14 Day Venice, Padua, Florence, Assisi, Rome and Medjugorje

*** DAILY MASSES INCLUDED ***

DAY 1: U.S.A. / EUROPE.  Tour members will depart to Venice.  Dinner will be served aboard the flight.

DAY 2: ARRIVE VENICE / MESTRE. Upon our arrival at the airport we will be met and transferred to our hotel.  Time at leisure before dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 3: VENICE. After a good breakfast we will have a full day tour of Venice, including St. Mark's Cathedral (celebrate Mass), Doges Palace and the Academy of Fine Arts.  Optional Gondola ride is available. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Mestre (Venice).

DAY 4: VENICE / PADUA / FLORENCE. After a good breakfast we will drive to Padua.   During our walking tour we will visit the Basilica of St. Anthony and his tomb. After Mass, we travel to Florence across serene Tuscan countryside. We arrive in Florence, the city considered to be the cultural heart ofItaly and former stronghold of the Medici family, for dinner and overnight.

DAY 5: FLORENCE / PISA / SIENA / ASSISI.  This morning we visit the Academia that houses the Michelangelo's original statue of David.  We will also see the Santa Croce Church, the famous church where Dante, Michelangelo, Leonard da Vinci and many others are buried.  Then we drive to Pisa to see the Leaning tower.  Time to stop for photographs and then on to Siena.  We drive through the heart of Italian wine country, over rolling hills of Chianti, in a beautiful land-scape of a Renaissance painting.  In Siena, you will be lead to the Piazza del Campo, through narrow streets, past medieval towers and walls.  You'll feel immersed in a unique atmosphere. Then on to the mystic province of Umbria and its capital city of Assisi, town of St. Francis.  Also visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli with the "thornless rose bush", Celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 6: ASSISI. After breakfastwe will tour the Basilica of St. Francis built in 1228 to house the Relics of the saint. The “upper “ basilica houses beautiful frescoes of Giotto.  Mass will be celebrated. Then we visit theChurch of St. Clare which to this day houses her incorrupt body. We have time for leisure activities on our own. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7:  ASSISI / ORVIETO / ROME.  This morning depart Assisi for Orvieto with a stop in the cathedral, where in 1263 a Eucharistic Miracle took place. Continure to Rome. Our deluxe motor coach takes us on apanoramic tour around the city to view the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus , Arch of Titus and Palatine Hill. We celebrate Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 8:  ROME. Enjoy a visit to The Pantheon, Piazza Navona as well as the Basilicas of Mary Majorto celebrate Mass. We end our day visiting the world famous Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain then  some time to enjoy a gelato. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. 

DAY 9:  ROME. Early morning transfer to the Vatican to attend the weekly Papal Audience (Wednesday). Afterward sightseeing will include the Vatican City which includes St. Peter's Square, Church of St. Peter, Vatican Museum and Gallery, Raphael's Rooms, the Sistine Chapel  Return to our hotel for time at leisure.  Dinner at our hotel tonight.

DAY 10:  ROME. After breakfast, wevisit the Holy Staircase and celebrate  Mass  at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Then we transfer to the city Center for a walking tour throughout the Fountains and squares of Rome. Some time at leisure for last minute souvenir shopping. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. 

DAY 11:  ROME / SAN GIOVANNI / BARI. Early morningbreakfast and departure for San Giovanni,  to celebrate Mass at the Tomb of St. Pio. Visit the convent of Santa Maria Della Grazie where Padre Pio lived and the modern Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church was built in 2004 behind the Santa Marie Della Grazie Church Then continue our drive to Bari. Board our overnight ferry to Dubrovnik.

DAYS 12:  MEDJUGORJE.  Upon arrival in Dubrovnik we meet our guide and board our motorcoach for our drive to Medjugorje for our sightseeing of the Holy Shrines.

DAY 13:  MEDJUGORJE.   Today is a day of leisure for personal devotions.

DAY 14:  MEDJUGORJE/ DUBROVNIK / NORTH AMERICA.  This morning we return to Dubrovnik for our flight home.