May 04 – DEPARTURE
Depart from Newark to Rome. Dinner and breakfast will be served aboard the flight.
May 05- ROME (D)
Upon arrival in Rome, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. You are in the Eternal City –one of the greatest cities in the world. Remainder of the day is free to relax. Dinner tonight at your hotel.
May 06 – ROME (B,D)
In the morning we will attend the Papal Audience and receive a Blessing by His Holiness the Pope in St. Peter’s Square. (Pending schedule of Pope Francis, subject to change at last moment). In the afternoon, we tour the city including famous monuments of Rome such as, the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza Novona, Basilica of St. John the Lateran and St. Mary Major.
May 07 – ROME (B,D)
This morning we will visit St. Peter’s Basilica, including St. John Paul II’s tomb in Vatican City. Millions come every year to these breathtaking pilgrimage sites. This is the world’s largest Basilica, designed by architects such as Michelangelo and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. After lunch, we will tour the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Room, and more.
May 08– ROME – ASSISI (B,D)
This morning we pack for our trip to Assisi. After lunch we visit St. Paul Outside the Walls by the oldest Roman road, the Appian Way. Later in the afternoon we depart for Assisi.
May 09 – ASSISI (B,D)
A full day to enjoy the peaceful and tranquil village of Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, St. Francis’ Porziuncola, and Capella Del Transito. Pray in the Shrine, inspired by Giotto’s frescoes of the life of St. Francis. Visit the monastery and the Basilica of St. Clare to pray before the San Damiano crucifix from which Jesus told St. Francis to rebuild His church. Time to explore Assisi.
May 10- ASSISI – LANCIANO – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO(B,D)
After breakfast we travel the absolutely stunning landscape of Italy to it’s eastern coast along the Adriatic Sea, stopping in Lanciano on our way to San Giovanni Rotondo. We will pray at the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano where in the 8th century the host visibly changed to flesh and the wine visibly changed to blood when a monk doubted the presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
May 11 – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – MONTE SAN ANGELO (B,D)
Saint Padre Pio lived in San Giovanni Rotondo for 50 years. We will pray at his tomb, and see his uncorrupt body in the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace. Saint Pio is truly a miraculous being, known for his stigmata, mysticism and sufferings. In the afternoon we will travel to Monte San Angelo to visit the Grotto of Michael the Archangel, the very famous place where thousands, including many Popes, come seeking the protection of St. Michael the Archangel.
May 12 – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – POMPEII – SORRENTO (B,D)
After breakfast we depart for Naples. En route, we stop in Pompeii to see the ruins of a city buried by a catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79AD. Later we visit the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the afternoon we enjoy the scenery of the Bay of Naples from Sorrento.
May 13 – NAPLES– CAPRI – NAPLES (B,D)
Today we take a boat ride to the famous Island of Capri where we have a splendid day to take in the Mediterranean scenery and relax.
May 14- NAPLES – ROME – USA
After breakfast transfer to the airport in Rome for our flight home. Ciao Italia!
