Italy

Milan, Padua, Venice, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Rome , the Vatican & more.

Day 1 –USA / ITALY
Today we depart the United States on our flight to Italy, arriving in Milan the following day. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

Day 2 – MILAN / PADUA
Today we arrive in Milan and are met by our tour guide who will remain with us until the end of our tour. We depart the airport and arrive for a visit to Milan’s beautiful Cathedral, or “Duomo”, where Saint Ambrose baptized Saint Augustine. Following Mass at the Duomo, we depart for Padua, the home of Saint Anthony, where he centered his preaching mission. We arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight in Padua.

Day 3 – PADUA / VENICE
Today we enjoy a visit to Venice, where upon our arrival we begin a walking tour of Venice. Following free time for lunch in shopping in St. Mark’s Square, we visit and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Saint Mark. Finally, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Venice before returning to Padua for overnight.

Day 4 – PADUA / FLORENCE / MONTECATINI TERME
This morning we visit and celebrate Mass at Saint Anthony’s Basilica, where we will see the tomb of Saint Anthony. Next we depart Padua for the Tuscany region of Italy and the center of the Renaissance. Upon our arrival, we enjoy a guided tour of Florence’s main sights, including the Cathedral with its magnificent Dome by Brunelleschi, Giotto’s elegant belfry and the Baptistery with Ghiberti’s Gate to Paradise. We also visit the Basilica di Santa Croce, where we will see the tombs of several famous people, including Michelangelo, Galileo & Machiavelli. Dinner and overnight outside Florence in Montecatini Terme.

Day 5 – MONTECATINI TERME / SIENA / ASSISI
Our day begins with our drive to Assisi, including a visit to Siena, the quiet hometown of St. Catherine, second only to Florence in its contribution to the Renaissance. Here we will visit and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of San Domenico, followed by a visit the Church of the Crucifix to see the Cross from which Saint Catherine received the stigmata. Late afternoon we continue on to Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis. We arrive at our hotel in Assisi for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – ASSISI
Today we enjoy a full day in the medieval town of Assisi. First we will visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built to enclose the tiny Church of the Porziuncola, Saint Francis’ place of prayer and where he consecrated Clare as the Bride of Christ. Next we will visit the Lower Basilica of St. Francis, where we celebrate Mass, followed by a visit to the Basilica of Saint Clare, Francis’ friend and foundress of the Poor Clare nuns, and see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis in San Damiano. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Day 7 – ASSISI / ROME
This morning we depart Assisi and arrive in the Eternal City for a visit to the first of the four major basilicas of Rome, the wonderful Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls, where the Apostle is buried.  Overnight in Rome.

Day 8 – ROME
Following breakfast  we visit another of Rome’s major basilicas, Saint Mary Major, the most important church in the world devoted to Our Lady. Here we celebrate Mass where Mass has been celebrated every day since the 5th century. While at St. Mary’s we enjoy some free time for prayer and further exploration of this wonderful basilica. In the afternoon we visit the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under the main altar. Here we will see its impressive statues of each of the Apostles. Next we cross the street to visit the church of the Scala Santa. Here we see the Holy Staircase of 28 marble steps (now covered in wood) which is believed to be a staircase from Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem and brought to Rome by Saint Helen in the 4th century. Finally, we visit Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Church of the Holy Cross), which house pieces of the True Cross. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 9 – ROME
This morning we arrive at the Vatican for a celebration of Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Altar of Saint John Paul II. Following Mass, we enjoy a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, where we see a young Michelangelo’s wonderful Pieta followed by a visit to the Tombs of the Popes in the Vatican Grottos. Following free time for lunch near St. Peter’s Square, we will visit one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. Our tour culminates with Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel, which was recently restored to its original splendor. Late afternoon we depart for Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps for free time for shopping. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 10 – ROME – Papal Audience
This morning we go to the Vatican for an Audience with the Holy Father. Following our time with Pope Francis, we have free time for lunch and shopping in Piazza Navona followed by a visit to the world-famous Pantheon. This evening we enjoy our “Farewell Dinner”. Overnight in Rome.

Day 11 – ROME / USA
After breakfast we depart for Leonardo da Vinci Airport to board our flight home.