This afternoon, depart San Francisco International Airport on your overseas pilgrimage when the British Airways jet lifts into the evening sky for your overnight flight to Rome, Italy via London Heathrow. Complimentary meals and beverages will be served aloft. (In-flight Dinner)
Upon arrival at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, proceed through Passport Control, claim your luggage, and a Peter's Way Tour Manager will meet you upon your exit from Customs. Board your comfortable motorcoach and soon you will be on your way for an orientation ride of the "Eternal City". History, evolving over 2,500 years, will be made visible for you by the Roman ruins, 15th century churches, 17th century palaces and 20th century monuments. On to your hotel. Independent lunch. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Rome. (Breakfast, Dinner)
After breakfast, begin your morning of sightseeing with a visit to one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. Walk in the footsteps of the Princes of the Church through the richly decorated galleries. Continue on to the Sistine Chapel, the private chapel of the Popes, where Michelangelo best expressed his genius in monumental frescoes. End your morning tour in St. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's magnificent "Pieta" and to take in the awesome architecture and the statuary adorning this largest of all Christian churches. Time permitting, on your own, visit the famous Pinacoteca (Picture Gallery), which houses religious works by Giotto, Raphael, Da Vinci, Caravaggio and Rodin, among others. Independent lunch followed by leisure time. Return to hotel to freshen-up. After early dinner, this evening you will be transferred to the Church of St. Ignatius for a Formal Public Concert for the city of Rome, presented by the Catholic Community of Pleasanton Choir. Afterwards, visit the Trevi Fountain to toss in a coin to insure your "Arrivederci Roma." Overnight at hotel in Rome.
Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, we visit the Church of St. Peter in Chains to see the original chains in which St. Peter was brought captive to Rome and the statue of Moses, one of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces. Then, we continue to the ancient Roman Forum. See the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Constantine and proceed to the outside of the Coliseum for a fascinating explanation of its history. Continue on to the grandiose white marble monument of King Victor Emmanuel II, often called the "Wedding Cake." See the Trajan Column and the Market (the ancient Roman equivalent of a department store). End your tour in St. Peter’s Square to attend the noon Papal Blessing. Then, free time for independent lunch with the afternoon at leisure for browsing, shopping or exploring the sights of Rome. Hearty pilgrims may want to attempt to climb the 330 stairs (or take the elevator) to the top of St. Peter's for an unparalleled view of Vatican City and Rome. Late this afternoon, gather at the Altar of Chair of Peter's Basilica for the 5:30pm Archpriest Mass, at which the Catholic Community of Pleasanton Choir. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Rome. (Breakfast, Dinner)
After breakfast, begin your day with a visit to the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul. It was built by Constantine in the 4th century on the site of St. Paul’s tomb. After having been totally destroyed by fire in 1823, it was rebuilt on the original basilican plan of early Christian churches. Surrounding the nave are the medallions of each Pope, from Peter to Benedict XVI. Continue your tour to the Cathedral of St. John Lateran, the first Christian church to be consecrated. It was founded by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century and was home to the Popes for many years prior to the present Vatican residence. End your morning tour with a visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four major Basilicas built by Pope Sixtus III (AD 432-440). View the impressive interior with its remarkable mosaics in the nave depicting scenes from the Old Testament. The mosaics above the entablature are among the most ancient Christian mosaics in Rome. End our morning with Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major followed by a recital presented by the Catholic Community of Pleasanton Music Ministry. Independent lunch.
After lunch, we leave on our excursion to Assisi, one of the high points of any travel experience. After a two-hour ride, you will see Assisi on a mountaintop—the narrow lanes, Shrines of Saint Francis and overwhelming art dedicated to its young friar - a rich young man who turned to God after an illness and established an order that has grown stronger over the centuries. Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, a great Basilica built in 1569 and crowned by the magnificent dome designed by Alessi. It encloses the shrine of the “Porziuncula,” or the Little Portion Chapel, around which the first Franciscan community was centered, the place where Clare received the habit from Francis, and the Capella Del Transito, which marks the spot where the Saint died. You will see the statue of Saint Francis in the courtyard where thornless roses bloom. Hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. (Breakfast, Dinner)
After breakfast, walk to Basilica of Saint Francis, at which the Catholic Community of Pleasanton Music Ministry and pilgrims will sing and pray together in celebration of Mass at the Tomb of the Saint. Then, we will visit the Basilica of St. Francis. Here, you will marvel at the world-famous Giotto Frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis. Continuing, we visit the Basilica of St. Clare, the first and most important heroine of the Franciscan movement, view her remains and see the miraculous Crucifix. Independent lunch. This afternoon, depart directly for Rome. Hotel check-in. Independent dinner. Overnight in Rome. (Breakfast)
Breakfast at your hotel. You will then be transported into the heart of Christendom for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The Catholic Community of Pleasanton Choir will sing a selection for him when announced during the English language portion. Independent lunch. After lunch, begin an unusual tour of Rome and her outskirts as you motor past the Tiberina Island, the Aventine Hill, the pyramid of Caius Cestius, and St. Paul's Gate, part of the Aurelian Wall, the ancient city wall. Drive along a section of the Old Appian Way, one of the first ancient Roman military roads, which connected Rome to Naples and Brindisi on the Adriatic coast. You can see the huge slabs that originally paved its length and several surviving patrician tombs that once lined its way, including the massive tomb of Cecilia Metella. Our next stop is the Catacombs, the underground maze of tunnels hollowed out of volcanic rock, where early Christians - persecuted by the Romans - secretly practiced their religious rites and buried their dead. Your Farewell Dinner this evening will be at Benito Restaurant in Rome. Experience an atmosphere of hospitality and friendship, and taste the Mediterranean cuisine in a typical Roman setting with wine and music. Overnight at hotel in Rome. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Breakfast at your hotel. Then, you will be transferred to Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Airport for your return flight home. Arrive on the same day.