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Created: 10.10.2013

Monday, March 10 - Day 1 ? BOSTON/PARIS ? Today, we depart Boston via best connections for our flight. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Tuesday, March 11 - Day 2 - PARIS/VENICE - Upon arrival in Paris we transfer to our flight to Venice, the Queen of the Cities, where we are met and transferred to our hotel in the nearby Mestre area for dinner and overnight. Wednesday, March 1 - Day 3 - VENICE - Venice, the Queen of the Cities! The glories that are Venice have attracted Byron, Goethe, Wagner, Shakespeare and now - you! Following Mass in St. Mark?s, 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. This afternoon, we are free for shopping, personal adventure or an optional romantic gondola ride through the inner canals of Venice. Dinner on our own. Thursday, March 13 - Day 4 ? VENICE/ PADUA/SIENA - This morning, we depart Venice for our journey to Siena. On our scenic drive through this beautiful countryside, we stop at Padua to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony and view the largest bronze work of Donatello. Next we continue to Tuscany and the delightful town of Siena. Dinner on our own. Friday, March 14 - Day 5 - SIENA - Today we visit the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets converging on the famous Piazza del Campo. We will attend the Scuola di Cucina di Lella (cooking school) in two sessions. While one group is attending the school, the remaining pilgrims may enjoy the art of the Sienese masters at the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena, or the "picture gallery" for some masterpieces by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti, among others. Those who attend the cooking school in the morning will enjoy the lunch they have prepared. After lunch on their own, those who did not go to the morning session, will attend the afternoon session and enjoy the dinner they prepare. DINNER for REMAINING GROUP ON OUR OWN. Saturday, March 15 - Day 6 - SIENA/ASSISI/ ROME - This morning we depart Siena for Assisi. Our first stop will be 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. After our visit to the Basilica of St. Mary, we begin our walking tour of the village. Included will be a visit to the Church of St. Clare to view the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis. We pass by the famous Temple of Minerva in the Piazza del Comune. We continue on to the Basilica of St. Francesco, where we celebrate Mass. We continue to our hotel in Rome for dinner and overnight. Sunday, March 16 - Day 7 ? ROME - FREE DAY, Dinner on our own. Monday, March 17 - Day 8 ? ROME - This morning, we go to the Vatican, where we celebrate Mass below St. Peters. Afterwards, we see the treasures of the Vatican Museum. We marvel at Michelangelo?s restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the wonders of St. Peter?s. This afternoon, we tour Rome?s sites; we start with a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and then pass the Roman Fora and the Arch of Constantine, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and stop for a tour of the Coliseum. We visit the Church of St. Peter in Chains to view Michelangelo's possibly most celebrated sculpture, the "Moses." Dinner on our own. Tuesday, March 18 - Day 9 - ROME ? While we wait for our tour of the Scavi (Fr. is making arrangements) we are free for shopping or personal adventure. Dinner on our own. Wednesday, March 19 - Day 10 - ROME ? This morning, we make our way to St. Peter's for an audience with Pope Francis if he is in residence. This afternoon, we visit the Holy Stairs and Basilica of St. John Lateran, we continue to St. Paul Outside 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 conclude our day at one of the Catacombs, burial place of early Christians, where we celebrate Mass, and view the 2nd and 3rd century fresco paintings. Dinner on our own. Thursday, March 20 - Day 11 - USA ? Today we make our way home with memories of a lifetime