An 11-Day Pilgrimage to Italy
Including Milan, Padua, Venice, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Rome & the Vatican                 

Day 1 - Monday 

USA / MILAN 

Today we depart the United States for Milan. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight. 

Day 2 - Tuesday

MILAN / PADUA        

We arrive in Milan this morning and are met by our Pilgrimage Tours ™tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour. We'll take a driving tour of the city, stopping to see Castello Sforzesco and LaScala Theatre, the most renowned opera house in the world. We visit the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the restored The Last Super by Leonardo da Vinci is on display. We'll also visit and have Mass in the Duomo. After lunch, we'll see the Chiesa San Ambrogio, where St. Ambrose baptized St. Augustine. In the late afternoon, we drive to Padua, where we check into out hotel for dinner and overnight.  

Day 3 - Wednesday 

PADUA / VENICE  

After breakfast, we visit the Basilica of St. Anthony prior to departing for Venice, famous for its canals. We visit the Basilica of St. Mark, one of the most distinguished creations of medieval architecture and symbol of the ancient Venetian Republic, which contains the tomb of St. Mark the Evangelist, patron saint of the city. Here we celebrate Mass. We also visit the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxed, romantic gondola ride. The rest of the day is free to stroll through the streets of Venice and for a time of personal prayer and reflection. Late in the afternoon, we return to Padua. Dinner and overnight in Padua.  

Day 4 - Thursday 

PADUA / FLORENCE 

This morning we depart for Florence. Upon our arrival in Florence, we visit and celebrate Mass in one of the beautiful churches of this center of the Renaissance. Following Mass, we have a guided tour of the main sights, which include the Cathedral with its magnificent Dome by Brunelleschi, Giotto's elegant belfry and the Baptistery with Ghiberti's Gate to Paradise. Following lunch, we visit the Church of St. Ambrose where in the "Chapel of the Miracle" a monstrance holds a vial of miraculous blood. According to tradition, in 1230 a priest did not properly dry the chalice after Mass and afterwards found blood instead of the consecrated wine he carelessly left behind. Dinner and overnight outside Florence, in Montecatini. 

Day 5 - Friday

FLORENCE / SIENA / ASSISI 

We arise in the morning to a Tuscan breakfast, followed by a drive to the quiet hometown of St. Catherine, Siena. We visit the historic center of Siena, second only to Florence in its contribution to the Renaissance. We also visit the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Provenzano and the see the Cross from which St. Catherine received the stigmata. We visit the magnificent dark-green and white striped Cathedral and its museum adjacent to the church. Finally, we celebrate Mass at the Chiesa del Crocifisso. Next we depart for Assisi, the birthplace of the gentlest of saints, St. Francis. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. 

Day 6 - Saturday 

ASSISI

Today we enjoy a full day in the medieval town of Assisi. We visit the Lower Basilica of St. Francis to explore its wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto, as well as celebrate Mass. Next we visit the Basilica of St. Clare, Francis’ friend and foundress of the Poor Clare nuns, and see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis in San Damiano. We go to San Damiano to pray in the place where Francis wrote the "Canticle of the Sun." Finally we visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli built to enclose the tiny Church of the Porziuncola, St. Francis' first retreat and place of prayer and where he consecrated Clare as the Bride of Christ. Next we enjoy some free time. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. 

Day 7 - Sunday 

ASSISI / ROME 

This morning we depart for Rome and enter the Eternal City via the ancient Appian Way, the traditional pilgrims’ route followed by Peter and Paul and stop for a visit at the Catacombs of St. Calixtus. Next we will visit the first of the four major basilicas of Rome, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls where the Apostle is buried. While visiting the grounds, we pause for our own celebration of Mass at this wonderful basilica. Next we go to our hotel for check-in. A panoramic sightseeing tour of “illuminated Rome by night” follows dinner. Overnight in Rome. 

Day 8 - Monday

ROME

After breakfast our day begins with our own celebration of Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. While at the Basilica we see a young Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the deeply moving, magnificent Pieta. Then we visit one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. We see the Tapestries Gallery, the Belvedere with its marvelous statues. We also visit Raphael's Rooms, the Pincio Garden and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel that has been restored to its original beauty. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
 

Day 9 - Tuesday

ROME

Following breakfast we embark on a day’s worth of sightseeing beginning with the Mamertine Prison where Peter and Paul were held and many Christian martyrs died. We will then visit St. Peter in Chains. We will also see the Colosseum, Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Imperial and Roman Forums and Constantine’s Arch.   Next we visit another of Rome’s major basilicas, St. Mary Major, the most important church in the world devoted to Our Lady. We celebrate Mass here where Mass has been celebrated every day since the 5^th century. We then depart for a visit to St. John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under the main altar. Dinner and overnight in Rome. 

Day 10 - Wednesday        

ROME - Papal Audience 

Following Mass this morning, we will go to the Vatican for an Audience with the Holy Father. The remainder of our day is free for prayer, reflection, relaxation or shopping the streets of Rome. In the evening we enjoy our Farewell Dinner complete with wine and music. Following dinner we will have time to socialize and reflect amongst ourselves about our experiences on our pilgrimage to Italy. Overnight in Rome. 

Day 11 - Thursday        

ROME / USA 

We rise for breakfast and depart for the airport for our flight home. Though our pilgrimage draws to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer to the Lord. 

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