Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Late afternoon departure from New York JFK on an overnight nonstop flight to Rome on American Airlines. Dinner served on board.
Day 2
Morning arrival in Rome's Fiumicino Airport. Meet our guide and board the coach for a wonderful week in Italy. Our first stop this morning will be at the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Built in the 4th Century over the site of St. Paul's burial, marvel at the amazing lineup of Papal medallions (266) starting with the first Pope, St. Peter, and continuing to Pope Francis, showing the continuity of the Succession of Popes. Also view the incredible architecture and see the chains that bound St. Paul as a prisoner of Rome. Then continue to the historical center of Rome and enjoy a panoramic tour taking in many of the sites from the coach including the Circus Maximus, the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine. Midafternoon check-in at the beautiful Casa Brigida on the famous Piazza Farnese within easy walking distance to the Piazza Navona, the bustling Trastevere and the Vatican. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 3
Full day to enjoy Rome. This morning there will be an opportunity to attend the weekly Papal Audience on St. Peters Square (pending the Holy Father's schedule). This afternoon travel outside the walls of Rome on an excursion along the ancient Appian Way to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, considered the most important catacombs of Rome. Dating back to the early church of the 2nd and 3rd centuries when Christianity was outlawed and Christians persecuted, the catacombs, with miles of underground tunnels and caverns, provided secret meeting places and burial crypts for the early Christians. Time permitting, stop at the Church of Quo Vadis where St. Peter encountered the Risen Christ and asked, "Lord where are you going?” Late afternoon return to St. Peter's Square to queue up on the pilgrim line headed for the Holy Door of St. Peter's. Opened for the Jubilee (once every 25 years) pilgrims can obtain special graces. Free time in St. Peters to marvel and pray. Dinner and overnight on the Piazza Farnese.
Day 4
This morning enjoy a tour of Christian Rome. First stop on Esquiline Hill for a visit to St. Mary Major Basilica which has some of the most exquisite artwork in the world. See the golden ceiling, which is an architectural marvel, and the treasure of the relics from Bethlehem. It was here that the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Next stop - St. John Lateran, the oldest of the major basilicas and the designated Cathedral of Rome, the official seat to the Pope. Approaching the basilica by foot, pass by the notable monument to St. Francis of Assisi representing the arrival of Francis and his followers in Rome in 1209 to meet with Pope Innocent III to seek approval for their new order. After initially refusing permission, the Pope had a dream showing Francis holding up a falling church. Realizing that Francis would be instrumental in saving the church, he gave his approval. Crossing the street from the Lateran is Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) which were brought from Jerusalem by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. Here you can climb the Holy Stairs that are known to be ones that Jesus walked on the way to face Pontius Pilate. Later this afternoon visit the Church of San Benedetto in Piscinula in Trastevere which contains the room where the young Benedict lived during his studies in Rome. Dinner and overnight on the Piazza Farnese.
Day 5
Travel outside of Rome into the hills to visit the Monastery of St. Benedict in Subiaco, also known as the Sanctuary of Sacro Speco (Holy Cave). It was here that St. Benedict sought and lived a life of solitude like the Desert Fathers of the past. His life and work attracted many others to follow which eventually led to the establishment of a new rule of monastic life. Enjoy the drive up into the mountains and climb to the heights to the cave where he lived and be inspired by the surroundings and peace of the monastery. Midafternoon return to Rome. Dinner and overnight on the Piazza Farnese.
Day 6
Farewell to Rome. Travel southeast into the Valle Latina, a mountainous region, to visit the ancient Abbey of Monte Cassino, founded by St. Benedict in the year 529. It was here that St. Benedict founded the first Benedict House and where he established the Rule of St. Benedict and the "Vow of Stability" unique to the order. Visit the cloisters and the church where the relics of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica can be venerated. Marvel at the views of the valley below. Then continue the drive across Italy to San Giovanni Rotondo for check in. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7
Full morning to visit the Friary of St. Padre Pio. Here visit his rooms in the original monastery and then walk to the new church containing his tomb. Meet with one of the monks to get a blessing with a glove of St. Padre Pio. Take some time to enjoy the monastery surroundings including the Stations of the Cross and the hospital that St. Padre Pio had built to care for the local people on the Gargano. Afternoon excursion to Monte Sant’Angelo on the Gargano overlooking the Adriatic. Here visit the cave where St. Michael appeared in around 490 AD. A revered site dedicated to the Archangel St. Micheal, this holy place has been visited through the centuries by emperors, kings and pilgrims. Return to San Giovanni for dinner and overnight.
