0520AA5 - Holy Year Italy Pilgrimage 10 days from Pensacola

Today, we depart Pensacola to connect with our overnight flight to Rome. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast while aloft.

This morning, we arrive in Rome where we are met by our Unitours Tour Manager as we board our motorcoach for our ride to Tuscany. Following lunch on our own, we arrive in the delightful nearby spa town of Montecatini Terme. The balance of the day is at leisure to stroll through the inviting streets of this charming town. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today, we drive to Florence where our first stop will be “Piazzale Michelangelo” for the best panoramic view of this spectacular city one could ask for. We proceed with a tour of the Academia Gallery, where we view one of Michelangelo’s most famous works, “David” (OR MEDICI). We continue with the celebration of Mass and a visit to the Duomo (also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore), in the heart of the city and the fourth largest in the world! There we admire the cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, its campanile by Giotto. Once outside we view the Baptistery’s with its incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti. We break for a leisurely lunch on our own at one of the many trattorias that dot the riverfront area, along Florence’s Arno River. The rest of the day is free for personal shopping, exploring this fascinating city on your own. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we return to Florence to spend more time in this beautiful city and visit the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce. Among the most famous Italians interred here, lie Galileo, Rossini, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli. We continue to the Piazza della Signoria, dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio and its embattlement crowned tower. Across from the Palace, we visit the Loggia dei Lanzi with the statues of the Perseus by Cellini; Giambologna's the “Rape of the Sabines” and “Hercules.” Following a break for lunch on our own, we enjoy some free time for shopping or personal adventure in any of the many art museums or to have a walk along the Arno River admiring the enchanting Ponte Vecchio, This evening, our dinner location will be one of the restaurants of this enchanting city. After our included dinner we return at our hotel for overnight.

Today, we journey through the Italian countryside arriving in the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets. After we celebrate Mass at the Dominican Church commemorating St. Catherine, to the famous Piazza del Campo. This shell shaped square is the dramatic setting for the annual Palio bareback horserace. The piazza's focal point is the Palazzo Pubblico, the public palace, which dates back to 1250. We continue uphill to visit the monumental Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary. We enjoy free time for lunch and browsing. In the afternoon we continue south through Umbria to the hilltop village of Assisi, the home of Saint Francis, for dinner and overnight at our hotel

This morning, we begin at the Basilica of St. Francesco with Mass. After our visit of the Basilica and the tomb of St. Francis, we begin our walking tour of the village. Included, is a visit to the Church of St. Clare to view the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis. We pass by the famous Temple of Minerva in the Piazza del Comune. This afternoon, we can enjoy this picturesque hillside village on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today, we depart Assisi, and our first stop is in the lower town for a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis' Church of the Little Portion. We travel south to Rome where this afternoon we tour her sites, including a walking tour to the Fora passing the Arch of Constantine and Flavian Amphitheater, more commonly known as” the Coliseum.” We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today, we visit Vatican City where we celebrate Mass below St. Peters. Afterwards, we view the treasures of the Vatican Museum. We marvel at Michelangelo’s restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the wonders of St. Peter’s, as well as the famous Bernini altar columns, one Bernini engraved his own Rosary on and one rumored to contain the spear of St. Longinus, the roman centurion who pierced the side of our Savior and was healed by the blood and water that flowed from it! While here, we pass through the 1st set of the “Holy Doors”, during our Holy Year Pilgrimage. This afternoon, following a stop for lunch on our own, we visit the Holy Stairs and Basilica of St. John Lateran. While there, we pass through the 2nd set of “Holy Doors” on our Holy Year pilgrimage. We continue to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls or the 3rd set of “Holy Doors” to pass through. This huge, imposing Basilica, second only to St. Peter’s and one of the largest churches in the Christian world, contains an unusual gallery of papal portraits: 265 tablets portraying the popes of the past. We conclude our day at the Callistus Catacombs, a burial place of early Christians. We celebrate Mass here and view the 2nd and 3rd century fresco paintings. We can explore the culinary delights of Rome tonight as dinner is on our own. Overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we make our way to St. Peter's for an audience with Pope Francis, if he is in residence. This afternoon, following a break for lunch on our own, we tour the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and pass through the 4th and final set of “Holy Doors” on our Holy Year pilgrimage before traveling to the Church of St. Peter in Chains to view Michelangelo's most celebrated sculpture, the "Moses." We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we make our way home with memories of a lifetime.