Padova – Venice – Siena – Assisi – Rome
April 23 - May 03, 2025
DAY 1 – DEPART USA
“If then you ask for miracles, Death, error , all calamities , Leprosy , and demons fly and health succeeds infirmities. The sea obeys and fetters break, And lifeless limbs you do restore. Whilst treasures lost are found again when young and old your aid implore “ ( Traditional Prayer to St Anthony)
DAY 2 – ARRIVE IN ITALY –PADOVA & ST ANTHONY
Upon arrival at Venice ‘ s airport, we will be greeted by our tour Manager and driver. According to the time of arrival, we will drive to Padova, to visit the Basilica of St Anthony. We will see his uncorrupt tongue over 760 years ago, more than 30 years after his death. This scientifically inexplicable phenomenon is what faith calls a miracle, seeing that the relic of the tongue, the instruments used by St Anthony for preaching, is still visible and uncorrupt after many centuries. The relic may be venerated in the Chapel of the Treasury in the Basilica, which is visited each year by millions of pilgrims.- We celebrate Mass and continue to the hotel to check in and relax, before dinner and overnight (D)
DAY 3 – VENICE
After breakfast, we will depart our hotel by bus to reach the dock. From here, by private motorboat, we reach Venice in 30 minutes by sea. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a guided tour in this fascinating town to see the Doge’s Palace (outside) and the Basilica of St. Mark the Evangelist (inside). Free time for an optional Gondola ride, or for shopping. In afternoon, we will board private boat back to our bus and drive to Basilica of St Anthony to visit the Basilica and celebrate Mass. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight (B, D)
DAY 4 – VENICE – SIENA
This morning we will depart hotel and drive to Siena (4 hrs drive). Upon arrival, we will enjoy a walking tour of Siena, birthplace of St. Catherine, Virgin and Doctor of the Church. After time at leisure for lunch, we will visit Basilica of St Dominic, which houses the relics of St. Catherine, and stroll the streets of Siena, considered to be the best preserved medieval city, Celebrate Mass before going to our hotel. Check in, dinner and overnight (BD)
DAY 5 – SIENA –FLORENCE – SIENA
Florence awaits us today! Upon arrival, we stop at Michelangelo Square for a panoramic view of the city. The walking tour includes the Duomo and the Baptistery next door (outside view), the Ponte Vecchio and other highlights of the city. Mass is celebrated at the Church of Santa Croce. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the city on your own. Perhaps visit the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David or the Uffizi Gallery. Return to the hotel in Siena for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)
DAY 6: SIENA - ORVIETO - ASSISI
We depart after breakfast and drive to Orvieto, where we visit the gothic Cathedral built to house the holy relics of the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto. It was this miracle that occasioned the proclamationof the Feast of Corpus Christi and inspired St. Thomas Aquinas towrite the famous hymn “Tantum Ergo.” We enjoy lunch in a local restaurant with tasting of the Orvieto and Orvieto Classico wine this region is famous for. In the afternoon, we proceed to Assisi and settle into our hotel for dinner and overnight (B. L. D)
DAY 7 – ASSISI
After early breakfast, transfer to the Basilica of St. Francis to Celebrate Mass at the Tomb of St. Francis, at which we will. After Mass, visit the Basilica of St. Francis. Our local guide will take us to explore the Basilica complex, which is actually composed of two churches built one atop the other. Beneath both churches is the crypt that houses the tomb of St. Francis. The lower Basilica dates from 1228 to 1230, and is richly decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, and paintings done by some of the most important artists of the 13th and 14th centuries. In the upper Basilica, built from 1230 - 1253, we will marvel at the monumental frescoes painted by Giotto, which depict scenes from the life of the saint. Continue to visit the Basilica of St. Clare, the first and most important heroine of the Franciscan movement, view her remains and see the miraculous Crucifix. Independent lunch – In the afternoon we will visit San Damiano Sanctuary “One day in the autumn of 1205 the Lord was waiting here for Francis On a morning in April of 1211 the Lord welcomed Clare together with her first sisters. They were encounters and thus began their Christian adventure. Brother, Sister. Perhaps here today the Lord will meet with you.May your faith be firm and may the Lord grant you peace.
