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TOUR OF SHRINES OF SOUTH ITALY TOUR
Visiting Rome & The Vatican/Assisi/San Giovanni Rotondo/Lanciano/Loreto (A religious and cultural journey to the center of Catholicism and the cradle of Western civilization)
Tour features: - Tour fully escorted by our experienced multilingual tour manager with seven dinners included in our prices. - First class or second class hotel accommodation based on double occupancy. - Buffet continental breakfast and dinner daily. - Surface transportation by private deluxe motor coach. - All transfers and porterage of luggage. - All taxes and gratuities, excluding tips to the tour escort and driver. - General papal audience (with free invitations).
1st day - Rome Arrival in Rome. Meet, be assisted by our local tour guide. Short orientation tour of Rome, "The Eternal City" includes the Colosseum, the Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Venezia, Piazza di Spagna, just to name a few of the wondrous sights. The afternoon free at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
2nd day - Rome Breakfast and early morning mass. Visit to the papal blessing at the end of the audience. A guided tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel with the masterpieces of Michelangelo, including the Last Judgment, and St. Peter's Basilica. Time permitting will explore the Basilica of St. Paul, built over the Tomb of the Apostle, visit the Holy Stairs, and the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Walk to the city center to view the many breathtaking fountains and famed Spanish Steps. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
3rd day - Rome/San Giovanni Buffet breakfast. Early morning departure from Rome to the wonderful town of San Giovanni, with two stops on the way. Firstly to the Abbey of Montecassino founded by St. Benedict of Norcia. Destroyed during the World War II it was completely restored to its ancient splendor. Then in the small village of Pietralcina to visit the birthplace of Padre Pio the beloved monk whose life and works are surrounded by an aura of sanctity. Sinners, large and small governors lovers, workers and farmers have prayed at his confessional. For those who loved him Padre Pio was simply "a man who prayed". Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
4th day - San Giovanni After breakfast. celebrate Mass at the tomb of Padre Pio. A guided visit of the sanctuary follows, narrated by the of the fathers who knew Padre Pio personallp. Enjoy a breathtaking view and ascend Monte Sant'Angelo, which overlooks the Gargano peninsula and Grotto of Archangel Michael (one of the most celebrated shrines of Christianity). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
5th day - San Giovanni/Lanciano Breakfast. This morning we drive to Lanciano to embrace the 8th century Euchanstic miracle in the little church of Lagomtial. Next you follow the fertile Adriatic coastline to the great Marian shrine of Loreto where a stop of three hours is scheduled to visit and to celebrate Mass in this special place. After independent lunch continuation to Lanciano where arrival is foreseen on time to visit this religious small city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
6th day - Lanciano/Assisi Buffet breakfast. Early morning departure to Assisi. Before arriving in Assisi we stop in lower Assisi to visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, the enclosed Porziuncola, the thornless bush, the ever-present doves and the cave where St. Francis retired for prayer. Arrival in the town of Assisi in the late morning for hotel check-in and independent lunch Afternoon at leisure for relax or better to explore in depth this unique small city. Evening Mass on the tomb of St. Francis in the Basilica. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
7th day - Assisi Buffet breakfast. Your morning walking tour of Assisi includes many of the sanctuaries and the architectural wonders along the medieval streets of this compact town, which has not much changed by time. Visit the upper and lower Basilicas of San Francis with the Giotto's frescoes cycle with the twenty-eight episodes from the "Life of St. Francis". Continue to the Basilica of Santa Chiara, you will see many relics of her life with time to pray beside her embalmed body. Visit the Abbey of San Pietro with its magnificent stained glass windows. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
8th day - Assisi/Rome/Airport After an early morning breakfast. transfers from Assisi to Rome airport where we will depart for the return night home, filled with new experiences and stories of this tour.
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