Catholic Italy Pilgrimage 11 days VCE last

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Created: 09.12.2013

Day 1 ??? DEPART USA ??? Today we depart Charleston airport to connect with our overnight flight to Rome aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy complimentary beverages, in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. DAY 2 - ROME - We arrive in Rome this morning where we tour her sites, including the Roman Fora passing the Arch of Constantine, the Coliseum, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Lunch is on our own. We conclude our day at one of the Catacombs, burial place of early Christians.  We view the 2nd and 3rd century fresco paintings. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (NO MASS) DAY 3 - VATICAN CITY/ROME - This morning, we make our way to St. Peter's for an audience with Pope Francis if he is in residence. After lunch on our own we visit St. Paul???s Beyond the Walls. The huge, imposing Basilica, second only to St. Peter???s and one of the largest churches in the Christian world, contains an unusual gallery of papal portraits: 265 tablets portraying the popes of the past. We celebrate Mass here and return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 4 - VATICAN CITY/ROME - We spend this morning seeing the treasures of the Vatican Museum.  We marvel at Michelangelo's restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.  We continue to St. Peter's Basilica to view the ???Pieta???.  Lunch is on our own. This afternoon we see two of Rome???s Major Basilicas including St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major. After, we go to St. Peter in Chains to view Michelangelo's possibly most celebrated sculpture, the "Moses". Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (NO MASS) DAY 5 - ROME/ASSISI - Following an early morning departure from Rome we travel north through the Umbrian countryside to Assisi. Our first stop is in the lower town for a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis' Church of the Little Portion.   Lunch is on our own. We then proceed to the hilltop village of Assisi for a walking tour of this beautiful site; including Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis and a visit to his tomb..  We visit the Church of St. Clare ???the little plant of Blessed Francis??? as she loved to call herself, where we view the San Damiano crucifix that spoke to St. Francis.   Kneeling before it, Francis composed the following prayer, which is considered to be among the oldest of his writings:  ???All Highest, Glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of my heart.  Give me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity, and profound humility, with wisdom and perception, O Lord, so that I may do what is truly your most holy will.  Amen.???    Dinner and overnight at our hotel. Day 6 ??? ASSISI/SIENA/FLORENCE ??? Today we journey through the Italian countryside arriving in the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets converging on the famous Piazza del Campo. We visit the Dominican Church that commemorates St. Catherine.  Following lunch on our own we arrive in the delightful spa town of Montecatini Terme. The balance of the day is at leisure to stroll through the inviting streets of this charming town.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel  (NO MASS) Day 7 - FLORENCE - This morning, we start with Mass at a delightful local parish church here in Montecatini.  Afterwards, we see the highlights of Florence, the jewel of the Renaissance. We start with the Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of the city. Next we visit the Duomo, the heart of the city with its cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, its Campanile by Giotto and its Baptistry with incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti.  Next we visit the Medici Chapel in the church of San Lorenzo to see the tombs designed and executed by Michelangelo. We visit the Academy where we see Michelangelo???s famous ???David??? and other works. After lunch on our own, we see the Piazza della Signoria, dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio and its embattlement crowned tower. Across from the Palace, we visit the Loggia dei Lanzi with the statues of the Perseus by Cellini; Giambologna's the ???Rape of the Sabines??? and ???Hercules???.  We visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce. Among the most famous interred here, lie Galileo, Rossini, Michelangelo and Macchiaveli. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 8??? FLORENCE/VENICE - This morning, we depart Florence for our journey to Venice. On our scenic drive through this beautiful countryside, we stop at Padua and tour the Basilica of St. Anthony and see the largest bronze work of Donatello.  Lunch is on our own. We arrive at our hotel in nearby Mestre for dinner and overnight. (NO MASS AT PADUA) Day 9???VENICE - Venice, the Queen of the Cities!  The glories that are Venice have attracted Byron, Goethe, Wagner, Shakespeare and now - you!  Following Mass in one of her beautiful churches, time is spent this morning walking the sights of Venice:  the splendid Piazza San Marco and the incredibly rich Byzantine Basilica of San Marco.  We marvel at the intricate network of elegant squares lined with stately Renaissance villas and palaces.  Lunch is on our own and for the remainder of this afternoon; we are free for personal adventure or an optional romantic gondola ride through the inner canals of Venice.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel. DAY 10 ??? USA - This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight home with memories of a lifetime.