Day 1: U.S.
Depart for your overnight flight to Italy.
Day 2: Milan
Arrive in Milan & transfer to hotel. Relax & prepare for the incredible journey ahead, enjoy a delicious espresso, or shop the outlet stores. The day is yours, & this glorious Italian city is at your fingertips.
Day 3: Milan – Turin
Experience the history & culture of Milan on a walk through the Piazza del Duomo. Visit Milan Cathedral, a masterpiece housing the famous statue of Jesus’ Apostle Bartholomew, & the Teatro al Scala, Milan’s famous opera house. Enjoy a stroll down Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which features Milan’s latest fashions. Afterward, head for Turin to visit the Holy Shroud Museum. Get a closer look at a copy of the Shroud of Turin, the burial cloth that covered Jesus & still bears His image today. The exhibition includes displays of scientific experiments & historical studies made on the cloth.
Day 4: Turin – Padua
Travel to Padua & visit the Scrovegni Chapel, which features the frescoes of famous Italian artist Giotto, a marvelous illustration of the life of Christ & Mary. Continue to the Basilica of St. Anthony. The cathedral features a display of multiple architectural styles & houses several human relics, one of which is the tongue of the Saint himself.
Day 5: Padua – Florence
After breakfast, leave for the city of Florence. Visit the 15th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which features Ghiberti’s bronze doors, a stunning depiction of the New Testament. Admire a copy of Michelangelo’s David at the Piazza Della Signoria & see the famous bridge standing over the Arno River, the historic Ponte Vecchio.
Day 6: Florence – Assisi
See the cathedrals of Assisi today. Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where inside you can find a smaller church, the 9th-century Porziuncola, a gift to Saint Francis of Assisi. View the incorrupt body of Saint Clare at her tomb, inside the Basilica of Saint Clare. Walk down into the crypt of the Basilica of Saint Francis, which features the neo-classical styled tomb with the Saints remains. Afterward visit the neighboring Friary of St. Francis, which features a museum & a library.
Day 7: Assisi – Cascia – Rome
The route to Rome includes a stop in the town of Cascia, famous twice over in Catholic circles. Inside the 20th-century Sanctuary of Saint Rita, lies the body of the Patron Saint of the Impossible who received the Stigmata of Our Lord during the 15th century. You can actually see her incorrupt body that was reported to have sat up & risen! The sanctuary also features the bleeding host of the 14th-century Eucharistic Miracle.
Day 8: Rome
This morning, visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, known for its 5th-century influenced mosaics honoring Virgin Mary, & the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, which houses the official chair of the Bishop of Rome. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus on the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs. Transported to Rome from Jerusalem, Jesus carried His cross up these stairs. The original wooden stairs can actually be found underneath the marble. This afternoon includes highlights of Rome’s ancient history. Visit the Imperial Forum & the Coliseum, the famous elliptical amphitheater of the late Roman Empire.
Day 9: Rome
Discover Vatican City, the home away from home of all Catholic pilgrims. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world & the resting place of Saint Peter, the first Bishop of Rome. Explore the Vatican Museums, an extensive collection of art, history, & culture. See the amazing Sistine Chapel, located inside the Apostolic Palace, the residence of the Pope. Most famous for its ceiling, the chapel displays some of the most beautiful, inspirational, & spiritual illustrations of all time. The cardinal priests also gather here when it’s time to elect a new pope. Enjoy time of leisure this afternoon & a final overnight stay in Italy.
Day 10: Rome – U.S.
Enjoy breakfast in Rome this morning. Afterward, transfer to airport & board your return flight home.
