TRAVEL ITALY FOLLOWING THE STEPS
OF ST. FRANCIS
JUN 27-JUL 6, 2020 - PRIVATELY GUIDED TOUR OF ROME AND FLORENCE ITALY
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$3149* Person Based
on Double Occupancy Includes 8 nights lodging, all transportation, meals & tours as described below Breakfast each day included *Price is subject to fluctuation with exchange rate Single Supplement $1200 
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SMALL GROUP OF 15 PEOPLE PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION Three nights Rome - Three nights Assisi -- Two nights Florence Full of history and exploration! This trip is being escorted by Fr. Pete Meis, a local missionary priest stationed in Papua New guinea. He is originally from Hays, KS and has been serving there since 1967. Also accompanying the trip is our Travelooza agent Jeanne Riedel. 
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DETAILED ITINERARY
CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILED FINAL ITINERARY
DAY 1 -- TRANSFER TO ROME
When you arrive, your tour escort will meet you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel in Rome, close to the walls of Vatican City. Here you can relax, or start exploring Rome, before meeting again for dinner in the evening.
Overnight in Rome.
DAY 2 -- PRIVATE HALF DAY TOUR OF ANCIENT ROME-- In the morning, transfer from your hotel to the Coliseum where you have a priority entrance slot booked. In the company of a private guide, you will visit Rome's most famous monument, as well as the Imperial Forum and Palatine Hill and then the afternoon is free to explore at your leisure.
You may arrange an additional tour of 3 of Rome's major Papal Basilicas: St. John Lateran & the Holy Steps (including special permission to visit the Sancta Santorum at the top), St. Paul's Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major.
Overnight in Rome.
DAY 3 - PRIVATE TOUR OF PAPAL BASILICAS
The day will be spent around the Vatican, with lunch together and a private tour of the most important collections of the museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. And we will request tickets for the Vatican Necropolis today and plan the day around the tickets if available.
Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Rome
DAY 4 - PAPAL AUDIENCE & TRANSFER TO ASSISSI
In the morning, they should have an early breakfast (or we can request a bagged breakfast to take with them), to get to St. Peter's Square in advance. There is no assigned seating for the Papal Audience and the earlier they arrive (security opens at 8am), the closer they'll be to the front - the Pope does move around the square so everyone can see him and the readings are broadcast on video screens so everyone can see and hear.
Following the audience, you will have a couple of hours to yourselves, to releax and have lunch, before leaving Rome at around 2 PM. At about 5 pm, you will arrive in Assisi.
Evening at leisure. Overnight in Assisi
DAY 5 -- TOUR OF THE BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS & FREE AFTERNOON -- After breakfast this morning, you will meet your guide for a tour inside the beautiful Basilica of St. Francis. Visible across the Umbrian countryside for miles, the basilica and its adjoining monastery, are incredible works of art in themselves, ornately decorated by some of the master painters of the 13th century.
Construction of the church began following the canonization of the saint in 1228 and two years later, the mortal remains of St. Francis were laid to rest here. The light Upper Church is decorated in colorful frescoes by Giotto and his school, showing scenes from the life of St. Francis. The Lower Church, which houses the monumental tomb of the saint, contains frescoes by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini.
The tour is with an official Assisi guide. An additional tour can be arranged with one of the friars or nuns, which looks at the spiritual significance of the artworks. This cannot be paid for in advance and donations are accepted at the end.
In the afternoon, there will be time to hike up to the Carceri Hermitage, situated 4km above the town on Mount Subasio (bring sturdy shoes). Throughout his lifetime, St. Francis would come to a cave here to pray. Over time he was joined by others who sought the tranquility of the mountain for contemplation. Today the small community of Franciscans living here, happily welcome visitors who make the walk up from the town.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 6- FREE MORNING & TOUR OF ASSISI -- Today you will visit the rest of the town and other places which play a role in the story of St. Francis: The Basilica of St. Clare, the first female follower of St. Francis and the founder of the Order of the Poor Clares; the town's cathedral which is dedicated to San Rufino where both saints were baptized and the church of San Daimano where St. Francis first heard the voice of God.
Afternoon at leisure and Dinner at the hotel.
DAY 7 - LA VERNA SANCTUARY & ARRIVAL IN FLORENCE
Today we will visit the La Verna Sanctuary where St. Francis received the Stigmata. High up in the mountains, the sanctuary remains a place of pray and contemplation, surrounded by the woods on the beautiful Mount Penna.
You will be free to move around the sanctuary at your leisure, to pray and to visit the Chapel of the Stigmata and the frescoed corridor that leads to it, built so that the friars can visit the chapel daily, whatever the weather.
In the evening arrive in Florence.
DAY 8 - TOUR OF FLORENCE & THE ACCADEMIA In the morning, a local guide will meet you at the hotel for a walking tour of the city and a visit to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David.
Following the tour, you will have the rest of the day to have lunch on your own and explore the city some more, before your farewell dinner together in the evening.