Day 8
Depart San Giovanni Rotondo and travel northwest along the Adriatic Coast to Lanciano. Here visit the site of a Eucharistic Miracle which took place in the year 750 in the Basilian Monastery of St. Longinus. Wavering in his belief in the Eucharist, a priest consecrating the host witnessed the host transformed into actual flesh and blood. Here you can see the monstrance holding this same host. Later this afternoon arrive in the Umbrian hill town of Cascia, known as the city of St. Rita. Dinner and overnight in Cascia.
This morning visit the Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia (venerate her relics) and the Augustinian Monastery (rooms of St. Rita) to learn about her amazing life (1381-1457). St. Rita was married and had 2 sons. She lived in a period of great strife and is known as "Peace Maker of Norcia" as she intervened on behalf of rival clans and showed great forgiveness upon the murder of her husband and sons. She later became an Augustinian Nun who physically suffered the passion of Christ when a thorn from a crucifix penetrated her forehead.
Afternoon excursion to nearby ancient Norcia, the birthplace of Sts. Benedict & Scholastica (480AD). Visit the Abbazia di San Benedetto in Monte and meet the Monks of Norcia. Founded in 1999 to continue the work and mission of the Benedictine Order, the monks were invited to Norcia to oversee the Basilica of St. Benedict built over the rooms where St. Benedict was born. In 2016 devasting earthquakes struck Norcia and the surrounding region destroying the basilica. Providence later provided a means for the monks to move to the Monte perched high in the Sibylline mountains overlooking Norcia where they live a contemplative life of prayer. Meet with the Guest Master to learn more about their life and pray with the Community in the recently restored church. Marvel at the beautiful chant sung by the monks as they pray the Divine Office. Later, visit the center of Norcia which is still in the process of rebuilding. Here you can see the ruins of the original Basilica of St. Benedict and enjoy free time to experience some of the most amazing Umbrian culinary delights. You may want to try a Birra Nursia brewed by the monks as part of their work. Afternoon return to the vicinity of Cascia to visit Roccaporena, the birthplace of St. Rita. See the house where she was born. Take some time to explore the village shops and walk the mountain trails. Back in Cascia, enjoy some free time to visit a chapel which contains relics from a 12th century Eucharistic Miracle. Dinner and overnight in Cascia.
Farewell to Cascia. Travel to Rome with a stop in Assisi. First visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels which stands prominently in the valley below Assisi. Within the basilica is the Portiuncula Chapel (first Franciscan dwelling) and the Chapel of Transit (where St. Francis died). Then continue to upper Assisi to visit the Basilica of St. Francis (his tomb in the crypt chapel and famous Giotto Frescos depicting his life) and the Basilica of St. Clare (tomb of St. Clare and San Damiano Crucifix). St. Francis lived and died in Assisi over 800 years ago. Inspired by Francis, a young Italian teenager by the name of Carlo Acutis became the first Millennial apostle of Christ to be beatified and will be canonized a saint for his great love for the Eucharist, charity towards neighbors, young and old alike, and for his stellar virtue in pursuing a life dedicated to evangelizing through the use of technology, computers and the internet. He has become a model especially for young people by embracing technology for good and for navigating the dangers it presents. Struck with leukemia, he was called home to the Lord at the age of 15 on October 12, 2006 and his desire to be laid to rest in Assisi was granted. His relics can be venerated in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi. Enjoy some free time before traveling south to Rome with an early evening check-in at hotel near Rome's Fiumicino Airport. Dinner and overnight.
Morning transfer to nearby Rome Airport for a departure on a nonstop flight to New York.
