0804BA2 - Italy Pilgrimage with Oberammergau Passion Play 11 days from Philadelphia

Today we depart Philadelphia International Airport to connect with our overnight flight to Frankfurt aboard a wide-bodied jet, and then transfer for our early morning flight to Rome. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast while aloft.

Following our mid-day arrival in Rome, we are greeted at the airport by our Tour Manager and board our coach bus for our ride through Rome to our hotel. We stop to enjoy lunch on our own en-route to our hotel. Pending availability of our accommodations, we have time to relax and re-energize before we enjoy our “welcome dinner” celebrating the start of our pilgrimage in honor of our patron Saint, Augustine. Depending on our final schedule there may be time to celebrate Mass before dinner. Overnight at our hotel in Rome.

This morning, we depart for the famous Piazza Navona, originally known as the Stadium of Domitian, and then, Circus Agonalis, before it eventually retained the name it is known by today. Under Pope Innocent X, this Roman piazza was transformed by the construction of various statues, elaborate fountains, and numerous church buildings. The now famous Bernini masterpiece “The Fountain of Four Rivers” has been featured in numerous movies, including “Angels & Demons”. The Church of Sant’Agnese in Argone is located nearby and houses some of the most magnificent Catholic artwork outside the Vatican! Following a break for lunch on our own at one of the many trattoria’s that dot the area, we visit the Basilica di Sant’Agostino, an Augustinian parish where the tomb of St. Monica is located. We celebrate Mass here before returning to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today, we board our coach bus for a very short drive to the nearby port of Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman seaport that now lies over 2 miles inland because of silt deposited over the centuries at the mouth of the famed Tiber River. It was in this port that St. Augustine arrived after leaving North Africa in 382. It was also here that St. Monica would later fall ill and die in 387, at the age of 55. Shortly after her death, St. Augustine left for North Africa from this same port. Following our visit, we break for lunch on our own as we return to Rome, the city where Augustine taught rhetoric (public speaking) before eventually journeying to Milan where he met St. Ambrose. We stop at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four major basilicas in Rome! Our visit is followed by a walking tour of the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, the Coliseum, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We conclude our day at the Church of St. Peter in Chains to view Michelangelo's possibly most celebrated sculpture, the "Moses." Time permitting, we celebrate Mass here before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we visit Vatican City, where we view the treasures of the famous Vatican Museum. We marvel at Michelangelo's recently restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the wonders of St. Peter’s Basilica. We visit Sant’Anna Parish, the parish of Vatican City, staffed by the Augustinian Friars. This afternoon, following lunch on our own, we continue our day with a visit to the Holy Stairs and Basilica of St. John Lateran. We then proceed to our next stop, St. Paul Outside the Walls. This huge, imposing Basilica, second in size only to St. Peter’s and one of the largest churches in the Christian world, contains an unusual gallery of papal portraits: 265 tablets portraying the popes of the past. We conclude our day at one of the Catacombs, the early burial places of 2nd and 3rd century Christians. While here, we celebrate Mass and view the unique fresco paintings. We return to our hotel in time for dinner and overnight.

Today, we visit St. Monica’s, the International Headquarters of the Augustinian Order for an informal tour. While there we celebrate Mass. Following lunch on our own, the remainder of the day is free for shopping, relaxation, or personal adventure. This evening, we will have the opportunity to explore the culinary delights of Rome, as tonight dinner is on our own. Overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we again make our way to St. Peter's for a public audience with Pope Francis (pending if he is in residence). After the audience, we immediately depart for Milan, stopping for lunch on our own and a break along our beautiful scenic drive through central Italy, a route dotted with vineyards and olive orchards! We arrive in time for a late dinner and overnight at our hotel in Milan.

This morning, our first stop is the Duomo di Milano, one of the largest cathedrals in Italy and a gem of gothic architecture and magnificent stained-glass windows. We visit the place where St. Ambrose, baptized St. Augustine as a Catholic! While here we will renew our baptismal vows. We also visit the tomb of St. Charles Borromeo, the first Archbishop of Milan and the “Patron Saint of Seminarians”. Following a break for lunch on our own, we travel a short distance south of Milan to Pavia and the Basilica of San Pietro Ciel d’ Oro, the final resting place of St. Augustine. While there, we have an opportunity to celebrate Mass, pending the final schedule. After our visit to Pavia, we return to Milan and our hotel with a short time to relax before we enjoy dinner and overnight in Milan.

into beautiful Germany. We will stop along our route for lunch on our own. No visit to Germany would be complete without a visit to one of its numerous castles. Today, along our route to the hotel, we stop at the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Built in the 19th century by German King Ludwig II as a retreat from Munich and in honor of King Ludwig’s dear friend, famed composer Richard Wagner. Since the castle was open to the public, it has seen no less than over 61 million visitors, averaging nearly a million per year! Following our visit to the castle, we continue our journey and arrive in Fussen, time permitting, we celebrate Mass at a church nearby before dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning we arrive in Oberammergau, the famous Passion Play village and the Oberammergau Museum. Following our visit to the museum, we enjoy the quaintness of this traditional German village, which retains much of the charm of the area. We walk among the many craft shops nearby, as well as enjoy lunch on our own before we head off to the Theatre in the early afternoon. “A play about death and life, promised at the moment of a fatal threat “– these are the opening words of the story of the Oberammergau Passion Play in 1633. In the middle of the Thirty Years War, after months of suffering and dying as a result of the plague, the people of Oberammergau vowed to perform "The play of the passion, death and rising of our Lord Jesus Christ" every ten years. At Whitsun 1634, they kept their promise for the first time, on a stage which they had set up in the cemetery, over the graves of those who had died of the plague. In 2022 Oberammergau will, for the 42nd time, be putting on the play that has been carried on over the centuries in a unique continuity. The play shows the story of Christ's Passion, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the resurrection. The structure of the play is living pictures from the Old Testament and acted scenes from the New Testament. The Play employs a large choir and orchestra. Our performance runs 2:30 to 5:00 PM and after a 3-hour dinner break (intermission). Following our included dinner, we return to view the conclusion of the play (8:00 to 10:30 PM). We overnight at our accommodations nearby.

This morning, we celebrate Mass at a nearby church, followed by some time of reflection before we break for lunch on our own. Our afternoon is free to do any last-minute shopping or simply to relax and enjoy the Old-World German hospitality for which this area is known. We conclude our day with our “farewell” dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we make our way to the airport in Munich for our flight home, filled with spirit filled memories of a lifetime.