Italy & Holyland OCT/2023

Departure to Italy, night on board the flight

Arrival in Venice. Meeting with our representative at Marco Polo airport and transfer in our Bus to TRONCHETTO, the port of Venice. Board the “Vaporetto” to go to San Marco. Meeting with our guide to make a panoramic walking tour that will take us to know: St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica, the Doge’s Palace (tickets not included), the Bridge of Sighs. Return to Tronchetto and departure on our bus to Padua. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Early departure this morning to Verona known worldwide for the story of Romeo and Juliet. Here we will see the famous Balcon de Romeo y Juliet its picturesque old town, its medieval buildings and the Roman Arena. Continuation to Florence. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast . Departure from the hotel with our guide to visit the streets of Florence, reaching the DUOMO, where we learn the secrets of Giotto’s Bell Tower, discover the beauty of the Baptistery with the golden doors, among which, the famous Gate of Paradise and, finally, the charming Cathedral. Early afternoon departure to Assis. Dinner and overnight. .

Breakfast. Departure from the hotel with our guide to visit the Basilica of St Francis, where we will visit his tomb. Walking we will visit the Church of San Rufino (the baptismal font of San Francisco), and the Basilica of Santa Clara (where the incorrupt body of Saint is located). After lunch (not included), we will continue our visit to Santa Maria degli Angeli, where we will visit the Basilica with the interior of the famous Porziuncula, the work of St. Francis. Then we will visit the rose garden without thorns. Departure, in the afternoon, to Rome. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Transfer to Vatican City to attend the Public Audience in St. Peter’s Square, with H.H. Francis. Free time to visit St. Peter’s Basilica on your own (there is a queue to enter due to security). Early in the afternoon departure in our bus with local guide that will take us to know: the Basilica of St. John Lateran, visit to the Holy Staircase. We end the day with a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast . Departure from our hotel by bus for half a day city tour with local guide that will take us to know: Imperial Rome with the Colosseum (entrance included), the Roman Forums, Venice Square with its monument to the unknown soldier. Free afternoon for shopping. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast transfer to Leonardo Da Vinci airport. Departure on our flight to Tel Aviv. Meeting with our representative at Ben Gurion airport and transfer by Bus to our hotel in Nazareth. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast . Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where do our personal meditation. Visit Capernaum, celebration of Holy Mass on the ruins of the house of San. Peter, visit to the ruins of the ancient synagogue. Continue to the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, then we embarked for a cruise through the Sea of Galilee, and in the middle of the sea, we will make the corresponding readings. Visit the Primacy of Peter where Jesus tells his disciples that they are returning from fishing, “Boys, bring some fish just caught“, there’s a rock on which Jesus had prepared the fire,and waited, then asked Peter, you love me more than these? Departure towards the Jordan River and continuation to visit Yardenit, where there is a place of commemoration of the baptism. Renewal of our Baptismal promises. Return to Nazareth. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast In the morning we will visit Nazareth where the Son of God became incarnate in the Blessed Lady. We will visit the Church of the Annunciation, where the Angel visited Mary, the place where the word became flesh, the Church of San José where he taught the art of wood to Jesus. We will go to the cave of the Holy Family, and continue to Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle (Holy Mass). Opportunity to renew the Sacrament of Marriage, for those who are married. Departure to Mt. Tabor and climb by taxi to visit the Church of the Transfiguration. Back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Today we leave the Galilee, bordering the border with Jordan, passing through Jericho, the oldest city in the world, Upon entering Jericho, there is a sycamore tree that reminds us of Zacchaeus, there, we will make the corresponding reading. We continue to the Mount of Temptations. Continuation to the Dead Sea (possibility of bathing in its waters). The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the planet, it is 400 meters below sea level and its waters, more than waters, are salts and are said to be medicinal. Continue to Jerusalem, and in a high part of Mount Scopus, we will make a toast, because we have reached the Holy City. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. This day we move to Bethlehem, to start our pilgrimage visiting the Basilica of the Nativity, the Church of Santa Catarina, the Grotto of San Jerónimo and the Grotto of Milk. We continue, towards Mount Zion, visiting the place of the Ascension of the Lord. The Church of the Our Father, to the Chapel of Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept for Jerusalem, there we will celebrate Holy Mass, then we visit the Basilica of Gethsemane where Jesus died and a few meters from there is the Orthodox Basilica of the Dormition of the Virgin. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Very early today, we leave for the Old City, to start the Via Crucis, reaching Golgotha. We went down to the Holy Sepulchre, then to the pit of the Crosses, where tradition tells, St. Helena found the Cross of the Lord. We continue to visit the Upper Room, where Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Priesthood and the Eucharist, we will visit the house of Martha and Mary, in Bethany. We will visit the Western Wall, the most important place for the Jewish religion. Mosque of Omar. Free time for shopping. Tonight we will have our farewell dinner and delivery of Pilgrimage certificates. Accommodation.

Breakfast and transfer on our private bus to the airport to board our flight back to USA .