Balkans with Medjugorge & Northern Italy with FR. RICHARD TAN

Upon arrival in Zagreb, have a short-guided tour of the city which includes a view of the medieval Upper Town, walk along the cobbled stone streets and see the red roof buildings. View the Zagreb Cathedral, Bloody Bridge Street, the St. Mark’s Square, Parliament Building, Lotrscak Tower and the Tkalciceva Street. Proceed to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, we will have a long-distance drive to Sarajevo via Slavonski Brod. Enjoy the countryside scenery of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Proceed to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.  

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. We will have a guided tour of Sarajevo which features the Old Town with cobbled streets, Mosques and Oriental style shops. Go to the surrounding hills with fantastic views over the city and visit Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum which was used to access the airport area during the siege and ferry the supplies into the city. Then proceed to Begova Dzamija (Bey Mosque), one of the biggest Ottoman Architecture in the region. Continue your journey to Medjugorje, an important Catholic Pilgrimage site since 1981. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Have your full day dedicated to your personal devotions to Our Lady of Medjugorje for a visit to the Apparition Hill. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. 

After breakfast and check-out, drive to Dubrovnik – the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and famous for the “Game of Thrones” film location. Upon arrival, discover the Old City (UNESCO listed), surrounded by mighty walls and fortresses. Have photo stops at the City Walls, Bell Tower Clock, Olando’s Column, Franciscan Monastery, Sponza Palace and Dominican Monastery.  Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will enjoy an excursion by crossing the Montenegrian border through the fjord-shaped Bay of Kotor. At the medieval town of Kotor, you will view the City Walls, Old City, Castle of San Giovanni, St. Nikola Church, Gurdich Gate and Grubonja Palace. Then visit the beautiful Romanesque Cathedral of St. Triphun (Tryphon Cathedral), surrounded by walls and fortresses and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Afterwards, continue to Budva, famous for its beaches. We will have a sightseeing tour which includes the Old Town, the Budva Citadel, Ballet Dancer Statue, City Walls, Holy Trinity Church and St. Ivan Church. Then return to Dubrovnik. Have dinner and overnight at the hotel.  

After breakfast and check-out, we will continue our journey today through the Adriatic coast and stop in Trogir, a picturesque small town in an island, connected to the continent by a stone bridge.  Have a guided tour to visit the Trogir Cathedral St. Lawrence. Have a photo stop at Duke’s Palace (City Hall). Then proceed to Split, the second largest city in Croatia. Upon arrival, the walking tour of Split takes you to the historic inner city which shows off the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace (UNESCO listed). See the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures. Have photo stops at Cathedral of St. Domnius, City Clock, Silver Gate and Temple of Jupiter. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight. 

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. This morning, we will stop in the oldest city of Croatia, Sibenik. Upon arrival, see the famous monuments (orientation without guide) such as the Cathedral of St. Jacob and the Fortress St. Michael and St. Nicholas. Then continue for a long drive to Plitvice. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Entrance to the magnificent Plitvice National Park (UNESCO listed). It is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena in the world with sixteen lakes connected by 92 waterfalls cascading through its picturesque surroundings. You will see the Great Waterfall, the Lower Lakes canyon, and the 4 dark blue lakes upstream to Kozjak Bridge. Drive to Croatia and cross the Slovenian border to the capital city of Ljubljana. Upon arrival, proceed to a sightseeing through the Baroque streets (without guide). Have photo stops at the City Hall, the picturesque Dragon Bridge, St. Nicholas Church, Triple Bridge and Robba Fountain. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast and check-out, we will drive to Postojna and visit the famous Postojna Caves. After an unforgettable underground train ride to the heart of the cave system, your guide will bring you on a walk through the subtly lit fairy tale-like underground world, admiring the spaghetti-like stalactites, massive pillars and other geological wonders. In the afternoon, we will continue to Bled. Upon arrival, have a guided tour which includes a Pietna Boat ride to Bled Island to visit The Church of the Assumption. View the Old Town Castle Bled. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast and check-out, we will drive to Venice. Upon arrival at Venice Tronchetto Terminal, we will have a private boat transfer to Piazza San Marco to have a guided city tour on foot of Venice including entrance to St. Marco Basilica; a photo stop at the St. Mark’s Piazza, Bell Tower and the Bridge of Sighs. Visit the Glass blowing factory. Then have another private boat ride leaving from Tronchetto. Transfer to the hotel in Venice-Mestre for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. We will drive to Padua. Have a guided tour in Padova which includes a visit to the Basilica de San Antonio. Continue to Milan. Upon arrival, have a guided tour to visit the Duomo (Cathedral); views of the Sforza Castle, La Scala Theatre and Da Vinci Statue. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will have the full-day spent on your own leisure and last-minute shopping. Drive to Seravalle Outlet Milan (McArthur Glenn). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. We will drive to Turin. Upon arrival, we will have a short-guided tour which includes visiting the Turin Cathedral (St. John the Baptist Basilica) and Mary Help of Christians Basilica.  Visit the Chapel of the Holy Shroud where the Shroud of Turin is kept. Entrance is strictly subject to availability since it is difficult to confirm. Drive back to Milan. Proceed to Milan airport to catch your flight back to Manila.

“HOME SWEET HOME!!!”