Itinerary
9 - Days: April 13 to 21, 2010, (8 Days/7 Nights in Italy)
TUE, APRIL 13, DAY 1: DEPART USA
Group Flights depart en route to Milan with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.
WED, APRIL 14, DAY 2: ARRIVE MILAN & VISIT OF THE CITY
We arrive at Malpensa Airport outside Milan. Today, we explore the city of Milan - the See of Ss. Ambrose, Charles Borromeo and Paul VI. We start with a visit to the Duomo, the most magnificent Gothic building in Northern Italy. Here we celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage. We will also visit La Scala (the famous opera house), the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio ("the most interesting church in Milan and the prototype of the Lombard basilica and the Tomb of St. Ambrose). We proceed to our hotel for check-in once our rooms are prepared. Dinner will be served at our hotel. Land only passengers will meet the group this day. (D)
THURS, APRIL 15, DAY 3: MILAN: EXCURSION TO TURIN
Early this morning we make a visit to the Church of Santa Marie delle Gracie to view Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the LAST SUPPER Last Supper (subject to final confirmation). After our visit, we depart on our excursion to the city of Turin. We will see Piazza San Carlo, Po Street, and Mount of the Capuchin Monks. We then have the opportunity to view the Shroud of Turin in the St. John the Baptist Cathedral (subject to final confirmation). Reputed to be the burial cloth of Christ, it is an amazing sight. It is a linen cloth 14 feet, 3 inches long by 3 feet, 7 inches wide bearing the distinct image of a crucified man. The last time the shroud was displayed publicly was during the Jubilee Year of 2000 - and it will not be displayed again until 2025. The rest of the afternoon is on our own. We return to our hotelan for dinner and the evening. Mass will be celebrated today at a church to be advised. (B, D)
FRI, APRIL 16, DAY 4: MILAN / ROME VIA TRAIN / SANTA PRASSEDE, ST. ALPHONSUS & SANTA MARIA SOPRA MINERVA.
We depart on the morning train from Milan to Rome. We arrive in Rome in the early afternoon.
After dropping our luggage at the motor coach, we begin exploring the Eternal City. We'll walk a few short blocks to the ancient church of St. Prassede. This site is a “titulus” – a private house where Christian services were held in antiquity. The present building dates to 822, although the nave was altered in the 13th century.
We also make a stop at the Church of St. Alphonsus, which bears the original icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We board our motor coach and make our way across the city to our final stop for the day: the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, housing the remains of St. Catherine of Siena, where we celebrate Mass. We transfer via motor coach back to our hotel check-in, dinner, and the evening. (B, D)
SAT, APRIL 17, DAY 5: ROME: ST. PETER’S BASILICA, SCAVI & VATICAN MUSEUM
Early this morning we celebrate Mass in the Vatican Grottos located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. We will also pay a visit to the Tomb of John Paul II. We will then enjoy a tour of the Vatican Museum, an incredible collection of art accumulated by the popes, and the Sistine Chapel, featuring Michelangelo's masterworks.
This afternoon we visit the Basilica of St. Peter with our local guide. We will see Michelangelo’s famous statue of the Blessed Mother holding her crucified Son. We know it as The Pieta. We take some time for lunch on our own.
We will also have a guided visit and tour of the Scavi, the underground excavations beneath St. Peter’s Basilica (these tickets are always subject to final confirmation 48 hours before the proposed visit). Dinner is on our own this evening. (B)
SUN, APR 18, DAY 6: ROME: SANTA SUSANNA, ANGELUS PRAYER & WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC SITES
We begin with a concelebrated Mass at the Church of Santa Susanna. Then we transfer to the Vatican City for a noon Angelus Regina Coeli prayer with Pope Benedict XVI (subject to the Holy Father’s schedule). We take some time for lunch on our own.
This afternoon we enjoy a walking tour of the historic center of the city, starting at the Trevi Fountain, where we toss our traditional three coins. From here we continue to the Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top of the Spanish Steps, affording a romantic panoramic view of the city of Rome. Our tour continues across the city to the Pantheon and we finish our walk at the Piazza Navona. Dinner this evening is on our own. (B)
MON, APRIL 19, DAY 7: ROME: COSMAS & DAMIAN, SAN CLEMENTE, COLISEUM, FORUM & LEISURE
This morning we start our walking tour at our hotel and make our way to the Church of Ss. Cosmas and Damian named for brothers who were martyred in northern Syria during the third century. In 527, Pope St. Felix IV converted two buildings in the Roman Forum into this Christian church, the first time this had been done. Here we celebrate Mass.
After Mass, we enjoy a walking tour of the Forum. The saying goes that Rome was the center of the world, and the Forum was the center of Rome. It served as the religious and civic ‘hub’ of the city.
After our visit of the Forum, we walk over for our tour inside the Coliseum. Its real name was the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the emperors who built it in the first century after Christ. Coliseum refers to the ‘colossal’ statue of Nero that at one time stood at the entrance.
Our last stop of the day, just down the street, is the Basilica of San Clemente. The Basilica is named after Clement, the fourth pope, who was martyred by being tied to an anchor and drowned. Some of the frescoes in the church tell the story of his life. We return by foot to our hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. Dinner this evening is at our hotel. (B, D)
TUES, APRIL 20, DAY 8: ROME: VENERABLE ENGLISH COLLEGE, WALKING TOUR OF TRASTEVERE & LEISURE
This morning we transfer to the Venerabile Collegio Inglese where we celebrate the final Mass of our journey. After Mass, Fr. Steve will lead a walking tour of Trastevere for those interested. The balance of the day is at leisure. This evening we gather at the a local restaurant for our farewell dinner. (B, D)
WED, APRIL 21, DAY 9: RETURN USA
This morning, the group flights depart from the Rome airport for our return flight to the United States, our hearts full of memories! Land passengers may have chosen to extend their visit(B)
Note: While no changes are anticipated, there my be unforeseen occasions when certain alterations become necessary to this itinerary, either due to changes in airline schedules or for other reasons. All Masses are subject to local church schedules and substitution with alternate Mass sites if churches mentioned are not available.
