1013AZ4 - Sicily with Amalfi Coast Pilgrimage 12 days from Toronto

Today we depart Toronto for our overnight flight to Italy. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft.

Today we arrive in Sicily and meet our English-speaking tour manager and transfer to our hotel, en-route enjoying an orientation tour of charming Palermo, the regional and provincial capital of Sicily. Check-in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

In the morning, we enjoy a guided tour of Palermo, visiting the old part of the city with the Royal Palace, the Palatine Chapel, and the Cathedral. We continue to Monreale, famous for its Cathedral filled with Byzantine mosaics featuring Christ Pantocrator and its Cloister. In the afternoon, we visit Monte Pellegrino with its spectacular views of the city, surrounding mountains, ocean and the sanctuary of Saint Rosalia, the patron of the city. Goethe once described Monte Pellegrino as the most beautiful promontory in the world. Mass at Monreale Cathedral. Return to Palermo. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

In the morning, we visit Segesta to admire the Temple and the Theatre. We view the surrounding unique landscape, and we continue on to the medieval hilltop village of Erice. We take a walk through its tiny and characteristic streets. We celebrate Mass. We return to Palermo for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

We have an early departure to Agrigento. On arrival, we have a guided visit of the Valley of Temples, where you can admire the Temple of Juno and the Temple of Concorde, the best-preserved Doric temples in the whole Greek world. We continue to Piazza Armerina to visit the city and its Cathedral. We proceed to Catania for a three-night stay in the historic Sicilian city, founded in the 8th century BC, and a leading Renaissance city in the 14th century AD. We celebrate Mass here. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

The day begins with an excursion to Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe! Ascend to “Crateri Silvestri”, a small inactive volcanic which cones surrounded by ancient lava flows. Free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, we continue to Taormina, a charming town offering a lovely panorama view of the Ionic Sea and Mount Etna. It is famous for its fascinating Greek theatre, ancient Cathedral and Palazzo Corvaja. We walk along the typical small streets and browse local specialty shops. We celebrate Mass here. We return to Catania for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast we depart for Siracusa, one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Sicily. We celebrate morning Mass at the Shrine of our Lady of Tears. Afterwards, we enjoy a guided tour of the Archeological Park, Roman Amphitheatre, Greek Theatre, Orecchio of Dionisio, la Grotta dei Cordari and the Island of Ortigia with its interesting dome. We then visit the Catacombs of St. John which contain honeycombed tunnels of empty coffins that were long ago looted of their burial riches, containing some 20,000 Early Christian tombs. They are entered through the evocative ruins of a Norman church. We proceed to Noto (UNESCO World Heritage Site) to admire the beauty of Sicilian baroque architecture. We return to Catania for dinner and overnight.

We depart for Messina to board your ferry to the mainland of Italy via the Messina Strait. We stop in Reggio Calabria to see its Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. We celebrate Mass here. We continue to beautiful Salerno, a gateway city to the Amalfi Coast. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today we take a breathtaking drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Each winding turn reveals a dazzling and unforgettable view of the coastline and sea. The villas are perched along the rocky coastline and seem to hang from the heavens. We stop in Amalfi, one of the four “Republiche Marinare” of Italy. We celebrate Mass here. We enjoy free time to explore the pedestrian streets of this quaint town where there are various bars and cafes. We visit a true limoncello factory for a tour and tasting! We return to our hotel in Salerno for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we board our coach and transfer to Pompeii. We meet our local guide for a tour of Pompeii and its archaeological excavations. We have free time for lunch on own. In the afternoon, we will tour the Basilica of Pompeii, followed by Mass there. We continue on to Mugnano del Cardinale to visit the Shrine of St. Philomena. We return to our hotel in Salerno for dinner and overnight.

We enjoy a guided tour of Naples, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Our guided walking tour will take us to the city’s magnificent Duomo, built in the 4th century over a pagan temple devoted to Apollo. We celebrate Mass here. Inside, admire the artwork and the Chapel of St. Januarius, the Patron Saint of Naples, to which miracles are attributed even today. We stroll through the Presepi District, known for its fine handcrafted nativity scenes. We then see the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore and the Church of San Domenico Maggiore where we will visit the room where St. Thomas Aquinas lived while a teacher in Naples. We visit Sansevero Chapel Museum and admire the “Veiled Christ” sculpture, the masterpiece of Guiseppe San Martino. We then see Santa Chiara Church and the Church of Gesu Nuovo, which houses the tomb of St. Guiseppe Moscati, a 20th century saint who blended his faith with his medical practice. Our last stop is a special one. We will visit the tomb of Fr. Don Dolindo, a contemporary of St. Padre Pio, who admired him greatly. He is famous for his Surrender Novena. The Catholic Church has granted him the title “Servant of God”, and he is a candidate for beatification. In the evening, we will gather together for a festive farewell dinner out at a local restaurant with wine included. We transfer back to our hotel for overnight.

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