YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO FLORENCE, ASSISI & ROME

ITINERARY

Day 1. Monday, June 16: Transatlantic flight to Florence

Day 2. Tuesday, June 17: Florence

Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival in Florence, enjoy a walking tour of the downtown and browse the shops along the famous Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence. Have lunch on your own in the city. Tonight, enjoy dinner with fellow travelers at your hotel in Florence. (D)

Day 3. Wednesday, June 18: Florence

A full day in Florence. Begin with the Convent and Museum of San Marco, with a short visit to its church to render homage to St. Antonino, archbishop, and patron saint of Florence. Continue to the church of Santissima Annunziata to pray before the miraculous painting of Our Lady and the relics of St. Julianna Falconieri. Afterwards, visit its magnificent cathedral, the fourth largest church in Europe, and admire its beautiful baptistery doors. Choose from many great options to have lunch on your own. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Florence (BB, D)

Day 4. Thursday, June 19: Florence – Assisi

Today, journey to the medieval city of Assisi. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica housing the Porziuncola Chapel, where St. Francis spent most of his life; the rose bush; and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Afterwards, visit the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis, housing his relics; and, pay homage to St. Clare at her Basilica. Enjoy some time at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. (BB, D)

Day 5. Friday, June 20: Assisi - Rome

Head to the Eternal City! Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic driving view of Rome. After lunch on your own, visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church and the center of Christianity. The church is built on the site where St. Peter died a martyr and where he was buried in 64 AD. Walk through the massive, jubilee doors to gain the Jubilee Year indulgence, touch the beloved statue of St. Peter, and admire Michelangelo’s Pieta. Pray before the incorrupt body of St. Pius X and render homage to the many buried popes. Visit also the Treasury, which contains church ornaments, statues, papal miters, and various objects, usually gifts of kings or princes. The rest of the day is free. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Rome. (BB, D)

Day 6. Saturday, June 21: Rome

This morning, begin your visits to four of the major basilicas by heading to the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, erected directly over St. Lawrence’s tomb and also housing the relics of the first martyr, St. Stephen. Next, visit the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme which contains fragments of the Cross, a nail, two thorns from Christ’s crown, a piece of the sponge that was offered to Him, a fragment of the scroll that hung on the Cross, and one of the 30 coins of Judas. Earth from Calvary lies beneath the floor. Then, admire the mother of all churches, St. John Lateran, the Pope’s Basilica, from which he makes solemn declarations ex cathedra. Nearby, visit the Scala Santa, the sacred stairs upon which Our Lord walked after His scourging. In some places, stains of the Precious Blood could still be seen.  Continue to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, housing two of Christianity’s greatest treasures: the manger from Bethlehem in which the Baby Jesus was laid following His birth, and a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Salvation of the Roman people. The basilica was built on the site where a miraculous snowfall occurred in August of 356. Finally, visit the Colosseum, Rome’s historical symbol and greatest amphitheater which staged deadly combats for many years. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (BB, D)

Day 7. Sunday, June 22: Rome

Today, enjoy a walking tour of downtown Rome beginning with the Spanish Steps, in the heart of the Piazza di Spagna. Head to the Church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, where St. Maximilian Kolbe celebrated his first Mass and Alphonse Ratisbonne’s conversion took place and then to SS. Apostoli. Then visit Il Gesu, the Jesuit Mother Church and the headquarters chosen by St. Ignatius shortly after he founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. Continue to attend the Sunday Papal blessing. Finally, in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, one of the few Gothic structures in Italy, which houses the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Italy, pray before her relics; a devotional chapel made from the room where she died can be visited by entering the sacristy. Enjoy free time and dinner on your own. Overnight in Rome. (BB)

Day 8. Monday, June 23: Rome

Enjoy a tour of the world-famous Vatican Museums and admire the collection of art and sculptures from centuries of Church history, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms. Take an exclusive Scavi Tour of the Vatican necroplis, the excavations under the Vatican where the bones of St. Peter were discovered in the 1950s. Only 250 people are allowed to visit per day. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (BB, D)

Day 9. Tuesday, June 24: Rome

This morning, visit the Catacombs of St. Calixtus, the oldest and most important cemetery along the Via Appia. The area includes the tombs of many martyrs and popes, including Sixtus II, a venerated pontiff who was killed with his deacons, one of them St. Lawrence, patron saint of Rome. Continue to the Basilica of St. Sebastian Outside the Walls. The altar to St. Sebastian contains his relics and is placed directly above the area where the saint had been buried in the catacombs. Afterwards, pray before the relics of St. Paul the Apostle inside the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, with its outstanding marble canopy over the high altar. Then, visit Tre Fontane Abbey, where St. Paul was beheaded. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (BB, D)

Day 10. Wednesday, June 25: Rome

An entire free day in the Eternal City. Tonight, sample one of Rome’s many incredible restaurants. (BB)

Day 11. Thursday, June 26: Rome – Excursion to Genazzano

Journey to Genazzano to venerate the miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Counsel. This miraculous image traveled from Albania, crossed the Adriatic Sea, and descended onto one of the church’s unfinished walls. The portrait is suspended in the air and has been so for over 500 years. It is one of the most miraculous and venerated images of Our Lady in Italy. Upon return to Rome, enjoy some free time. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner with your travel companions to celebrate the end of a beautiful pilgrimage. (BB, FD)

Day 12. Friday, June 27: Flight Home

Transfer to Rome Fiumicino airport for your homebound flight.