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Italy With a Touch of Switzerland TourTour Duration :
12 Days
May 5 - Depart from USA Depart from USA for an overnight flight to Rome. Dinner/breakfast on board Day 2: May 6 - Arrival in Rome BUON GIORNO! Meet our tour conductor at the airport. Step anywhere within the 180 acres of the Vatican City and you will feel like you are entering the gates of heaven. See for yourselves why "all roads lead to Rome." Witness history of phenomenal proportions in the Eternal City and enjoy its breathtaking sights, arts, and architecture starting from St. Peter's Basilica, the largest Christian church in the world. View historical treasures (i.e., a piece of the true cross that Christ was crucified and died on; the lance that pierced Christ's side, etc.). Dinner and overnight in Rome. Day 3: May 7 - Rome Tour of major basilicas: 1.) San Giovanni in Laterano - one of the four major churches in Rome. The Lateran Palace which is the residence of the Popes until 1309 AD is here. The High Altar is absolutely breathtaking! 2.) Scala Santa and Sancta Sanctorum (Sacred Steps), Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano - See the Pope's private chapel (Santa Sanctorum) and the Holy Staircase (Scala Santa), the 28 steps said to be those that Christ ascended in Pontius Pilate's house during his trial which were brought from Jerusalem by St. Helena in approximately 325, and 3.) Santa Croce in Gerusalemme - Constantine's mother, St. Helena founded this church in 320, and she brought many relics of Christ's Crucifixion which are on display here (i.e., the crossbar of the cross Jesus was crucified on, one of the nails that held Jesus's hand to the cross, etc.). Dinner and overnight in Rome. Day 4: May 8 - Rome -Papal Auidience-Naples Audience with Pope John Paul II (depending upon his availability) at St. Peter's Square, Bernini's architectural masterpiece. We will continue our sightseeing of the Vatican City (i.e., visit the world-renown Sistine Chapel and marvel at the magnificence and brilliance of Michaelangelo's paintings on frescoes, see and be awed by his "Pieta" masterpiece sculpture he created when he was young, etc.). Afternoon leave Rome for a scenic southern drive to Naples. Dinner and overnight in Naples. Day 5: May 9 - Naples (Pompeii) San Giovanni Rotonda(Padre Pio) We will stop for lunch on our way to Pompeii, the Roman city buried by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79. See the preserved ruins of Pompeii (i.e., everyday items, food and domestic animals, people, etc.) that were all hidden until the first half of the 18th century when excavations began. After the visit, enjoy the drive to Town of Padre Pio. Padre Pio's hometown where he spent 50 years of his life (1916-1966). Padre Pio, a simple and humble friar, received the stigmata on September 20, 1918 in the little friary church of San Giovanni Rotondo. The extraordinary charisms with which the Lord endowed him were many: bilocation, prophecy, healing, the power to read men's hearts, the gift of tongues and the fragrances which emanated from his wounds and which frequently announced his invisible presence. One of the Fathers close to Padre Pio when he was alive will guide us on our tour of the Sanctuary and the New Church that is now under construction. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo. Day 6: May 10 - (Monte Sant'Angelo: Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel) - Foggia (San Giovanni Rotondo: Home of Padre Pio)- Abruzzo (Lanciano: First and Greatest Eucharistic Miracle) - Ancona, Foggia - (Loreto: Holy House of the Blessed Virgin Mary Transported by Angels from Nazareth) Umbria Depart for Monte Sant'Angelo for the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Prince of the Lord's host of angels, protector of God's people and angel of healing. It is said that on this site in 493 he appeared to the Bishop of Siponto and produced a spring of curative water, and that when he departed after his apparition he left his red cloak there. Enjoy the panoramic drive to Abruzzo and into the small town of Lanciano, a town that boasts of majestic medieval skyline and history, and is also the site of the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle in the year 700. The miracle in Lanciano occurred in the Church of St. Longinus, named after the Roman centurion who pierced the side of Jesus on the cross with a lance. The miracle also appeared to address the lingering doubts of a priest-monk of the Order of St. Basil about "transubstantiation" -- the change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Then continue to Loretto which Pope John Paul II calls "the holiest place on earth." Within this tiny chamber the "Word Became Flesh" when the Blessed Virgin Mary accepted the profound mystery of the Incarnation. Feel the "Divine Presence" as you pass through the portals of the "Holy House" where beneath the narrow roof and within the hallowed walls of this humble stone abode, Jesus, Mary and Joseph once ate, confided and prayed! We will visit the town of Loreto in Ancona to a place to tradition, it