MIRACLES OF THE EUCHARIST (ITALY)
October 06 - 19, 2008

Featuring Milan, Padua, Venice, Siena, Orvieto, Assisi, Cascia, Loreto, Lanciano, San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant’ Angelo, & Rome

Air from Las Vegas

Travel Free:  Put together a group of 25 or more participants and travel for free 

Price: From $3,459 for 30 pax or more

Contact us for airfares from other cities

Prices are per person based on double occupancy, subject to change. 

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• Round-trip Economy airfare from Las Vegas
• Hotel accommodation based on double occupancy
• Transfer airport/ hotel/ airport
• Deluxe air conditioned motorcoach
• Daily breakfast & dinner
• Daily Mass
• Guide/Assistance services and entrace fees as specified in the itinerary
• Services of an English speaking Tour Manager throughout the tour.

Pricing excludes

• International Airport tax of appx. $300 to $400
• Tips to driver/ guide
• Drinks and any personal items
• Single room supplementary US$500
• Comprehensive insurance US$201

Spiritual Director: T.B.A.

Tour Coordinator: Ida Cowan @ 702-372-3810

ITINERARY

Day 1 USA/Rome Our Spiritual Journey to Rome begins as we depart the USA on our transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Rome Upon arrival we will be welcomed to Italy by our Tour Guide and transferred to our hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax or visit Rome on your own.(D)

Day 3 Rome/Papal Audience/Catacombs After breakfast transfer to the Audience Hall in the Vatican City to join pilgrims from around the world for an audience with his holiness the Pope (subject to Holy Father schedule and health). We continue to the Appian Way past the Chapel of “Domine Quo Vadis?” “to visit the Catacombs of St. Callistus, where early Christians hid to pray during the persecution, and then the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls, and pass by the Spanish Steps, Roman Forum and the Coliseum. (B,D)

Day 4 Rome/Vatican/Basilicas This morning we visit the heart, home, and spiritual capital for over one billion Catholics around the world. St. Peter's Basilica offers the devout pilgrim an experience never to be forgotten. Visit the Vatican Museum and Michelangelo’s celebrated “The Last Judgment” in the Sistine Chapel.  Later we will visit the tomb of Pope John Paul II and pay our respect. Continue to the other Basilicas of Rome: St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran.(B,D)

Day 5 Rome/San Giovanni Rotondo Morning departure to San Giovanni Rotondo. En route stop at Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio. We visit his home, the Church of Santa Ana, where he was Baptized and then we have Mass at Santa Maria degli Angeli. Next we stop at Piana Romana to visit the place where Padre Pio received the invisible stigmata. After our visit, we continue to San Giovanni Rotondo where we visit the new Church. (B,D)

Day 6 San Giovanni Rotondo/Monte Sant’ Angelo/San Giovanni Rotondo This morning we see the places associated with Saint Pio. Visit the shrine of Our Lady of Grace that houses the tomb of Saint Pio. See his room and confessional and the Crucifix from which Saint Pio received the stigmata. Later, visit the Grotto of Michael the Archangel in Mont Sant’Angelo. Six different Popes have knelt in prayer here seeking the protection of St. Michael. (B,D)

Day 7 San Giovanni Rotondo/Lanciano/Manopello/Lanciano The holy miracle resides in the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle near the Piazza Plebiscito (the main square of Lanciano where the Cathedral is located). The miracle took place during the eighth century when a Baseline monk doubted the Real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist, found himself holding, a host that had changed into flesh; the wine, on the altar, had changed into blood. Later, we continue on our journey to Pescara to a town of Manoppello to view the mysterious icon which many believe shows the face of Christ.  The icon is said by locals to be "Veronica's Veil" -- a piece of cloth that St. Veronica used to mop the brow of Jesus on his walk to the Cross and which later assumed his image.  Later we return to Lanciano. (B,D)

Day 8 Lanciano/Loreto/Assisi  We follow the Adriatic coast to the great Marian shrine of Loreto see the family home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph located inside the Basilica of Loreto, where it has been since 1294. We then continue on to Assisi and rest of the day at leisure. (B,D)

Day 9 AssisiToday we 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 St. Clare, the Church of St. Damian, and the Crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis, Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the place where the Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi took place in 1240, and the Porziuncola (located on the lower plains of Assisi) and view the thornless rosebush and the cave where St. Francis retired for prayers. (B,D)

Day 10 Assisi/Cascia/Orvieto We continue to Cascia, the site of our next Eucharistic Miracle. Visit the Basilica of St. Rita, the Chapel with St. Rita’s incorrupt body, the Eucharistic Miracle, relics of St. Rita, including her wedding ring and habit in the Monastery of St. Rita, and the Crucifix from which St. Rita received the stigmata.  Return to Orvieto and rest of the day at leisure. (B,D)

Day 11 Orvieto/Siena/Padua This morning we depart for Orvieto to see the Cathedral, located in the town's main square and is the landmark of the tiny city. We will see the holy corporal containing the blood from the Eucharistic Miracle of Orveito in 1263 that occasioned the proclamation of the Feast Corpus Christi.  We then proceed to Siena, the birthplace of Saints Catherine and Bernardine. Here we will stroll the Piazza Del Campo, one of Italy's finest squares and visit the Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Francis, containing the miraculous consecrated hosts that remained intact since 1730. We will see the incorrupt head of St. Catherine at the Basilica of San Domenico. (B,D)

Day 12 Padua/Venice/Padua Today, we begin with a guided half-day city tour in Venice to visit the Golden Basilica of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Square and the Doges' Palace. Coach RT transfert to the railway station of Padua, and then Train to Venice. The rest of the day is free to explore Venice on our own and perhaps take an optional musical gondola ride. Return to Padua.  (Please quote separately on the gondola ride). (B,D)

Day 13 Padua/MilanPadua, the home of St. Anthony, patron saint of things lost. Visit the richly decorated tomb inside the Basilica that contains the remains of the beloved miracle-worker. One of the Catholic Church’s greatest preachers, his incorrupt tongue is kept in the Chapel of the Reliquaries. We continue on to Milan for a scenic sightseeing city tour. (B,D)

Day 14 Milan/USA This morning our pilgrimage comes to an end.  After breakfast, transfer to airport for your return flight to the USA. (B)