14 Day Wines and Shrines of Italy

*** DAILY MASSES INCLUDED ***

DAY 01 - NORTH AMERICA / ITALY. Tour members gather at the ticket counter at the airport three hours prior to their evening departure for Milan. Dinner is served in flight.

DAY 02 - MILAN / ARRIVAL. Arrival at Milan airport, meeting with our Tour Manager and transfer to the city center for having a brief panoramic city tour with him. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight.(D)

DAY 03 - MILAN / MONTICHIARI / SOAVE / VENICE. Breakfast and depart towards Montichiari for visiting with our Tour Manager the Sanctuary of Rosa Mistica where in 1966 Pierina Gilli saw Virgin Mary. Continuation towards Soave where we visit a wine cellar of the ominous Soave wine. On to Venice Mestre for for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 04 - VENICE / CONEGLIANO / VENICE. Breakfast and transfer by private boat to Venice where we visit (with local guide) St. Mark Square and Basilica, Doges Palace, Bridge of the Sights, etc. After free lunch, transfer to Conegliano area where we'll visit a cellar where the sparkling white wine Prosecco is produced. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 05 - VENICE / PADUA / LORETO / ASSISI. Breakfast and depart to Padua where we'll visit with our Tour Manager St Anthony Basilica where there are his relics. Continuation to Loreto to see with our Tour Manager the Sanctuary of the Holy House containing the house in which the Virgin Mary lived. On to Assis for dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 06 – ASSISI. Breakfast. Half-day panoramic city tour (with local guide) of this beautiful medieval city, includingthe Basilicas of St. Clare and St. Francis (with the Tomb of the Saint). Rest of the day at leisure for personal activities and for the visit with our Tous Manager of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (where "Portiuncola" is located). Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 07 - ASSISI / TERAMO / LANCIANO / SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO. Breakfast and depart to Teramo area where we'll visit a cellar where the red wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is produced. On to Lanciano to visit the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle where in the eighth century a monk who had doubts about the Real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, found when he said the words of consecration at Mass, that the bread and wine changed into flesh and blood. Contuinuation to San Giovanni Rotondo for dinner and overnight.

DAY 08 - SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO / POMPEII / NAPLES. Breakfast. Morning visit with our Tour Manager the places related with Saint Pio. Then continuation to Pompeii for visiting the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary and the Old Excavations (with local guide) preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Next we continue our journey, arriving in Naples. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 09 - NAPLES / ARDEA / ROME. Breakfast and walking through the city center. Then depart to Ardea near Rome for visiting the wine cellar Donnardea. On to Rome for dinner and overnight on hotel.

DAY 10 – ROME. Breakfast. Panoramic city tour (with local guide) seeing Colosseum, Roman Forum, Baths of Caracalla, Tiber Island, Castel Sant'Angelo etc. In the afternoon visit (with local guide) the Basilica of St Peter, with the possibility to visit also the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 11 - ROME / SIENA / GREVE IN CHIANTI / FLORENCE. Breakfast. Depart to Siena where we'll visit (with local guide) the architectural wonders of this beautiful town, including the Cathedral and Piazza del Campo where the "Palio" is held every year. Transfer to Greve for visiting a cellar where Chianti wine is produced. On to Florence. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

DAY 12 - FLORENCE / PISA / ASTI. Breakfast. Half-day panoramic city tour (with local guide) including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio etc. Depart towards Pisa for seeing with our Tour Manager the incredible Leaning Tower. Continue to Asti. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 13 - ASTI / ALBA / TURIN. Breakfast. Visit to a typical cellar where the sparkling white wine Moscato is produced. Then transfert to Alba for the visit of another wine cellar and then depart towards Turin. We see the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Consolation, a prominent Marian sanctuary and minor basilica in central Turin. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 14 - TURIN / MILAN / RETURN. Breakfast. At due time transfer to Milan airport for taking our flight back USA.