Netusil Italy Pilgrimage 11 days

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Created: 21.08.2014

Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day USA - Day 1 - USA/ITALY- Today, we depart Omaha for our connecting flight to Rome aboard our overnight flight. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Tuesday, May 26 - Day 2 ???ROME/MONTECASSINO /SORRENTO Upon arrival in Rome we board our motor coach to Sorrento. On route, we stop at Montecassino, the Mother house of the Benedictines founded by St. Benedict in 529, where we will celebrate Mass. Continue to the beautiful seaside resort of Sorrento for dinner and overnight. (D) Wednesday, May 27 - Day 3 ???CAPRI/BLUE GROTTO- This morning, we leave Sorrento by steamer across the Bay of Naples to the Island of Dreams - Capri. We tour the island including Anacapri and weather permitting, a boat ride into the beautiful Blue Grotto. Following Mass at one of the churches here we return to Sorrento for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Thursday, May 28 - Day 4 ??? AMALFI COAST - Today following Mass in a local parish church, we enjoy the stunning Amalfi drive. The narrow and twisting Amalfi Drive in Italy is arguably the world's most beautiful and thrilling sightseeing road. It stretches 50 kilometers (30 miles) between Sorrento and Amalfi village (which gave the coast its name.) We stop in Amalfi Village for a visit before returning to Sorrento for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Friday, May 29 - Day 5 ??? SORRENTO/SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO - This morning we depart for the Shrine of St. Pio, San Giovanni Rotondo. We celebrate Mass at Padre Pio???s tomb and then visit his cell, the old church where he received the stigmata, his confessional, and the Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazia. We have the opportunity to visit the new Basilica and grounds.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B, D) Saturday, May 30 - Day 6 - SAN GIOVANNI/ASSISI ??? This morning, we journey through the Umbrian countryside arriving at the hilltop village of Assisi, the home of Saint Francis. 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 where we celebrate Mass. Continue to the upper village for dinner and overnight at our Assisi hotel. (B, D) Sunday, May 31 - (Visitation) ??? Trinity - Day 7 - ASSISI/FLORENCE - This morning we drive to Florence where our first stop will be a visit to the Academia Gallery. Here we view Michelangelo???s famous ???David???. (OR MEDICI). We continue for a visit of the Duomo, the heart of the city, here we admire the cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, its campanile by Giotto.  Once outside we view the Baptistery???s with its incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti. Afterwards, we set out to 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.??? Following free time for lunch on our own we visit the   Basilica of Santa Croce. Among the most famous interred here, lie Galileo, Rossini, Michelangelo and Macchiavelli. We celebrate Mass here. Following some free time for shopping or personal adventure, We conclude with a drive to the ??? Piazzale Michelangelo??? for a panoramic view of this spectacular city. Return to our Assisi hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Monday, June 1 - Day 8 - ASSISI/ROME - This morning, we begin at the Basilica of St. Francesco with Mass. After our visit of the Basilica and the tomb of St. Francis, we begin our walking tour of the village. Included, is 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. Optional: If time allows, some may wish to taxi up to the Hermitage. This afternoon, we depart for Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (B, D) Tuesday, June 2 - Day 9 - ROME - This morning, we go to Vatican City 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, then we pass by the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, the Coliseum, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We visit the Church of St. Peter in Chains to view Michelangelo's possibly most celebrated sculpture, the "Moses."  We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Wednesday, June 3 - 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. This 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.  We view the 2nd and 3rd century fresco paintings. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B, D) Thursday,  June 4 - Corpus Christi Day 11 - ROME/USA ??? Today we make our way home with memories of a lifetime. (B)