Grand Catholic Italy - Faith-Based Travel 11 days from Rome to Venice, or 12 days incl. travel (TV) Vacation Overview Enjoy 11 days in Italy, from Rome to Venice! In Rome, enjoy a welcome dinner, attend the weekly general audience of the Pope (subject to availability), and guided visits to St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Catacombs, St. John Lateran Basilica, the Holy Stairs, St. Mary Major Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum. Continue to St. Rita s Cascia and visit Major Basilica, which houses her tomb, and Minor Basilica, home of the Eucharistic Miracle. Arrive in Assisi, where guided visits to the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare are included. Also included are visits to St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, and the Portiuncola, where St. Francis founded the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in 1209, as well as the Carceri Hermitage and the Monastery of St. Damian. An optional excursion to magnificent Spello is available. Enjoy a full day at leisure in Assisi, then enter Tuscany and stop in Siena to visit the Basilica of St. Dominic and the Sanctuary of St. Catherine. Walk through the ancient narrow lanes of Siena to Piazza del Campo, theater of the biannual Palio, before continuing to Florence. Here, guided sightseeing includes a visit to Michelangelo s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square. Stop in Padua to visit St. Anthony s Basilica, and arrive in Venice. Enter by private boat to meet your Local Guide and visit St. Mark s Square and Basilica. A farewell dinner marks the conclusion of your vacation. Note: April 2 Departure - Good Friday & Easter Sunday in Assisi. Four Ways Globus Eliminates the Hassles VIP Access Skip the lines and get special treatment at the must-see attractions. Central Hotels We've done the work to find just the right hotels in the heart of the city. Tour Directors Take your heads out of the guidebook and let expert guides make every destination fascinating. Transportation Leave the navigating to us and just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Map Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Rome, Italy Time to rest or to start exploring the Eternal City. At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director, then enjoy this evening s welcome dinner with wine at a local restaurant. (Dinner) Day 2 Rome Attend the weekly general audience of the Pope (subject to availability). This afternoon, visit ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS and the CATACOMBS. During the persecutions, the catacombs were used as places of refuge for the celebration of the Eucharist. Next, visit ST. JOHN LATERAN BASILICA, the HOLY STAIRS, which were brought from Jerusalem to Rome around 326 AD by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. As a favorite of pilgrims everywhere, these 28 white marble steps may only be ascended on the knees. Then, visit the impressive ST. MARY MAJOR BASILICA. (Breakfast) Day 3 Rome This morning, 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. (Breakfast) Day 4 Rome Cascia Assisi Enter Umbria and stop in the town of Cascia to explore the life of St. Rita, known as the Saint of the Impossible. Visit the MAJOR BASILICA, the chapel that houses the tomb of St. Rita, and the MINOR BASILICA, home of the Eucharistic Miracle, which is commemorated each year with the Feast of Corpus Christi. Arrive at the hilltop village of Assisi, home of St. Francis and St. Clare. Here, visit ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS BASILICA, where St. Francis consecrated St. Clare as the Bride of Christ, and the PORTIUNCOLA, where he founded the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in 1209. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 5 Assisi Celebrate Mass this morning followed by a guided walking tour of Assisi. Visit the BASILICAS OF ST. FRANCIS and ST. CLARE, and see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis. A short trip by minibus will take you to the CARCERI HERMITAGE, where St. Francis came to meditate and pray, an oasis of peace and tranquillity in the midst of the woods of Mount Subasio. Finally, visit the MONASTERY OF ST. DAMIAN, a Franciscan shrine built on the spot where St. Francis heard the voice of Christ, and where he wrote the Canticle of the Creatures. The convent founded by St. Clare is still intact; here she died in 1253. This afternoon you may wish to join an optional excursion to magnificent Spello. (Breakfast) Day 6 At Leisure in Assisi Attend Mass this morning and enjoy a full day at leisure to relax or to further explore the city. Optional excursions are available. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 7 Assisi Siena Florence Leave Assisi and enter Tuscany. Stop in Siena and visit the BASILICA OF ST. DOMINIC and the SANCTUARY OF ST. CATHERINE. Enjoy a walk with a local expert through the ancient narrow lanes to beautiful PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, theater of the biannual Palio, Siena s spectacular medieval-style horse race. In the afternoon, continue to Florence, Cradle of the Renaissance. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 8 Florence Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto s Bell Tower, the Baptistry s heavy bronze Gate of Paradise, and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. End your walking tour in SANTA CROCE SQUARE and admire its splendid basilica. (Breakfast) Day 9 Florence Padua Venice Depart for Padua and meet your Local Guide. Visit the BASILICA OF ST. ANTHONY to see the tomb and reliquaries of this miracle-working saint and patron of lost and stolen articles, and