Overnight in Florence
DAY 9 -- DEPART FOR HOME FROM FLORENCE
PRE-TOUR PACKAGE OFFERS 2 NIGHTS IN SAN GIOVANNI RETOUNDO FOR $575 PERSON INCLUDING TRANSFER TO ROME, HOTEL, BREAKFAST & DINNER
DEPOSIT OF $1000 PERSON IS DUE BY AUG 31ST, 2019. FINAL PAYMENT DUE MAR 31ST, 2020
ONLY 13 SEATS AVAILABLE SO THIS TOUR WILL SELL OUT QUICKLY! GET YOUR RESERVATION IN NOW!!
DAY 1 -- TRANSFER TO ROME
When you arrive, your tour escort will meet you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel in Rome, close to the walls of Vatican City. Here you can relax, or start exploring Rome, before meeting again for dinner in the evening.
Overnight in Rome.
DAY 2 -- PRIVATE HALF DAY TOUR OF ANCIENT ROME-- In the morning, transfer from your hotel to the Coliseum where you have a priority entrance slot booked. In the company of a private guide, you will visit Rome's most famous monument, as well as the Imperial Forum and Palatine Hill and then the afternoon is free to explore at your leisure.
You may arrange an additional tour of 3 of Rome's major Papal Basilicas: St. John Lateran & the Holy Steps (including special permission to visit the Sancta Santorum at the top), St. Paul's Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major.
Overnight in Rome.
DAY 3 - PRIVATE TOUR OF PAPAL BASILICAS
The day will be spent around the Vatican, with lunch together and a private tour of the most important collections of the museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. And we will request tickets for the Vatican Necropolis today and plan the day around the tickets if available.
Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Rome
DAY 4 - PAPAL AUDIENCE & TRANSFER TO ASSISSI
In the morning, they should have an early breakfast (or we can request a bagged breakfast to take with them), to get to St. Peter's Square in advance. There is no assigned seating for the Papal Audience and the earlier they arrive (security opens at 8am), the closer they'll be to the front - the Pope does move around the square so everyone can see him and the readings are broadcast on video screens so everyone can see and hear.
Following the audience, you will have a couple of hours to yourselves, to releax and have lunch, before leaving Rome at around 2 PM. At about 5 pm, you will arrive in Assisi.
Evening at leisure. Overnight in Assisi
DAY 5 -- TOUR OF THE BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS & FREE AFTERNOON -- After breakfast this morning, you will meet your guide for a tour inside the beautiful Basilica of St. Francis. Visible across the Umbrian countryside for miles, the basilica and its adjoining monastery, are incredible works of art in themselves, ornately decorated by some of the master painters of the 13th century.
Construction of the church began following the canonization of the saint in 1228 and two years later, the mortal remains of St. Francis were laid to rest here. The light Upper Church is decorated in colorful frescoes by Giotto and his school, showing scenes from the life of St. Francis. The Lower Church, which houses the monumental tomb of the saint, contains frescoes by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini.
The tour is with an official Assisi guide. An additional tour can be arranged with one of the friars or nuns, which looks at the spiritual significance of the artworks. This cannot be paid for in advance and donations are accepted at the end.
In the afternoon, there will be time to hike up to the Carceri Hermitage, situated 4km above the town on Mount Subasio (bring sturdy shoes). Throughout his lifetime, St. Francis would come to a cave here to pray. Over time he was joined by others who sought the tranquility of the mountain for contemplation. Today the small community of Franciscans living here, happily welcome visitors who make the walk up from the town.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 6- FREE MORNING & TOUR OF ASSISI -- Today you will visit the rest of the town and other places which play a role in the story of St. Francis: The Basilica of St. Clare, the first female follower of St. Francis and the founder of the Order of the Poor Clares; the town's cathedral which is dedicated to San Rufino where both saints were baptized and the church of San Daimano where St. Francis first heard the voice of God.
Afternoon at leisure and Dinner at the hotel.
DAY 7 - LA VERNA SANCTUARY & ARRIVAL IN FLORENCE
Today we will visit the La Verna Sanctuary where St. Francis received the Stigmata. High up in the mountains, the sanctuary remains a place of pray and contemplation, surrounded by the woods on the beautiful Mount Penna.
You will be free to move around the sanctuary at your leisure, to pray and to visit the Chapel of the Stigmata and the frescoed corridor that leads to it, built so that the friars can visit the chapel daily, whatever the weather.
In the evening arrive in Florence.
DAY 8 - TOUR OF FLORENCE & THE ACCADEMIA In the morning, a local guide will meet you at the hotel for a walking tour of the city and a visit to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David.
Following the tour, you will have the rest of the day to have lunch on your own and explore the city some more, before your farewell dinner together in the evening.
Overnight in Florence
DAY 9 -- DEPART FOR HOME FROM FLORENCE
PRE-TOUR PACKAGE OFFERS 2 NIGHTS IN SAN GIOVANNI RETOUNDO FOR $575 PERSON INCLUDING TRANSFER TO ROME, HOTEL, BREAKFAST & DINNER
DEPOSIT OF $1000 PERSON IS DUE BY AUG 31ST, 2019. FINAL PAYMENT DUE MAR 31ST, 2020
ONLY 13 SEATS AVAILABLE SO THIS TOUR WILL SELL OUT QUICKLY! GET YOUR RESERVATION IN NOW!!
Tour specially designed and guided by Italy Vacation Specialists
in conjunction with Travelooza just for you!
in conjunction with Travelooza just for you!
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