Italy Pilgrimage

Tuesday, February 18 – DAY 1

DEPART USA – Today we depart Detroit to connect with our overnight flight to Venice (via Rome) aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft.

Hotel: Leonardo Royal Hotel Venice Mestre, Via Ca’Marcello, 6, Venezia

Wednesday, February 19 – DAY 2

VENICE – Upon arrival we are greeted by our Unitours guide, who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We checked into our hotel, then celebrated Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Venice. Getting ready for dinner! Tomorrow the full Venice experience.

Hotel: Leonardo Royal Hotel Venice Mestre, Via Ca’Marcello, 6, Venezia

Thursday, February 20 – DAY 3

VENICE – Known as the Queen of Cities, the glories of Venice have attracted Byron, Goethe, Wagner, Shakespeare and now us! We celebrate Mass at Santa Maria Della Salute, the magnificent church built to celebrate the end of the plague in 1631. Dedicated to Our Lady of Health, this basilica features famous paintings by Titian and Tintoretto, as well as a remarkable sculpture called “The Queen of Heaven Expelling the Plague.” We tour the incredibly rich Byzantine Basilica of San Marco where St. Mark, the gospel writer, is buried. Following lunch on our own, we enjoy a few hours to explore this great city including: its artisanal shops, the Great Canal, the architecture of the buildings and bridges or a romantic gondola ride through the inner canals of Venice on our own. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Leonardo Royal Hotel Venice Mestre, Via Ca’Marcello, 6, Venezia

Friday, February 21 – DAY 4

PADUA/MONTECATINI – This morning we make our way to the historical town of Padua, home to the enormous Basilica of St. Anthony. Though born in Portugal, St. Anthony spent the majority of his life in Italy and is entombed here. Following Mass and a tour of this grand church, we will break for lunch on our own at one of the café’s lining the beautiful Prato Della Valle, the largest public square in all of Italy and most of Europe. We continue to the delightful spa town of Montecatini Terme, on the outskirts of Florence. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Croce di Malta Wellness e Golf, Viale IV Novembre, 18, Montecatini Terme

Saturday, February 22 – DAY 5

FLORENCE – Off to Florence this morning where our first stop will be the Academia Gallery to view Michelangelo’s famous “David”. We continue for Mass and a visit to the Duomo, the heart of the city. Here we admire the cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, we continue outside to admire its campanile (bell tower) by Giotto and the Baptistery of St. John, the oldest religious monument in Florence and the place where all Catholics in Florence were baptized until the 20th century. Afterwards, we set out to the Piazza Della Signoria, dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio and its embattlement crowned tower. Across from the Palazzo, we visit the Loggia Dei Lanzi with the statues of the “Perseus” by Cellini; Giambologna’s the “Rape of the Sabines” and “Hercules.” Following lunch on our own and some free time for shopping or personal adventure, we conclude with a drive to the “Piazzale Michelangelo” for a panoramic view of city spectacular city. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Croce di Malta Wellness e Golf, Viale IV Novembre, 18, Montecatini Terme

Sunday, February 23 – DAY 6

SIENA/ASSISI – This morning, we journey through the Italian countryside arriving in the magnificent city of Siena. After we celebrate Mass at the Dominican Church which holds the relics of St. Catherine, a patron saint of Italy, we walk down to the famous shell shaped Piazza del Campo and then to the monumental Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Free time for lunch on our own and browsing. In the afternoon we travel south for a stop in the lower town of Assisi with a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis’ Church of the Little Portion. We continue onto Assisi where we soak in the peaceful beauty of St. Francis’ home before settling into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Hotel Windsor Savoia Assisi, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 1, Assisi

Monday, February 24 – DAY 7

ASSISI – We begin our day in Assisi with a Mass at the Basilica of St. Francesco, where St. Francis is buried. We enjoy a walking tour of the village with visits to 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”. After lunch on our own, we visit the resting place of newly beatified Blessed Carlo Acutis who was 15-years old when he died in 2006 from leukemia. Acutis’ tomb is located 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. This afternoon, our taxis take us up to the Hermitage of the Carceri, where Francis and his Friars retreated from the world to pray and fast. Here the grotto of St. Francis can also be seen. We continue to Rome to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Starhotels Michelangelo, Via della Stazione di S. Pietro, 14, Roma

Tuesday, February 25 – DAY 8

ROME – This morning we visit Vatican City where 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, the world’s largest church. St. Peter’s Basilica is the first of the 4 major basilicas in Rome, each with Holy Doors to pass through for a Holy Year Pilgrim’s Indulgence. This afternoon, we continue our tour with a visit to the Holy Stairs and Basilica of St. John Lateran, our second Basilica. 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 dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Starhotels Michelangelo, Via della Stazione di S. Pietro, 14, Roma

Wednesday, February 26 – DAY 9

ROME – This morning, we make our way to St. Peter’s for an audience with Pope Francis if he is in residence. After lunch on our own, we head to Abbey of Tre Fontine, where St. Paul was martyred, and then to St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, our third Basilica. This huge, imposing basilica, second only to St. Peter’s and one of the largest churches in the Christian world, contains an unusual gallery of papal portraits. We conclude our day with a visit to St. Mary Major, the last of our Basilicas. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Starhotels Michelangelo, Via della Stazione di S. Pietro, 14, Roma

Thursday, February 27 – DAY 10

SUBIACO/ROME – We depart this morning for Subiaco. It was here that St. Benedict and his sister St. Scholastica retired at the end of the 5th Century and built five little monasteries. We visit the Monastery of St. Benedict, which dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. We visit the Sacred Cave where Benedict lived as a hermit for three years. The staircase holds the earliest portrait of St. Francis without his halo or stigmata. We celebrate Mass here before returning to Rome for our Farewell Dinner with entertainment at a typical local restaurant. Overnight in our hotel.

Hotel: Starhotels Michelangelo, Via della Stazione di S. Pietro, 14, Roma

Friday, February 28 – DAY 11

RETURN TO U.S. – Today we make our way home with memories of a lifetime.