10 Days / 8 Nights
Peter baptized the Roman centurion Cornelius, traditionally considered the first Gentile convert to Christianity, in Acts 10. Based on this, the Antioch church was founded. It is also believed that it was there that the term Christian was coined. Christianity arrived on the Italian peninsula in the first century, probably by unknown travelers, traders or soldiers. The Letter to the Romans of Paul the Apostle is addressed and attests to the presence of Roman Christians in the first century. Christians in Rome were also in touch with St. Peter and St. Paul the Apostle, both of whom went to Rome on mission and were eventually martyred there. One of the first Italian bishops and popes was Clement of Rome who wrote a letter to the Christian community in Corinth (1 Clement) around AD 96.
ROME, SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, LANCIANO, LORETO, ASSISI, SIENA, FLORENCE, VENICE, PADUA, MONTICHIARI, MILAN
Itinerary
Today we depart for Rome from your home city.
Welcome to Rome! After clearing customs your Perillo Tours representative will greet you along with your driver and air-condtioned motor coach and transfer to your hotel, the rest of the day is at lesiure. In the evening a welcome dinner at a local restaurant is arranged, after retiurn to your hotel for overnight accommodations.
After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, world famous for Michelangelo's ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment. Continue to monumental St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Cross the Tiber River and visit the Colosseum, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, and the Roman Forum, where Roman legions marched in triumph. After, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations.
We depart Rome after breakfast and drive towards Monte Sant’Angelo visiting the Grotto of Michael the Archangel: many Popes have knelt here in prayer seeking the protection of Saint Michael. In San Giovanni Rotondo we see the places associated with Saint Pio. We see his room and confessional and the Crucifix from which Saint Pio received the stigmata. Dinner and overnight accommodations at our hotel in San Giovanni Rotondo.
We depart San Giovanni Rotondo and drive towards Lanciano passing through Manoppello to see the shrine of the Holy Face. The Holy miracle of Lanciano resides in the sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle near the Piazza Plebiscite. Continue to Loreto and visit the family home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, located inside the Basilica of Loreto. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Loreto.
We continue our tour arriving in Assisi and to explore the hilltop birthplace of St. Francis. In the crypt of St. Francis Basilica lies the tomb of one of the most beloved Saints of all time, St. Francis of Assisi. See the Basilica of Saint Clare and the Crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis, than the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the place where the Miracle of the Eucharistic of Assisi took place in 1240, and the Porziuncola on the lower plains of Assisi. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Assisi.
After breakfast we drive in the direction of Tuscany to Siena, a jewel of Gothic Art, home of the famous palio. After a guided tour and a stroll through the urban “contrade” we visit and a local farm with delicious Tuscan specialties for our tasting treats. After we proceed to Florence to our hotel for check-in dinner and overnight accommodations.
Breakfast at hotel and morning to discover and admire the capital of Italian Renaissance. Walking tour including the Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio. Break at Piazza Michelangelo to enjoy the panoramic view of Florence and tasting a glass of wine with appetizers or the classic Italian cappuccino. Then proceed to Venice/Mistre mainland for dinner and overnight accommodations.
Breakfast at hotel. From Venice Tronchetto transfer by private boat to San Marco Square. Enjoy a guided tour of a glass blowing factory with a master glassblower demonstration. Time permitting an optional gondola ride may be of interest. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations.
After breakfast departure for Padua we visit the Basilica of St. Anthony and the remains of the Saint. After we proceed to Montichiari, a small town in Milan region where in 1947 Miss Pierina had a vision of the Virgin Mary, Time at leisure to visit the Sanctuary of the Mystic Rose. Proceed to Milan for check-in to our hotel with dinner and overnight accommodations.
After breakfast at your hotel a morning guided panoramic tour including the magnificent Gothic Cathedral “Duomo” and the world famous mural Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper". Time permitting at leisure till departure. Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Inclusions
- Round-trip air: USA-ROME / MILAN-USA
- Meet and Assist upon arrival by your perillo Tours representative
- Private air-conditoned motor coach with an english speaking Christian guide
- Choice of hotels in 3, 4 or 5 star accommodations
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Sightseeing per itinerry
- All entrance fees
- Daily mass
- Hotel taxes and service fees
- Porterage of 1 suitcase per person at hotels
- All transfers
- USTOA 1 Million Dollar Assistance Program
This itinerary may be modified to the requirements of your group
**Ask about our Church donation program**
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.