DAY 1: ARRIVE ROME
Early departure from Dublin Airport, at approximately 06:20 hrs. We will be arriving in Rome with the full day ahead of us. Our Joe Walsh Tours representative will meet us on arrival. We will then be transferred by private coach to Santa Maria Maggiore for lunch (at your own expenses) in one of the many local cafes’, or Bistrot’s, suggested from our experienced tour guide. After lunch, we will have a walking tour of the area and Mass before heading to the Hotel Marc’Aurelio where we will be staying for the next 2 nights on a Bed & Breakfast
basis. Time to check in, dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: ROME & THE VATICAN
We will visit the Vatican City and the awe-inspiring St. Peters Basilica. Here, among other treasures, we will see Michelangelo’s Pieta’, the canopy altar where the Pope celebrates Mass and the crypt of the Popes, including the Tomb of Pope John Paul II located under an Altar just after The Michaelangelo Pietà. During a panoramic tour of the city, we will see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Victor Emmanuel Monument and the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Mass will be arranged.
DAY 3: ASSISI
After breakfast today we will start making our way to the beautiful Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis where we will be staying in the Domus Pacis Hotel for 2 nights on a Half Board Basis.
Time to check in and have a nice walk of the main sights of the medieval town of Assisi and visit the Basilica of St Clare, foundress of the Order of the Poor Clares. St. Clare followed the teachings of St. Francis by living a life of poverty and humility.
DAY 4: ASSISI, BASILICA OF ST FRANCIS, BASILICA OF ST MARY OF THE ANGELS
While in Assisi we will have time to visit the awe-inspiring 13th century Basilica of St. Francis. Time can also be spent strolling the cobble-stoned street of this beautiful old town where it seems time has stood still. Here you will no doubt capture the mystical spirit of St. Francis.
We will visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, the cradle of the Franciscan order. Here the Porziuncola, the chapel of St. Francis’ first community and the chapel of the ‘Transito, where St. Francis died, are both housed. This is also where St Claire received the Franciscan cowl from St. Francis in 1211.
DAY 5: LANCIANO & SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
En route to San Giovanni we will visit Lanciano, where the Eucharist Miracle took place, back in the 8th century. It was during Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration that the host was changed into live Flesh, and wine was changed into live Blood.
Arrive San Giovanni Rotondo for dinner. We will be staying in the Parco delle Rose Hotel for three nights on a full board basis.
DAY 6: SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
We will have two days to visit San Giovanni Rotondo, where Padre Pio lived and died. He was born in Pietrelcina on 25 May 1887 to simple, hardworking farming people and was ordained a priest in 1910. On 20 September 1918 he became the first stigmatised priest in the history of the church. Countless numbers were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly and spiritual guidance through correspondence. His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, he was called to his heavenly reward on 23 September 1968.
We will spend time in the Friary where St Padre Pio lived and worked. Our programme will include a visit to Tomb and cell of St Padre Pio and to the English office, which was established to deal with the vast numbers of English speaking pilgrims visiting San Giovanni. Mass will be celebrated daily.
DAY 7: SAN MARCO IN LAMIS, ST MATTHEW'S MONASTERY & MONTE SANT ANGELO
This morning we travel to the nearby town of San Marco in Lamis and visit St. Matthew’s monastery. After lunch we continue to Monte Sant Angelo, the shrine in the cave where the Archangel Michael appeared in the fifth century. A long list of Saints and Popes have visited this cave to pray to the Archangel, among them St. Francis of Assisi, St Pio and St John Paul II.
Mass and return to hotel for dinner.
DAY 8: FLIGHT BACK HOME
We will have an early departure to Rome airport for our return flight to Dublin leaving at approximately 11:40am.
