Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Evening overnight flight departure from Newark, NJ to Rome, Italy.
Day 2
Morning arrival at the Rome Fiumicino Airport. Transfer into Rome stopping at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the first of the four major basilicas of Rome that we will visit. Continue on to our hotel in the heart of the ancient historical district close to the market squares of Campo de Fiori and Piazza Farnese and steps away from the FSSP Church of Santissima Trinita de Pellegrini, which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year. Mid-afternoon check-in for rest or for exploring the area.
Day 3
Today is the Anniversary of the founding of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in 1988. This morning join with Fraternity priests and laymen at a Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving for the 35 years of service to the Church celebrating its charism of preserving the Traditional Latin Mass. Later this afternoon visit the Petrine site of the Church of Domine Quo Vadis located on the ancient Appian Way where Peter encountered the Lord and the Basilica of St. Sebastian Outside the Walls where you can see the Catacombs and resting place of the great saint the church was named for. This evening gather with priests and friends of the Fraternity of St. Peter for a special reception and dinner to celebrate the Anniversary.
Day 4
Make an early morning visit to St. Peters Basilica to visit and pray at the tomb of St. Peter in thanksgiving for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and enjoy the quiet before the thousands of tourist arrive. Later this morning depart on an excursion to honor St. Thomas Aquinas, XIII Century “Angelic Doctor”! Travel southeast of Rome to the village of Monte San Giovanni Campano in the Lazio Region. Here visit the mountaintop castle which was the 13th century home to the Aquinas family. This is where the young Thomas Aquinas was locked up by his family to prevent him from joining the Dominican Order. After two years, they relented and released him and as history tells us, he went on to become the “Prince of Theologians” who wrote the Summa Theologica, a major work greatly influencing and guiding the philosophy and theology of the Catholic Church ever since. Holy Mass in the castle tower rooms where St. Thomas was imprisoned followed by a tour of the castle grounds and splendid banquet lunch in the palace hall. Late afternoon return to Rome.
Day 5
A day to take in the treasures of Christian Rome. This morning set out on a walking tour with Fr. Akers to explore some of Rome's most beautiful and hidden churches to discover the relics of many notable and venerable saints while also admiring magnificent works of art. Later this afternoon visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran, built by Emperor Constantine, whose IV Century conversion ended two hundred years of Christian persecutions. Then visit the Scala Santa, the church enclosing the staircase that Christ ascended to face Pontus Pilate. Time permitting make a stop on Esquiline Hill to see the magnificent Basilica of St. Mary Major, "Our Lady of the Snows". On this last evening in Rome you may want to walk across Tiber to the famous Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere to enjoy a cappuccino.
Day 6
Check out and depart for Assisi, the city of St. Francis & St. Clare. Upon a late morning arrival in lower Assisi, first visit the grand Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Inside the Basilica is the Porziuncola Chapel (place where the Franciscan Order was founded) and the Capella del Transito (built over the site where St. Francis died). Later ascend to the upper part of Assisi to visit the Basilica of Santa Chiara (see the San Damiano Cross from which St. Francis heard Our Lord imploring him to rebuild His church). Walk the quaint cobbled streets to the main square to the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (a former Roman temple) and the XIII century Basilica of S. Francesco to pray at the tomb of our beloved St. Francis. Upon entering the upper Basilica take in the breathtaking Giotto Frescoes depicting the life of St. Francis and many of the miracles connected to him. Leaving Assisi we travel north to beautiful Tuscan City of Arezzo for overnight.
Day 7
Full day excursion to the exquisite city of Florence, capital of Tuscany. Here visit the magnificent Duomo (Cathedral) and Baptistry and the Convent of San Marco to see the famous fresco of the Annunciation by Fra Angelico. Enjoy a panoramic walk passing by the famous sites of the Ponte Vecchio (over the Arno River), the Uffizi (most famous art gallery in Italy) and the Galleria dell’Accademia. Some free time in the afternoon to enjoy more of Florence on your own. Return to Arezzo for overnight.
This morning make a stop in Arezzo city center to visit the ancient Cathedral of St. Donato. Mid-morning departure for Ravenna on the Adriatic Coast. Ravenna is most noted for magnificent mosaics from the Byzantine period. UNESCO has designated 8 sites in Ravenna for the preservation of these early period mosaics. Time to visit Basilica of San Vitale, the Neonean Baptistry and Basilica of St. Apollinare. Then continue on to Padua for check in and overnight.
This morning at leisure to visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Anthony. Pray at the tomb of this great Franciscan saint and learn of the many miracles associated with his life. Early afternoon visit to the Shrine of St. Leopold Mandic to learn of the life and work of this Capuchin friar and priest from Croatia and known as a great confessor and spiritual director, sometimes spending 13 to 15 hours a day in the confessional. Later this afternoon we travel a short distance up the coast to check our hotel with the city of Venice in view.
Full day in Venice. An excursion to the floating jewel of Venice, a collection of 118 small islands connected by canals and bridges. Travel by water taxi along an ancient commercial waterway and embark in Venice in front of the Church of San Simon Piccolo which is served by the FSSP. Following Mass, set off on a tour of Venice, a once great maritime power of the Middle Ages and Renaissance era’s and starting point for the Crusades and the Christian Navy, under the direction of Don Juan of Austria, which defeated the Turks in the great battle of Lepanto. See St. Mark’s Square and golden Basilica of San Marco to venerate the tomb of St, Mark, the great “Lion of God”, whose body was brought here from Egypt in 828. Enjoy some free time before returning to mainland. Farewell dinner.
Morning transfer to the nearby Venice Marco Polo Airport for check-in. Late morning departure for Newark, NJ.
