Grand Catholic Italy - Faith-based Travel

OVERVIEW

On this Faith-Based vacation, discover Italy from Rome to Venice. Start your trip in Rome, Italy's capital, with a welcome dinner and guided tours with a Local Guide to the Holy Stairs, St. John Lateran Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major Basilica, the Catacombs, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.Travel to Montecassino to visit the first of the Benedictine monasteries founded by St. Benedict around 529 AD. Then journey to Italy's eastern coast and San Giovanni Rotondo, home to the beloved St. Padre Pio. Visit his Friary, the Old Church, and the New Church. Next, visit the Shrine of Monte Sant'Angelo, one of Christendom's most celebrated shrines and where St. Michael the Archangel appeared in the 5th and 17th centuries.Via Lanciano's Church and the Holy House of Loreto, travel to Assisi, where guided visits to the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare are included. See the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis and visit the St. Mary of the Angel's Basilica and the Portiuncula.On the way to Florence, stop in Siena and visit the Sanctuary of St. Catherine and the Basilica of St. Dominic. Spend two nights in Florence and enjoy a guided sightseeing tour including a visit to Michelangelo's David. Stop in Padua to visit St. Anthony's Basilica and arrive in Venice. Enter Venice by private boat to meet your Local Guide and visit St. Mark's Square and Basilica. Later, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant"a perfect ending to your Grand Catholic Italy vacation.With Globus, you'll see more than a place. You'll discover its story.

ITINERARY

FULL ITINERARY

Day 1 - ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY. Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 - ROME. EXCURSION TO CASTEL GANDOLFO. CASTEL GANDOLFO Guided visit of the Papal Palace and Barberini Gardens.
ROME Guided visit of the Vatican Museums features the Sistine Chapel. Visit St. Peter's Basilica and walk in St. Peter's Square. 
50 mi / 80 km (B)

Day 3 - ROME. ROME This morning, attend the Papal Audience (subject to availability). Free time for lunch. Guided sightseeing Includes visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls, Catacombs of Domitilla, the Holy Stairs, St. John Lateran Basilica, St. Mary Major Basilica. (B)

Day 4 - ROME - CASCIA - ASSISI. CASCIA Orientation walk. Visit Major and Minor Basilica and attend [M] Mass.
ASSISI Inside visits of St. Mary of the Angels Basilica and the Portiuncola. 
168 mi / 270 km (B,D)

Day 5 - ASSISI. ASSISI This morning, attend [M] Mass followed by a guided walking tour. Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, St. Clare's Church, Carceri Hermitage and St. Damian Monastery. Free time this afternoon. (B)

ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Assisi with an excursion to Spello. This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase at MyGlobus. Get local maps and free time tips on your GlobusGO mobile app.

Day 6 - ASSISI - SIENA - FLORENCE. SIENA Walking tour with a Local Guide includes visits to St. Catherine Sanctuary and house, and the Basilica of St. Dominic. Drive to Florence.
FLORENCE Free time this afternoon. Dinner at hotel. 
127 mi / 205 km (B,D)

Day 7 - FLORENCE. FLORENCE Visit the Academy of Fine Arts. Guided walking tour includes Cathedral Square. Attend [M] Mass at the Duomo. Free time this afternoon. (B)

Day 8 - FLORENCE - PADUA. Scenic drive through the Apennine Mountains and arrive in the Po area.
PADUA Guided sightseeing includes visit to the Basilica of St. Anthony. 
155 mi / 250 km (B)

Day 9 - PADUA. EXCURSION TO VENICE. VENICE. Private boat ride. Guided walking tour includes visit to Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and St. Mark's Basilica. Free time this afternoon. Return to Padua for a farewell dinner this evening at your hotel. 
62 mi / 100 km (B,D)

Day 10 - PADUA. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (The nearest airport is Venice.) (B)