enjoy Mass. Journey on to Venice, one of the world s most romantic cities. Tonight is your chance to sample one of Venice s fine restaurants. (Breakfast) Day 10 Venice This morning, enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT and start sightseeing with your Local Guide. Visit ST. MARK S SQUARE and its BASILICA, lavish DOGES PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. The afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to join an optional gondola serenade or attend Mass at the Basilica. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with wine. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 11 Venice Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast) Vacation Highlights INCLUDED FEATURES ROME Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Catacombs, St. John Lateran Basilica, the Holy Stairs, St. Mary Major Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum; Papal audience (subject to availability)cascia Visit the Major and Minor BasilicasASSISI Celebrate Mass; visit the St. Mary of the Angels Basilica and the Portiuncola; guided walking tour, visit the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare, the Carceri Hermitage and Monastery of St. DamianSIENA Guided walking tour, visit the Basilica of St. Dominic, the Sanctuary of St. Catherine, and Piazza del CampoFLORENCE Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo s David, the cathedral, Signoria Square, and Santa Croce SquarePADUA Guided visit of St. Anthony s BasilicaVENICE Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark s Square and Basilica, Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers demonstration; farewell dinnerheadsets throughout the tour INSIDE VISITS Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable. Accommodations MEALS Full buffet breakfast; 5 three-course dinners, including a special welcome dinner in Rome and a farewell dinnerin Venice SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class ROME Albani (F), ASSISI Giotto (F), FLORENCE Hilton Garden Inn (F), VENICE Plaza (F) at Mestre
Optional Excursions Important Note: the following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation as they are the excursions that are being offered for this vacation in the current travel year. These optional excursions might or might not be offered next year, as well as new optional excursions might be offered. Information about what optional excursions will be offered for your vacation will be available later this year into next year. If no example excursions are listed, please check back later. Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by handpicking optional excursions that appeal to them. Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency; you can use our online currency converter for exchange rate information. CITY: Florence Tuscan Dinner Drive out to the Tuscan Hills to enjoy a traditional Florentine meal, including drinks, in a picturesque country setting. Approximate value: EUR 53 per person Highlights of Uffizi Gallery Admire the world's greatest collection of Italian and Florentine art. The GALLERY showcases works by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo. Approximate value: EUR 34 per person Royal Dinner with the Prince Delve into the past and experience a noble Italian dinner welcomed by a Prince in traditional costume who will tell you stories and show you around the historical building. Savor tasty specialties, drinks, and musical entertainment-a unique experience! Approximate value: EUR 45 per person CITY: Rome Excursion to Tivoli Leave Rome for a guided visit of the famous VILLA ADRIANA or the VILLA D'ESTE GARDENS and FOUNTAINS in Tivoli. Approximate value: EUR 49 per person Roman Highlights A guided walking tour takes you to some of the most famous monuments. Admire the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti, Piazza Navona, Parliament, and Pantheon. A four-course dinner including
drinks at a popular Roman restaurant can also be added for the total price of EUR 65.00 per person. Approximate value: EUR 37 per person Roman Hidden Treasures Your Tour Director will propose a tailor-made itinerary for your tour that features some of Rome's authentic jewels such as: Trastevere and its basilica of Santa Maria or the baroque district, Campo de' Fiori, the Pantheon and San Luigi dei Francesi with Caravaggio paintings or famous Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Via dei Condotti and Piazza del Popolo with its church of Santa Maria del Popolo and displays of Caravaggio paintings. Approximate value: EUR 37 per person CITY: Venice Lagoon Cruise with Lunch or Dinner in Burano Leave the crowds of Venice behind and appreciate the peaceful vistas of the Lagoon while you glide past the islands of San Giorgio, Santa Elena, and the famous Lido. In the picturesque fishing village of Burano, renowned for its pastel-colored houses, savor a four-course lunch/dinner with drinks included. Afterward there's time to shop and stroll. Approximate value: EUR 67 per person A Venetian Night Out Travel by private water taxi along the splendid Grand Canal with its elegant palaces to a fine Venetian restaurant, and taste four mouth-watering courses of local specialties and wine. Later there's time to explore and absorb the romantic and unique atmosphere of Venice by night. Approximate value: EUR 68 per person Gondola Serenade Enjoy a serenaded ride in a traditional gondola (for 6 people), gliding through centuries-old canals, under famous arched bridges, and past lavish palaces and quaint piazzas. Approximate value: EUR 37 per person