was the Virgin Mary's birth house, which up until that time was kept intact and venerated in Palestine. God's angels were said to have flown the "Holy House" from Nazareth to the Adriatic Coast and set it on a green hill of laurels on the night of December 10, 1294; hence the name Loreto. Next to Rome this is the second most important place of pilgrimage among visitors to Italy. Dinner and overnight in Loretto. Day 7: May 11 - Loretto- (Assisi: St. Francis's birthplace) - Toscana (Siena: St. Catherine's birthplace ) After breakfast we will leave for another scenic drive to the ancient Umbrian city of Assisi that owes its fame to St. Francis, the son of a wealthy merchant, who was born here in 1182. He devoted his life to the service of the poor and the sick, founded the Franciscan Order and died in 1226 in poverty and abstinence. Two years before his death (1224) he received the stigmata while praying on Monte della Verna. We will tour this great 13th century Basilica, view his relics (i.e., the Gray Habit which is the symbol of the evangelical choice made by him, the stone that served as the pillow of the Saint in the sepulchre, etc.) and see a painting of his four miracles as well. In the afternoon we will enjoy the panoramic drive to Toscana onto the beautiful town of Siena, a medieval walled-city and is the birthplace of St. Catherine. She was the 23rd child of the 25 born to Jacomo and Lapa Benincasa. She experienced possibly all the mystical gifts: is known to have delivered many from diabolical possession, have performed many miracles of healing, have levitated frequently during prayer, to mention a few. She is known widely for her "mystical espousal" with our Lord, where in a vision, she received a golden ring set with four precious stones and in the center blazed a superb diamond. St. Catherine received the stigmata in 1375 that was only visible to her until after her death. She died in 1380 at the age of 33 after a remarkable life leaving a legacy of outstanding spiritual treatises based on the work she "dictated." She never learned to write. You will be charmed by the Gothic building of travertine and brick of Siena's Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall) in it's Piazza del Campo, a semi-circular place in the center of Siena. We will also see the Basilica of St. Francis where the "Miraculous Hosts" are enshrined and venerated in Siena for over 250 years. The story of this consecrated hosts dates back in the 13th century when thieves broke into the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Francis's church, picked the lock to the tabernacle and carried away the golden ciborium containing consecrated hosts. Two days later the stolen hosts were found in an offering box of the Church of St. Mary of Provenzano. Because of their soiled condition when they were found, the consecrated hosts were never consumed but nevertheless, did not deteriorate either. The same Hosts became the victim of a second sacrilegious theft on the night of August 5, 1951. But this time the thief took only the container. With a unanimous voice, the faithful, priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes have marveled at and worshiped the holy Hosts, recognizing in them a permanent miracle, both complete and perfect, that has endured for over 250 years. Since they are in such a perfect state of conservation although they were consecrated in 1730, the Catholic Church assures us that they are still really and truly the Body of Christ. Dinner and overnight in Siena.
May 12 - Toscana - Florence - Pisa (Leaning Tower) We will drive to Florence which is picturesquely situated on both sides of the River Arno surrounded by foothills of the Apennines. While in ancient times the life of Italy was centered on Rome, from the Middle Ages todate, Florence has been its intellectual center. Here the Italian language and literature were created (Dante, Boccaccio, Petrarch) and here also Italian art attained its finest form. We will see many great highlights of Florence, the Doumo, the Bell Tower, the Baptistery, etc.). We will also see the tombs of Dante, Michelangelo, Leonardo de Vinci among other things. We will drive through Pisa and briefly stop to take souvenir photos at the Leaning Tower. Dinner and overnight in Florence. Day 9: May 13 - Florence - Stresa (Switzerland) After breakfast drive to Lake Maggiore at the elegant resort of Stresa. Dinner and overnight in Stresa. Day 10: May 14 - Stresa Morning free for rest and relaxation; take a stroll along the beautiful lakeside promenade; catch up on postcards. Afternoon excursion to the Baroque Place and Peacock Gardens of enchanting Isola Bella. Dinner and overnight in Stresa. Day 11: May 15 - Stresa, Milan After breakfast drive to Milan, Italy. Visit the magnificent Gothic Duomo, glass-domed Galaria and the famous Scala Opera House. Take part of an optional performance at La Scala Opera in the evening. Dinner and overnight in Milan. Day 12: May 16 - Milan - USA Transfer to the airport after breakfast for your flight back to United States.
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