1026AC6 - Catholic Italy Pilgrimage 10 days from Toronto

Today we depart Toronto for our overnight flight to Rome aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast aloft.

This morning we arrive in Rome where we are met by our Unitours Tour Manager as we board our motorcoach for our visit to the Holy Stairs and Basilica of St. John Lateran. We stop along our route for lunch on our own. We conclude our day at one of the Catacombs, burial place of early Christians. We celebrate Mass here and view the 2nd and 3rd century fresco paintings. We return to our hotel for our “welcome” dinner and overnight.

We start our day early as we make our way to St. Peter's for an audience with Pope Leo XIV if he is in residence. This afternoon, following a break for lunch on our own we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major and then St. Paul Outside the Walls. We conclude our day with dinner at a restaurant nearby before returning to our hotel for our overnight.

This morning, we start our day at Vatican City to celebrate Mass beneath St. Peter’s. After mass we view 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 stop for lunch on our own, we visit the Basilica of St. Anastasia to view the relics of the Mantel of St. Joseph and the colorful Veil of our Blessed Mother! Both precious relics were brought to Rome from the Holy Land by St. Jerome in the fourth century AD before he was martyred by Emperor Diocletian. Both relics were left in the care of the church of St. Anastasia since it was one of the oldest “original” churches in Rome at that time. Legend has it that St. Joseph needed lumber for a task he was hired for and since he was without adequate funds, he pledged his wedding mantel as collateral for the lumber. The lumber merchant, a man named Ishmael reluctantly agreed to hold the mantel in exchange for the lumber. While the mantel was in his care, many miraculous events, both spiritual and physical happened to people close to Ishmael, including a sick cow that was healed! Ishmael asked to keep the mantel in his care and granted St. Joseph free lumber for life! Mother Mary conferred a specific blessing on the mantel and versions of that blessing have been handed down throughout the history of the church. We conclude our day with some free time before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today, we drive to Tuscany and, following lunch on our own along our route, arrive at the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce where we celebrate Mass. Among the most famous Italians interred here, lie Galileo, Rossini, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli. 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 finish our day at “Piazzale Michelangelo” for the best panoramic view of this spectacular city one could ask for. We then journey nearby to the delightful spa town of Montecatini Terme. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we return to Florence to spend more time in this beautiful city as we proceed with a tour of the Academia Gallery, where we view one of Michelangelo’s most famous works, “David” (or Medici Museum, depending on ticket availability). We continue with the celebration of Mass at the to the 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 with its incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti. We break for a leisurely lunch on our own and enjoy some free time for shopping or personal adventure in any of the many art museums or to have a walk along the Arno River admiring the enchanting Ponte Vecchio. This evening, our dinner location will be one of the restaurants of this enchanting city. Following dinner, we return to our hotel for overnight.

Today, we journey through the Italian countryside arriving in the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets. 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 1250. We continue uphill to the monumental Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Free time for lunch on our own before we continue south through Umbria to the hilltop village of Assisi, the home of Saint Francis for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we begin at the Basilica of St. Francesco with Mass. After our visit of the Basilica and the tomb of St. Francis, we begin our walking tour of the village with a stop at the Church of St. Clare to view the famous San Damiano crucifix. From this cross, Christ spoke to St. Francis telling him to “rebuild my Church.” Afterwards, we visit the resting place of newly canonized St. Carlo Acutis who was 15-years old when he died in 2006 from leukemia. Acutis' tomb is in Assisi's Sanctuary of the Renunciation, the spot where a young St. Francis of Assisi is said to have cast off his rich clothes in favor of a poor habit. We pass by the famous Temple of Minerva in the Piazza del Comune. This afternoon, we can enjoy this picturesque hillside village on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today, as we depart Assisi, our first stop is in the lower town for a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis' Church of the Little Portion, where we celebrate Mass before our journey back to Rome, stopping along our route for lunch on our own. We arrive at one of the most visited areas of Rome, the Piazza Navona and nearby church of San Luigi dei Francesi, well known for its stunning Contarelli Chapel, it also holds three masterpieces by Caravaggio depicting the life of St. Matthew. This is the French national church. It is adorned with Baroque art and architecture and attracts artists and art admirers from all over the world. The remainder of the day is at leisure before we gather at one of the areas popular restaurants for our “farewell” dinner. Overnight in Rome.

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