Italy Pilgrimage with Father Chris Hartshorn Celebrating Father Chris Twenty Five Years of Priesthood June 17 27, 2019 visiting Assisi, Orvieto, Florence, Siena and Rome Traveling to Italy is a wonderful life experience as Catholics! This journey with Father Chris will gather us together at the center of our CatholicTraditions! We will be visiting places significant to our faith St Peter s Basilica, The Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum The Roman Forum plus many other historic landmarks in Rome. In Assisi, we will walk the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare Throughout our visit we will see spectacular Basilicas in Assisi, Orvieto, Siena Visit Charming Orvieto with its Gothic Cathedral Explore Highlights of Siena, home of St. Catherine of Siena, in a walking tour. Touring the beautiful Province of Tuscany including Florence, and the Chianti Region. Staying in a charming, family operated, Tuscan Villa in Poggibonsi outside Florence. There will be plenty of good wine, excellent cuisine and memorable companionship! All this in the company of Father Chris celebrating his Twenty Five Years of Priesthood Come join us you will be glad you did! Come celebrate Twenty Five Years Of Priesthood With Father Chris
Pilgrimage with Father Chris Hartshorn June 17 27, 2019 Itinerary Monday, June 17th Departure A mid-afternoon departure from Des Moines, and an overnight trans-atlantic flight to Rome. A light dinner and breakfast will be served prior to our arrival in Italy. Tuesday, June 18th Rome to Assisi On arrival at the Rome Airport Rainer Froehlich, our Tour Director, will meet us with a comfortable Tourbus for the drive north into the Province of Umbria and to Assisi, the beloved home town of St. Francis. An afternoon visit to lower town of Assisi and The Santa Maria degli Angeli to visit the Basilica built in her honor! Then up to the delightful old hillside town of Saint Francis where we will take a walk with our Tour Director.! This evening A Welcome to Italy dinner this evening at our hotel the heart of medieval Assisi will await us. (D). Wednesday, June 19th Assisi Today we spend in Assisi, the much-loved birthplace of St. Francis! Here a Franciscan Padre will show us the imposing Basilica with its serene Giotto Frescoes in the magnificent Upper and Lower Basilicas. A visit to Basilica of Santa Chiari (Santa Clare) is also planned this morning. Father Chris will celebrate Mass for us in the Basilica. Free time for personal reflection and lunch. Of course, time for shopping is planned. Lots to see and buy perhaps pick up a piece of the world-famous Deruta Pottery or just enjoy a glass of the local wine Frascati in a nearby café. Another fun group dinner this evening. (B,D). Thursday, June 20th Orvieto and Tuscany Our first stop today will be historic town of Orvieto to view its stupendous Gothic Cathedral and the many, multi-colored marble and beautiful mosaics. Father Chris will lead us in prayer in this lovely Church. Free time to stroll through the town admiring the local fruit and vegetable markets, the former Palace of the Popes and the famous gastronomic shops featuring the local specialty Olive Oil reputed to be the finest in Italy. After lunch we will continue into the Tuscany region and to San Gimignano, world-famous for its skyline of medieval towers. On to our Villa Hotel and home for the next three nights in the charming town of Poggibonsi in the heart of the beautiful Tuscany countryside! Weather permitting dinner will be served in the beautiful terrace of our Villa. (B,D). Friday, June 21st Tuscany and Florence A short drive to historic Florence one of the most beautiful cities in Europe! Our tour will include the Academy of Fine Arts to view Michelangelo s David, the Duomo / Cathedral, Signoria Square and the lovely Santa Croce Basilica. Learn more about the Renaissance period of Italian history. A special walking tour of the San Lorenzo area where the centuryold food market hall will tempt you for a light lunch. Florence is a shopper s paradise with leather fashions and bargains galore. Find a special café/taverna in Florence to enjoy a fun dinner with friends! (B). Saturday, June 22nd Tuscany Touring. Following a typical Italian Breakfast at our villa, we will make an excursion into the Chianti Wine region and the bustling market town of Greve for the Saturday markets. The markets are a wonderful stop to pickup locally hand-cratedtuscan souvenirs right here in the heart of Chianti Country. Next up is a stop at the historic Castello di Verrazzano for a guided tour of the cellars and wine estate followed by a wine tasting and lunch! Late afternoon return to our hotel to get ready for our week-end Mass and Eucharistic Celebration by Father Chris. Our Mass will be a part of the local Saturday Mass in nearby Franciscan Church of San Lucchese. (B,L).
