Pilgrimage to ITALY with FR. ROBERT ARELLANO, LRMS

Upon arrival in Milan, celebrate private Mass at one of the Catholic churches. Proceed to the hotel for check-in. Have dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Have a long-distance drive to Padova. Have a guided tour in Padova which includes a visit to the Basilica de San Antonio. Have some free time before transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Continue to Florence. Have a guided tour on foot of the city of Florence, which includes a visit to the Florence Cathedral (Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore); outside view and photo stop of the Baptistry (Battistero), Piazza Michelangelo, Giotto’s Bell Tower and Piazza dela Signoria. Visit Santa Croce. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Drive to Pisa. Upon arrival, have a short sightseeing tour on foot (without guide) of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, see the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa's Cathedral Square. Have some free time for souvenir shopping. Then, we will proceed for a long-distance drive to Assisi. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast and check out at the hotel, have a guided tour on foot of the city of Assisi. Visit the San Damiano Monastery; Santa Chiara Church; Basilica of St. Francis- Lower (Inferiore), Upper (Superiore); Visit to St. Maria Maggiore – Santuario della Spogliazone to see St. Carlo Acutis; visit also to the Basilica Santa Maria Degli Angeli to see the Thornless Rose bush and Porziuncola Chapel located inside the church. Drive to San Gimignano, Tuscany. Have a guided tour of the city. View the Bell Tower, Piazza della Cisterna, Duomo di San Gimignano, Palazzo Comunale, Church of Sant’Agostino and Fonti Medievali. Have a wine-tasting tour. Continue to Siena. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, we will have a guided tour of the city and a visit to the Siena Cathedral (Duomo), and the Basilica of St. Maria dei Servi. Have a short-distance drive to Cascia. Visit the Basilica of St. Rita de Cascia and see the incorruptible body of St. Rita. Continue to Loreto. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast and check out at the hotel, we will drive to San Giovanni Rotondo. Have a half-day guided tour on foot to visit the Shrine of St. Padre Pio, and the Church of St. Mary of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie). Have some free time for private devotion. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Drive to Monte Sant’ Angelo and have a brief city tour on foot (without guide). Visit the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel. Proceed to Rome. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Have an early or boxed breakfast from the hotel. Attend the General Papal Audience at the Vatican. Then, we will have a half-day guided tour to see the outside view of the Monument Vittorio Emanuelle II, Circus Maximus. Have a photo stop at Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum, Piazza Navona, Pantheon Church, Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Have a guided tour to visit the Major Basilicas: Basilica of Sta. Maria Maggiore, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (UNESCO listed), the Holy Steps (Scala Santa). We will also visit the nearby St. Croce in Gerusalemme Basilica and see the original relics of the Holy cross of Christ. Have dinner at an international restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Have breakfast at the hotel. We will have a guided tour to visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. Visit also the St. Peter Basilica, destination of all Catholics coming from all over the world. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. If time permits, we will visit the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Then transfer to Rome airport for our flight back to Manila.

“Home Sweet Home”!!!