deacons, one of them St. Lawrence, patron saint of Rome. Continue to the Basilica of St. Sebastian Outside the Walls. The altar to St. Sebastian contains his relics and is placed directly above the area where the saint had been buried in the catacombs. Afterwards, pray before the relics of St. Paul the Apostle inside the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, with its outstanding marble canopy over the high altar. Finally, visit Tre Fontane Abbey, where St. Paul was beheaded. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (BB, D)

Day 12. Sunday, November 30: Rome

Attend the Sunday Papal blessing at St. Peter’s Square and then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (BB, D)

Day 13. Monday, December 1: Excursion to Genazzano

Take an excursion to the small town of Genazzano to venerate the miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Counsel. This miraculous image traveled from Albania, crossed the Adriatic Sea, and descended onto one of the church’s unfinished walls. The portrait is suspended in the air and has been so for over 500 years. It is one of the most miraculous and venerated images of Our Lady in Italy. Upon return to Rome, enjoy some free time. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner with your travel companions to celebrate the end of a beautiful pilgrimage. (BB, FD)

Day 14. Tuesday, December 2: Homebound Flight

Transfer to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight home. (BB)

Buffet Breakfast (BB); Dinner (D); Welcome Dinner (WD); Farewell Dinner (FD)

* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.