Sunday, June 23rd Tuscany Siena Rome A short drive to Siena, the home of Saint Catherine of Siena where our local guide will introduce us to this historic town. This two-hour walking tour will highlight the Dominican church, the magnificent Cathedral and the main square in the city the Campo di Siena. After lunch in Siena, then we will drive south to the Eternal City of Roma! Our hotel is very close to the Vatican and Saint Peter s Basilica. We will enjoy a Rome by Night drive to see the illuminated highlights of Rome to conclude a wonderful day. Dinner is included at a local trattoria this evening. (B,D). Monday, June 24th Rome As today is Father Chris 25th Anniversary in the Priesthood, we will begin our day with a special Mass in St. Peter s Basilica. This will be a special treat as we join with Father in his celebration! We will then follow our guide to the Vatican Museums Musee Vaticano, The Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter s Basilica. After lunch we take a quick trip to explore the many sites and monuments of Ancient Rome including the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli. Built in the 5th century to house the relics of the chains that bound Saint Peter while imprisoned in Jerusalem. The Basilica of St. Peter in Chains also contains one of Michelangelo s famous works the enormous statue of Moses. Our Tour Director will offer many suggestions for dining this evening. (B). Tuesday, June 25th Rome Another full day touring in Rome plus an excursion to the Summer Residence of the Popes Castel Gandolfo. A visit and indepth tour of the famed Colosseum with our guide is also planned. Of course, no visit to Rome is complete without tossing a few coins into The Trevi Fountain or visiting the famous Piazza Navona to see the Bernini Fountains and perhaps enjoy one of the famous gelatos at the Tre Fontane or the Tre Scalini. Our afternoon visit into the countryside surrounding Rome will take us to Castel Gandolfo for a visit and stop for local lunch in a taverna nearby. Late afternoon return to Rome to ready for a special dinner at one of Father Chris s favorite restaurants The Trattoria Da Luigi. Lots of wine, music and song, not to mention outstanding food. (B,D). Wednesday, June 26th Rome and The Papal Audience Wednesday s in Rome mean The Papal Audience and Blessing in the Piazza San Pietro St. Peter s Square. We will gather in this beautiful space located directly in front of the Basilica for the Papal blessing by Pope Francis. Enjoy the celebration with many other pilgrims all singing in native tongues with many wearing their national dress. It is a very joyful celebration! After the audience there will be time for shopping the souvenir shops nearby for some last minute gifts. Don t forget to shop at the Sister s Store in the Vatican for a wide variety of religious artifacts. (B). Thursday, June 27th Farewell to Rome An early morning transfer to Rome Airport. A little last minute duty-free shopping at the airport, then boarding a plane for our return journey. Arrival home late evening. (B,L).
TOUR DETAILS LAND TOUR: Per person, double occupancy $2425.00 Single supplement : $425.00 AIR TRAVEL: We have group air travel booked from Des Moines and via Delta Airlines at a rate of $1545.00 including current taxes and fuel surcharges levied by airlines at time of ticketing. Should the price decrease you will be advised. A deposit of $50 per person for air travel will be invoiced upon receipt of trip deposit. If you are considering using airline frequent flyer miles, please contact your preferred airline. Note: you MUST be at the Rome Airport no later than 8.00am on June 18th to meet the coach and Tour director. Upon receipt of your tour deposit information will be send on air and insurance. TOUR DETAILS: Included: Accommodations: all first class and superior tourist hotels throughout in small privately owned hotels full of local character, charm and unique to the region. Breakfast daily with other meals as per itinerary. Complete sightseeing program with local guides. Travel in luxury motorcoach throughout tour. All admissions, service charges and baggage handling. Not included: Items of a personal nature, telephone calls, meals not mentioned in itinerary, driver and guide gratuities. PAYMENTS: A deposit of $500.00 per person (Check payable to The Travel Center) is due to confirm your participation. Final payment is due April 1, 2019. CANCELLATIONS; LAND ; All cancellations must be in writing. Deposits are refundable less a $150.00 per person administrative fee until March 31st, 2019. after that date and until May 1st, 25% fee will be assessed by tour operator Cancellations after May 1st and until June 1st will be assessed a 50% fee by tour operator. Cancellations after June 1st are subject to above and recoverable costs. AIR ; All airline tickets are non-refundable after issuance. The ticket can be reused on the same airline for any destination less the fee charged by Delta Airlines (generally $300 per person). INSURANCE : is highly recommended. Note: if insurance is purchased within 14-days of deposit/our cashing of your check, it generally covers pre-existing conditions. Call our office for further details. Name as it appears on your passport: Tour to Italy with Father Chris Hartshorn June 17-27,2019 Reservation form: First Middle Last First Middle Last Address: City/ Zip: Telephone: Home: Cell: Email: Date of Birth: Date of Birth: (Date of Birth is required for insurance) Mail to: either Father Chris or directly to The Travel Center Father Chris Hartshorn Anne Marie Pflanz Sacred Heart Church The Travel Center 1627 Grand Avenue 5805 Fleur Drive West Des Moines, IA 50265 Des Moines, Ia 50321 Tel: 515 225-6414 Tel: 515 287 3170 //515 865 4900 (cell) Email:Chris.Hartshorn@Sacredheartwdm.org Email; Apflanz@ttcdsm.com Signature: Date: A Valid Passport valid until December 28, 2019 is required for this journey.