TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Pass through all 4 Holy Doors in Rome
Tour of the Colosseum
Receive blessing with the glove and crucifix of Padre Pio
Visit the cave where St Michael’s appariation happened
Visit the mysterious ‘Holy Face of Manoppello’
Tour the Basilica of St Francis Assisi and the Church of St Clare
Visit the Duomo of Turin which houses the Shroud of Turin
ITINERARY
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Make wishes at the Trevi Fountain, Rome’s most photographed site before we adjourn to the Spanish Steps, the most popular meeting point of the Romans and tourists.
Visit the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the oldest of four major basilicas in Rome. For nearly a thousand years, the Lateran Palace adjacent to the basilica was the primary residence of the Popes until the papal court moved to the Vatican.
Continue to Saint Mary Major, the oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Visit the world’s smallest state, Vatican City. Attend the Papal Audience in St Peter’s Square and receive a blessing from the Pope.
Visit the World’s largest basilica, St Peter’s Basilica with its magnificent dome. Enter through the Holy Door to admire Michelangelo’s Pieta as well as Bernini’s famous canopy and many other intricate mosaic masterpieces in the basilica (Note: No miniskirt and shorts allowed. Shoulders must be covered).
Continue to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome. Enter the Holy Door to receive special indulgences.
Drive south to San Giovanni Rotondo in Puglia, a town renowned for its association with St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. A beloved Catholic saint and Capuchin Friar who lived in the town for much of his life.
Visit the New Church with our local guide. Receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix of St Padre Pio. Enjoy a tour of the sanctuary, see the Old Church and the crucifix from which the saint received the stigma in 1918.
Drive to Monte Sant’Angelo for a visit to The Sanctuary of St Micheal the Archangel. Visit the cave where the apparitions of St Michael are said to have taken place with the altar marking the exact spot.
Head towards Manoppello in Abruzzo, central Italy.
With our local guide, visit the mysterious ‘Holy Face of Manoppello’, a relic believed to be a sacred image of Jusus Christ miraculously imprinted on a delicate veil-like cloth. Many believe it to be the Veil of Veronica, the cloth used by St Veronica to wipe Christ’s face on His way to Calvary.
Continue to the Church of St Clare in Assisi. The founder of the Order of Poor Clares is known for several miracles during her lifetime and was canonized just two years after her death. The Basilica of Santa Chiara was built in Assisi to honour her, and her uncorrupted body lies in the crypt of the basilica.
Tour the Lower and Upper Basilica of St Francis of Assisi. The Upper Basilica is striking with Gothic architecture and beautiful frescos by famous artists such as Giotto depicting scenes from the life of St Francis. The Lower Basilica contains the tomb of St Francis. It is also adorned with frescoes though its primary role is a place of prayers and reverence. (A private mass can be organized if the group is travelling with a priest).
A short distance away is the beautiful Tuscan city of Siena. Join our local guide for a tour of the Piazza del Campo, an iconic square in the heart of Siena and best known for hosting the Palio di Siena. Visit the Duomo with its striking façade with intricate marble sculptures and mosaics complemented by a richly decorated interior.
End the day in Padova in the Veneto region.
Drive to Milan and join our guide for a stroll through the compound of the Sforza Castle and be impressed by Leonardo Da Vinci’s design of this fortress and the city. A statue of the great inventor can be seen at Da Vinci Square.
Continue with an orientation tour around the city center. Admire the magnificent Gothic exterior of the Duomo, the glass & steel Galleria, the first building in Italy to be lighted by electricity and the La Scala Opera House where the world’s finest have performed.
Shop at boutiques along the popular Via Monte Napoleon after lunch.
Embark on a tour to Turin, the first capital of a unified Italy from 1861 to 1865. Meet up with our local guide for a tour of this historic city. Start in Piazza Castello, the heart of Turin, a grand square surrounded by some of the city’s most important buildings.
Admire the Palazzo Madama located right in the middle which served as a royal residence and now houses the Civic Museum of Ancient Art. The Royal Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which boasts luxurious interiors and beautiful gardens.
Visit the Duomo of Turin, the city’s most important religious building renowned for housing the Shroud of Turin, a highly venerated Christian relic. The baroque style Cappella della Sacra Sindone was constructed in the 17th century to specifically
Return to Milan.
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