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1104DL3 - Dominican Italy Pilgrimage 14 days from Pensacola


Trip Flyer
Airline Name Baggage Information
Delta Air Lines http://bit.ly/wMUFk1

Special Package with this Trip :
International departure taxes of $125 plus current fuel surcharges of $320 are included (subject to change).

Tour Code Departure Date Cost per person
DLB1104BF 11/04/2023 $7599.00
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Trip Details

Today we depart Pensacola to connect with our overnight flight to Rome aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast aloft.
Following morning arrival in Rome we travel north through the Italian countryside to the beautiful lakeside town of Bolsena. We celebrate Mass at the Lakeside Chapel in Bolsina Bolsena, known for a miracle said to have occurred in the Basilica of Santa Cristina in 1263, when a Bohemian priest, in doubt about the doctrine of Transubstantiation, reported bleeding from the host he had consecrated at Mass. Following our included lunch, we visit the Church of Santa Christina. We continue north, arriving in the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets. Dinner is on our own. Overnight at our hotel.
We discover on this tour the places visited by St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Italy, co-patron saint of Europe, and Doctor of the Church. We celebrate Mass at altar of St. Catherine at the church of San Domenico. Following Mass, we meet our guide. Inside the Basilica we admire the relics of the Saint’s finger and head. We discover the inner greatness of this small but great Sienese woman, who fought to bring peace to all of Europe. From here we move on to visit the house-sanctuary, where Catherine was born and lived for most of her life. We see where her bedroom was, and the remains of her family’s kitchen. We then descend to Fontebranda, the oldest fountain in Siena. The tour ends in the beautiful Piazza del Campo, with the famous Palazzo Pubblico that had just been completed at the time of St. Catherine. We have free time for lunch on our own and browsing before returning to our hotel. Dinner at a restaurant in Siena. Overnight at our hotel.
Today we drive to Montepulciano, the "Pearl of The Renaissance". We begin with Mass at the Altar of the Tomb in the Dominican Monastery, which was home of St. Agnes of Montepulciano. We visit the temple church of "San Biagio" and walk to the "Piazza Grande," and visit the cathedral, town hall, and some noble palaces. We also visit the Cellar Ercolani, where we enjoy pecorino cheese and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We make our way from there to lunch at La Terazza del Chiostro in Pienza (weather permitting for an al fresco lunch on their terrace) After lunch we leave Pienza, to Montalcino, "great and noble fortified city" as Pope Pius II defined it. Rich in churches and monuments, Montalcino is also famous for its Brunello wine. We stop at La Fortezza winery, located right inside the ancient fortress of Montalcino, a place rich in history that was the symbol of the last glorious defense of the Sienese Republic in 1555 against the Florentine Hispanic troops. Here you will have the opportunity to purchase the excellent wines of the region should you choose. Return to Siena and our hotel. Dinner is on our own.
This morning, we drive to San Gimignano the nearby medieval town famous for its tower houses built as symbols of the residents’ wealth and power. The town is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a “World Heritage Site.” Walking through the Old City means plunging into the Middle Ages and getting a taste of what the city must have been like more than seven hundred years ago. We celebrate Mass at the St. Fina chapel today. Afterwards, we visit the nearby hospital with the relic of her bed. She was a saint who died at 15 years old after having been confined to this “bed” (wood panel) for 5 years of illness. We enjoy lunch in San Gimignano at Le Terrazze restaurant upstairs by the windows. We return to Siena and our hotel for overnight. Dinner is on our own.
This morning, we drive to Florence, where we begin with a drive to the “Piazzale Michelangelo” for a panoramic view of the spectacular city. We continue to the city where we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of San Marco. We meet our guide and begin our tour with a visit to the convent of San Marco and the wonderful Fra Angelico frescoes. We then continue to the Duomo, the heart of the city. Here we admire the cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, and its campanile by Giotto. Once outside we view the Baptistery with its incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti. Afterwards, we set out to the Piazza della Signoria, dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio and its embattlement crowned tower. Across from the Palace,we visit the Loggia dei Lanzi with the statues of the Perseus by Cellini; Giambologna's the “Rape of the Sabines” and “Hercules.” Free time for lunch on our own and some time for shopping or personal adventure. We conclude with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce. Among the most famous interred here, are Galileo, Rossini, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli. We return to hotel in Siena. Dinner at a restaurant in Siena.
