19 May Italy (9 Days / 8 Nights)
MILAN – SOTTO IL MONTE – MONTICHIARI – PADUA – FLORENCE – ASSISI – CASCIA – LORETO – ROME
DAY 1 – MILAN: Arrival at Milan airport. Transfer to the centre of the city in order to visit the Duomo, the Square, the Scala Theatre and the elegant street Corso Vittorio Emanuele etc. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight in Milano.
DAY 2 – MILAN – SOTTO IL MONTE – MONTICHIARI (55 km – 85 km): Breakfast. Departure to Sotto il Monte where we’ll visit this little city of John XXIII and the Museum dedicated to this Pope. On to Montichiari where in 1947 Pierina Gilli had a vision of the Virgin. Free time to visit the Shrine of the Mystical Rose. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and Montichiari.
DAY 3 – MONTICHIARI – PADUA (135 km): Breakfast. Departure to Padua where we will have time to see the Basilica of St. Anthony (where the rests of the Saint are kept) and the centre of the city. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation. Dinner and overnight in Padua.
DAY 4 – PADUA – FLORENCE (225 km): Breakfast. Departure to Florence, the capital city of Toscana. We’ll have a panoramic city tour including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio etc. Accommodation. Dinner and overnight in Florence.
DAY 5 – FLORENCE – ASSISI (172 km): Breakfast. Departure to Assisi for a half-day panoramic city tour of this beautiful medieval city, including the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (where “Portiuncola” is located), and the Basilicas of St. Clare and St. Francis (with the Tomb of the Saint). Rest of the day at leisure for personal activities. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
DAY 6 – ASSISI – CASCIA – LORETO (84 km – 146 km): Breakfast. Depart for Cascia where we’ll visit the Basilica of St. Rita where the rests of the Saint are kept. On to Loreto. Arrival and accommodation. Dinner and overnight in Loreto.
DAY 7 – LORETO – ROME (280 km): Breakfast. Visit the Shrine of the Holy House. Departure to Rome. Upon arrival we’ll enjoy a panoramic city tour of Ancient Rome (the Colosseum, Imperial Forum etc.). Dinner and overnight in Rome.
DAY 8 – ROME: Breakfast. Today enjoy a full-day sightseeing of the “Eternal City”: in the morning we’ll visit St. Peter’s Basilica with the Vatican Museums (included Sistine Chapel). In the afternoon we’ll visit the major Basilicas in Rome: the Basilica of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran plus the Holy Stairs. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
DAY 9 – ROME DEPARTURE: Breakfast. According to your flight departure time, transfer to the airport.