Next we will visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Crowned by the magnificent dome designed by Alessi, this great Basilica was built in 1569. It enclosed the shrine of the "Porziuncola" or the Little Portion Chapel around which the first Franciscan community was centered, the place where Clare received the habit from Francis, and the Capella Del Transito, which marks the spot where the Saint died.
Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight. (B.D.)
DAY 8 ASSISI ROME : ST PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS, TRASTEVERE
After breakfast we check out and drive to Rome. Upon arrival we stop at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the walls to walk through the first Holy Door of our Jubilee Year Pilgimage and to celebrate Mass. . Originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, the Basilica is where the great Apostle Paul is buried Following lunch we will drive to the old quarter of Trastevere. Pietro arrived in Rome by ship at the Port of Ripa Grande, a few steps from the Basilica of St Cecilia, in a neighborhood at the time inhabited by Jews and was hosted here. We will start the day celebrating Mass at Basilica of St Cecilia. Then we will enjoy a walking tour around this quarter visiting the Church of St Francesco a Ripa and the Basilica of St Maria in Trastevere- Continue to the hotel for check in, dinner and overnight (BD)
DAY 9 – APPIAN WAY – CATACOMBS - IMPERIAL ROME & BASILICA OF ST MARY MAJOR -
This morning we will drive to the Appian Way, the earliest road of Ancient Rome, to reach the Catacombs and the Basilica of St Sebastian. We will visit also the Church of Domine Quo Vadis. According to the tradition the apostle Peter, fleeing the city to avoid martyrdom, met Jesus to whom he addressed the following words “Domine, quo vadis?” (Lord, where are you going?) and the Lord replied “VenioRomam iterum crucifigi” (I am coming to Rome to be crucified again). Peter, understanding the rebuke, went back to face his fate and Jesus disappeared but, in disappearing, left his footprints on the road. As evidence of what happened, inside the Church there is a stone with the imprints "of His Holy feet". The stone is actually a copy: the original is in fact kept in the Basilica of San Sebastiano). Return to Rome.Break for lunch We will enjoy a walking tour of the Imperial Rome area. We start at the Colosseum (outside visit). Then we will continue to the Roman Forum, the religious, political, and commercial center of ancient Rome, and for centuries, the entire civilized world. We will see the Arches of Constantine and Titus. We will visit the Church of St Francesca Romana. Also known as Santa Maria Nova, is located between the Roman Forum and the Temple of Venus and Rome. According to tradition, the place where the basilica stands was the one where Simon Magus died. A stone commemorates the event: on this one we would still see the marks of Peter's knees, who knelt in prayer. Here we will celebrate Mass. Finally, we will see the Mamertine prison, where San Pietro was incarcerated. In the late afternoon we will drive to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, walking through the 2rd Holy Door of our pilgrimage. Today we will start the day celebrating Mass then we will visit the Basilica of St Mary Major, which is one of the oldest and most important shrines in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary - Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)
DAY 10 –WEDNESDAY PAPAL AUDIENCE – ST JOHN LATERAN – HOLY STAIRS
Early morning wake -up call today, we will reach the Vatican City to attend the Papal Audience in St Peter’s Square with Pope Francis After break for lunch, we will reach the Basilica of St John in Lateran and we walk through the third Holy Door of our trip. This Basilica is the seat of the bishop of Rome, who of course, is also the Pope. The Basilica houses magnificent artwork and also wood from the table used at the Last Supper. It is high above the altar above the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, to the left of the main Papal altar. From here we will walk to the Shrine of the Holy Stairs , so named because they are the steps which led to the praetorium of the Roman Procurator Ponzio Pilato. Some time at leisure for personal activities before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)
DAY 11 : BASILICA OF ST PETER AND VATICAN TREASURES & BAROQUE SQUARE
Following breakfast, we reach t St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Christendom Church At the Basilica we walk through the fourth Holy Door of our trip. We celebrate Mass and the we enjoy a guided tour The Basilica was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. It is here that we view Michelangelo's Pieta and pray at the tombs of St. Peter and Pope St. John Paul II. Continue to the Vatican Museum where we see world-famous masterpieces including the incomparable Sistine Chapel – Our afternoon tour includes the most beautiful monuments of the Baroque Rome area, including, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. Some time at leisure for shopping before going back to our hotel for dinner and overnight (B,D)
DAY 12 Departure
In the morning, transfer to Rome ’s airport. Departure