This morning we depart Siena for a short ride to Arezzo, an ancient capital of Etruria and a small medieval jewel. Upon arrival our sightseeing will include the Cathedral [where you will also find the 14th-century tomb of Pope Gregory X], the Church of Santa Maria della Pieve, Piazza Grande, the Church of St Francis with the famous frescoes by Piero della Francesca and Giorgio Vasari’s birthplace. We celebrate Mass at the Church of Saint Dominic here. Following our included lunch in Arezzo, we return to Siena and our hotel. We enjoy dinner in the city on our own.
This morning, we drive due north to Bologna, one of the culinary capitals of Italy. Situated on the southern edge of the Po plain, Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, has many medieval towers, churches and long arcaded streets lined by sumptuous 14c to 17c palaces. With one of the oldest universities in Europe, one can imagine the political and cultural importance of this once independent city. Following Mass at the tomb of St. Dominic at the 13c St. Dominic’s church with statues by Michelangelo and its celebrated arch by the sculptor Niccolò da Bari, we see the Neptune Fountain, Town Hall, and leaning towers. We enjoy a wonderful Bologna lunch in the city. After our visits and free time, we return Siena where dinner will be on our own.
This morning, we walk for Mass and a visit the Duomo with its wonderful works of art. Leaving the Duomo we descend the stairs which lead to the baptistery and there we hear some more stories about the life of St. Catherine. This afternoon will be free for rest, personal exploring and lunch our own here in Siena. We will enjoy an included dinner in a Siena restaurant.
Today we depart Siena for Rome. On route, we stop in Orvieto for a visit and Mass in the Corporal Chapel at the breathtaking Cathedral, which is known as the jewel of Italian architecture. Inside the Cathedral is the Chapel of the Corporal, which houses the altar cloth stained with the blood of Christ from the eucharistic miracle, the site of which we visited in nearby Bolsena. In the 13th century a pilgrim priest named Peter of Prague was celebrating Mass at the crypt of St. Cristina. He was having a faith crisis concerning the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and while speaking the words of the consecration, blood started to drip from the consecrated Host. After the miracle, Pope Urban instituted The Feast of Corpus Christi. Following our included luncheon here, we continue to Rome for overnight. We enjoy a reception on the hotel’s rooftop including prosecco and some appetizers. (Rooftop is weather permitting. Otherwise inside hotel,) Dinner is on our own. Overnight at our hotel in Rome.
This morning, we enjoy a walking tour of Rome’s sites including a visit to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Italian designer shops along the Via Condotti. We celebrate Mass at St. Catherine’s Tomb in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Following lunch on our own, this afternoon by coach, we visit one of Rome’s major basilicas, St. John Lateran, the nearby Holy Stairs, and the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. We continue for dinner at Hostaria Costanza, Fr. Joe’s favorite restaurant in Rome.
This morning, we make our way to St. Peter's for an audience with Pope Francis if he is in residence. Following lunch at Ristorante Scarpone, we celebrate Mass at Santa Sabina (Dominican Headquarters in Rome) and after, we enjoy a walking tour of some more of Rome’s highlights passing the Roman Fora, the Arch of Constantine, the Coliseum, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We return to our hotel and dinner is on our own tonight.
Following morning Mass at and a brief visit at St. Peter's, (See note below) pilgrims will have chosen one of two options. Either we spend this morning seeing the treasures of the Vatican Museum with the special “Art and Faith Tour” offered by the nuns of the Missionaries of the Divine Revelation: to marvel at Michelangelo’s restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and continue to St. Peter’s Basilica to view the “Pieta” OR enjoy the ‘Scavi Tour, a special tour of the excavations beneath the Vatican where the body of St. Peter was found. We visit in groups of twelve. When not below, we enjoy shopping in this area. Following lunch on our own, this afternoon we are free for shopping, personal adventure, and rest. Dinner will be in a local restaurant this evening. Note: the option for this morning will be selected at the time of registering for the pilgrimage.
If possible, we celebrate Mass at the parish near the hotel before we continue to the airport to make our way home with memories of a lifetime.
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