Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Welcome to Rome, also known as, “The Eternal City”. Upon arrival at Rome airport, collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the Arrivals Hall, where you will be greeted by a tour escort and/or driver. You will make your way to the bus and transfer to your hotel. Following check-in, you will have free time to unpack and relax, or explore Rome on your own. Your tour escort may suggest places to visit. Later in the afternoon, your group will meet in the hotel lobby for a “Meet and Greet” with your fellow pilgrims and depart for Mass. Following Mass, you will attend a welcome dinner. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to walk to St. Peter’s Square as a group, for the Rosary (optional).

This morning we attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square or at the Audience Hall. The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, Pope Francis (pending the papal schedule). Next Trevi Fountain area for some free time and lunch (on own). This afternoon, visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome, the Archbasilica of St. John the Lateran, the cathedral church and seat of the Bishop of Rome. Cross the street to the very steps that lead up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem which Jesus climbed on His way to trial during his Passion. Holy Mass will be celebrated by our priest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. This Basilica contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus. Dinner and overnight.

Today we tour St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the site where St. Peter the Apostle was martyred. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to pray at the tomb of St. John Paul II and view Michelangelo’s Pieta sculpture. Next you will visit the Vatican Museum, where you can see the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, and Sistine Chapel. After lunch, continue down the Appian Way, one of the earliest roads built in ancient Rome to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and the Catacombs. From there continue to Colosseum and learn everything from the construction to the gladiators who competed in the Colosseum’s gory gladiatorial games. Its real name was the Flavian Amphitheater, after the emperors who built it in the first century after Christ. Colosseum refers to the “colossal” statue of Nero that at one time stood at the entrance. Continue with a tour of the Roman Forum in Ancient Rome and admire incredible ruins, like the Temple of Julius Caesar. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

After a nice breakfast at your hotel, your ancient sightseeing tour of Rome starts! We will make our way to Castel Sant’Angelo where you can visit the tomb of a Roman emperor, see Raphael-inspired art, check out the site of fierce centuries-old battles with leftover cannons and cannonballs, have a stunning view of Saint Peter’s basilica, admire a piece of Michelangelo architecture and see where popes lived when they were hiding from their enemies, and walk around a real castle-moat. Following Casello Sant Angelo, continue to the beautiful, Piazza Novona. This square was built on the former Stadium of Domitian that held many festivals and sporting events (86 A.D). At the center of this square, stands the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers). There are four figures constructed on this fountain that represent four rivers: the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. Continue with a visit of Pantheon, the remarkable architectural building: a cylinder with the floating dome on top of columns, it is the largest masonry vault ever built. In the center of this Dome is a hole bringing in a shaft of light to show the beauty of this building and its relatively simple, open interior. Being inside the Pantheon feels very special. Originally built in 27 BC and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in 120 AD, the temple has been damaged and plundered over time. In 609 AD it became a Christian church dedicated to the Madonna. In the 17th century some of its bronze ceiling was taken and melted down for use in St Peter’s Basilica. Important figures such as King Victor Emmanuel II and the artist Raphael are buried in the Pantheon. From there continue to visit Spanish Steps. Conclude the day with visit of Church of Gesu which houses the body of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, and a fascinating relic of St. Francis Xavier’s right arm with which he allegedly baptized 300,000 people. This is the first Jesuit church in Rome and one of the most striking examples of baroque Roman art. Continue to view St Philip Neri’s relics preserved in an urn below the altar in the Chapel of St Philip Neri in the Chiesa Nuova. Delicious dinner and restful overnight in Rome.

This morning, you will board the bus and enjoy the scenic route to the Abbey of Monte Cassino, the principal monastery of the Benedictine Order, founded by St. Benedict around 530 A.D. Continue on to San Giovanni Rotondo, where St. Pio of Pietrelcina (St. Padre Pio) lived for many decades and where thousands of people have flocked in order to be closer to this great saint and to Our Lord. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Visit the Old Church of Our Lady of Grace, see the confessional from where St. Pio spent an innumerable number of hours listening to confessions. Next, you will board the bus and travel along the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel. Return for dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo. *Candlelight Procession – Between May and October, attend the weekly candlelight procession at the Sanctuary of St. Pio after dinner, at 9:00 pm.

Following breakfast, you will board your bus to enjoy the scenic route to Mugnano del Cardinale for a visit to the Shrine of Saint Philomena. When her remains were brought to the village church at Mugnano from Rome, graces, favors, and miracles began to occur among the village people. Miracles continued to occur year after year and in 1837, Philomena was elevated to Sainthood. Drive to Sorrento with its stunning panoramic views of the Bay of Naples, its picturesque narrow streets, parks, villa, and orange, lemon, and olive groves. Enjoy some time to relax before dinner and overnight.

Today you will tour the Amalfi Coast, widely considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world; deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site as an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape. You’ll follow the 34 miles of winding roads, making a quick stop to view the breathtaking panoramic view of Positano. Continue on through Praiano where you will drive by St. Gennaro Church, to Amalfi, one of the four maritime Republics of Italy, and view the beautiful Amalfi Cathedral consecrated to its patron, Saint Andrew. Some free time for lunch before your last stop on the Amalfi coast, Ravello. View its interesting Cathedral devoted to Pantaleone, and the Villa Rufolo, a venue for many festivals throughout the year, and magnificent gardens. View the Gulf of Salerno and its beautiful coastline. Enjoy the landscape on your return to Sorrento, where you will enjoy dinner and overnight.

Transfer to the pier in Sorrento and travel to Capri by hydrofoil. The isle of Capri is described in many ways: “The Blue Island,” “The Sleeping Beauty,” or better, “The Island of Love.” Due to its beauty, Emperor Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire from this island for 10 years. Take a panoramic tour of the island by small minibuses and the Blue Grotto (weather permitting) by row boats with a local guide, including a visit to the wonderful Marina Piccola; the Salto di Tiberio, the “heart” of Capri; Piazza Umberto I, a small, closed off square resembling a courtyard; the gardens of Augusto, built on the ruins of ancient Roman structures. Return to Sorrento this evening for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast transfer to Naples or Rome airport for return flights home with memories for a lifetime!

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.