1013LH6 - Catholic Italy Pilgrimage 11 days from Detroit

Today we depart Detroit airport to connect with our overnight flight to Florence aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft.

This morning, we arrive in Florence where we are met by our Unitours Tour Manager and board our motorcoach for our short ride to the delightful spa town of Montecatini Terme. The balance of the day is at leisure to stroll through the inviting streets of this charming town. We enjoy our “welcome” dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today we visit Florence, our first stop is “Piazzale Michelangelo” for the best panoramic view of this spectacular city one could ask for. We proceed with a tour of the Academia Gallery, where we view one of Michelangelo’s most famous works, “David”. Then, if possible, we celebrate mass at Duomo (also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), in the heart of the city and the fourth largest in the world! There we admire the cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, its campanile by Giotto. Once outside we view the Baptistery’s with its incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti. We continue our tour of Florence with 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.”. We break for a late lunch on our own at one of the many trattorias that dot the riverfront area, along Florence’s Arno River. The remainder of the day is free for personal shopping and browsing this fascinating city on our own. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Friday, October 16 - DAY 4 –

This morning we visit one of the most famous recognizable sites in Italy, the “Leaning Tower of Pisa”, the bell tower of the famous Duomo. After Mass in the cathedral, we visit the Baptistry and the Campo Santo, all found in the main Square of Miracles. This area is framed by beautiful medieval walls. Following our visit, we continue to Montecarlo in Lucca area, famous for the DOC wine produced here. We enjoy wine tasting and a light lunch. In the afternoon we return to Montecatini and have free time before dinner at our hotel and overnight.

Today, we journey through the Italian countryside arriving in the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets. After we celebrate Mass at the Dominican Church commemorating St. Catherine, to the famous Piazza del Campo. This shell shaped square is the dramatic setting for the annual Palio bareback horserace. The piazza's focal point is the Palazzo Pubblico, the public palace, which dates to 1250AD. We continue uphill to the monumental Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary. We enjoy free time for lunch on our own and shopping or browsing. In the afternoon we continue south through Umbria to the hilltop village of Assisi, the home of Saint Francis. Our first stop will be the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis' Church of the Little Portion. We continue to Assisi for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we begin our day with Mass at the Basilica and tomb of St. Francis, followed by a walking tour of the village. Included, is a stop at the Church of St. Clare to view the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis. We pass the famous Temple of Minerva in the Piazza del Comune. The early Christians converted the temple and bestowed on it the name of the powerful Virgin Mary, a saint who could neutralize any lingering pagan power and influence. We stop at “Chiesa Nuova” atop the childhood home of St. Francis, built by King Philip III of Spain in the 1600s where a bronze statue of St. Francis’ parents sits outside. We also visit San Damiano, a tiny church located outside the walls of Assisi. According to legend, it was here that St. Francis first heard the voice of God telling him to “rebuild the church”. It is also where he wrote his famous Canticle of the Creatures. This afternoon, following a break for lunch on our own, we visit the Church of St. Mary Major and the Shrine Sanctuary of the Renunciation, which marks the spot where young Francis was said to have disrobed from his “rich man’s clothes” to adopt a simple robe which would become the symbol of the Franciscan Order. This site also holds the glass sarcophagus of St. Carlo Acutis, the first “Millennial Saint” to be canonized. Following our veneration of this young man who was “in-love” with the Holy Eucharist, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today, we depart Assisi and head to Cascia, a town in the Italian province of Perugia, a remote area in Umbria, to visit the Shrine of St. Rita. St. Rita is one of the most popular Italian saints. She was a married woman, a mother, a widow, a nun, a stigmatist, and later, a mystic. The Basilica of St. Rita contains her incorrupt body, several relics from her life, and a Eucharistic miracle from before her time. St. Rita was canonized in 1900. We celebrate Mass while there. We continue to Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, and visit the Monastery of St. Benedict on the Mountain, a Benedictine community where Fr. Michael lived as a monk. The monks are well known for their Gregorian Chants, and the production of a famous brew of beer “Birra Nursia”, famous all over Italy. We enjoy a special lunch here with the monks before we continue to Montesilvano for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we journey to Lanciano, a town in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy to see the Eucharistic Miracle which took place in approximately 700AD. A monk in the small Church of St. Legontian witnessed the bread change into flesh and the wine change into blood after he had doubts about Christ’s true presence in the consecrated host. After celebrating Mass, we continue to Rome, stopping along our route for lunch on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today, we set out early to St. Peter’s for an audience with Pope Leo if he is in residence. After the audience, we enjoy free time for lunch on our own and shopping. This afternoon we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the largest church in Rome dedicated to our Blessed Mother and celebrate Mass and have our group photo taken! We walk to the nearby Church of St. Alphonsus, bearing the original icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Our last stop today will be the Patheon and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. We see the Spanish steps and throw our coin in the Trevi fountain as we vow one day to return to the Eternal City. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Rome.

This morning, we rise early for morning Mass at the Vatican, within St. Peters, before we see the treasures of the Vatican Museum. We marvel at Michelangelo's restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the wonders of St. Peter’s. This afternoon, following a break for lunch on our own, we continue to the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran. It is here that St. Francis persuaded Pope Innocent III to give permission to begin the Franciscan Order. We stop at the Santa Scala, purportedly the stairs which Christ climbed prior to his condemnation by Pontius Pilate. We continue to St. Paul Outside the Walls. This huge, imposing Basilica, second only to St. Peter’s is one of the largest churches in the Christian world, contains an unusual gallery of papal portraits: 266 tablets portraying the Popes of the past. We visit Trastevere, the oldest part of Rome, and have our “farewell” dinner at a local restaurant with entertainment. Overnight at our hotel in Rome.

Today we make our way home with memories of a lifetime.