*** DAILY MASSES INCLUDED ***

Day 1: USA - Malta. Depart USA for our trans-Atlantic flight. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.

Day 2: Malta. Arrive at Malta International airport, meet our English speaking guide and transfer by coach to the hotel for room allocation. Dinner and Overnight

Day 3:

"Once safely on shore, we found that the island was called Malta.

The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold . . . " Acts 28: 1-2

After breakfast, departure for a full day excursion to Rabat and Mdina. First stop at Mosta, which today is a busy market town. At its center is the magnificent domed church called the "Mosta Rotunda". On the way to Rabat, next stop is at Ta' Qali, where visitors are able to enjoy seeing the local craftsmen at work. Continue towards Rabat and stop to visit St. Paul Church-founded in 1575-and Grotto. Beneath the church is St. Paul's Grotto, where, according to tradition, the Apostle Paul was held captive by the Romans for three months following his shipwreck on the Islands in AD 60. Our group then stops at a local restaurant for lunch, included. After lunch break, we visit the Roman Domus. This museum houses remains of Malta's roman period. Finally we walk through the streets of Mdina, Malta's first capital. Today it is known as the Silent City. We then visit the Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul which is the masterpiece of the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gaf?. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Malta. Soon after breakfast, we depart at 10:00 and proceed to St. Paul Anglican Church in Valletta. Mass celebrated in English at about 10:45. Transfer back to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5:

"Three months later, we set sail in a ship which had passed the winter at the island."

"Then, we sailed around the toe and arrived at Rhegium." Acts 28:11 & 13

Early morning transfer to the port (5:30am) to embark the ferry to Sicily. Arrive in Pozzallo, east of Sicily at 8:30. Upon arrival, meet coach and depart for visit to city of Siracusa, site of St. Paul's arrival in Sicily en route from Malta to Rome. Today, Siracusa is the site of well preserved Roman ruins as well as a vibrant Italian seaport. Circumnavigating the base of Mt. Etna, we will continue to Taormina, a hillside sea resort on the Eastern coast of Sicily. Time at leisure to explore this beautiful destination. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

Day 6:

" . . . The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them . . . "
Acts 28:13 & 14

Early morning departure to cross the Straits of Messina via ferry for a trip north along the western coast of Italy, through the regions of Calabria and Campania. Enroute to Sorrento, stop for a visit at the beautiful city of Amalfi on the Amalfinata Coast. Arrive in Sorrento for dinner at hotel and overnight.

Day 7: Breakfast and departure towards Naples. Orientation Pilgrimage of this picturesque city, sloped down from the hills towards the sea like an amphitheatre. Bounded on one side by Vesuvius and on the other by the Phlegraean fields, the result is a scenario of extraordinary beauty, sung by poets and writers down through the ages: Virgil, Boccaccio, Milton, Shelley, Cervantes, Goethe, Byron. Free time to taste the best "pizza" and "espresso caffe" of the world. Continue towards Pozzuoli. Stop at the old port where Paul landed on the ship from Alexandria by the Three Taverns. Continue north to the city of Gaeta. Dinner and overnight

Day 8:

" . . . This is how we finally came to Rome."
Acts 28:14

Breakfast and departure towards Rome. First stop is in Minturno to visit the ruins of this well preserved roman village located along the Appian Way, which is the same that St, Paul would have seen during his trip to Rome. Continue north passing along the sites of Foro Appio and Tres Tabernaes, still on the Appian Way.

"The brothers there had heard that we were coming and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us . . . " Acts 28:15

Arrive in Rome in the late afternoon, dinner and overnight.

Day 9:

"When we got to Rome, Paul as allowed to leave by himself with a soldier to guard him . . . " Acts 28:16

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to St, Peter's Basilica for a visit. Board our bus and transfer to central Rome for a walk through the very core of Roman antiquity. We see Trajan's Market, Nero's Golden House, Trajan's Forum and Column, Arch of Constantine, House of Knights of Rhodes. We visit the Mamertine Prisons, where St. Peter was held prisoner, we continue our visit with the Roman Forum, that was the civic heart of Republican Rome. Proceeding then along Via Fori Imperiali to see Arch of Titus the Emperor who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. We also visit St. Peter in Vincoli - see the Michelangelo's Moses - and Coliseum. Then drive through the Ancient Appian Way and visit the St. Sebastian's Catacombs where the bodies of St. Paul and St Peter were laid before moving them to St. Peter's and St. Paul's churches. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 10:

"Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila; they were my fellow workers in the service of Christ Jesus and even risked their lives for the sake of mine. Remember me also to the congregation that meets in their house . . . " Letters to Romans 16:3-5

After breakfast, transfer to the Church of St. Paul within the walls to attend the Anglican Sunday ceremony. The Pilgrimage continues with a visit to the church of St. Paul "Alla Regola" where Paul lived and worked as a "leather tanner" during his second stay in Rome or the "Mitreo" in the church of "Santa Prisca", where St. Paul lived with his Greek friends Aquila and Prisca. After lunch, transfer to the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the walls built on the remembered tomb of San Paul. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Morning breakfast at hotel and day at leisure. It would be possible to visit the Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel and the Basilica of St. Peter. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

Day 12: Breakfast at hotel then departure to the airport for your return home.