VIRGILIO TRAVEL
Lino's Classic
Italy Tour
DETAILED ITINERARY
(Subject to Change)
Updated October 23
Friday,
November 15
Depart your home airport for the journey to Italy! The group flight (i.e. the one those purchasing LAND + AIR will be flying on) flies out of New York-JFK on Delta Airlines at 7:35 PM and arrives in Rome at 9:45 AM on Saturday.
Saturday,
November 16
Everyone is to meet at the arrivals hall by 10:30 AM. We head towards the Vatican area where we celebrate Mass at a local parish and then have lunch at a typical Italian restaurant (or as it's called there, a restaurant). We then check into the Hotel Michelangelo and have a chance to wash off those airplane germs.
In the afternoon, we go to St Paul’s Outside The Walls – one of the 4 main basilicas in Rome and the place where St Paul is buried. After that, we go back to the Vatican area and have dinner at a restaurant even Benedict XVI used to eat at. You’ll be pretty much exhausted at this point, so we walk back to the hotel for rest.
Sunday,
November 17
We leave the hotel about 9:30am (giving you a chance to sleep in and rest up!) and head towards Borgo Pio – a street with all sorts of restaurants, places for a café, and most
importantly, religious items. Here you can buy things you want to have blessed by the Pope at Noon. We then walk towards St Peter’s Square to see Pope Francis pray the Sunday Angelus (and bless your items). Lunch is on your own today as there are lots of places for a piece of pizza or a several course meal. Some of my favorite restaurants are on this street and I’ll point them out to you. In mid afternoon, we head out on foot to the city center and visit some great churches - including the Pantheon and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Please note all the walking we’re doing: you’ve got to be in decent physical shape for this pilgrimage as we walk a few miles a day. We then have Mass at Sant’Andrea Della Valle and head to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner.
Monday,
November 18
This morning we head to Assisi. We pack up and board the bus at 9am for our drive to Umbria. Along the way, we stop at the beautiful little town of Orvieto – where we have Mass at the amazing Cathedral there. We have a light lunch at a local winery and continue onto Assisi.
After check in, and a chance to freshen up, we’ll meet up for a drink. Dinner is on your own tonight to explore the city in the quiet of the evening (Assisi is amazing at night once many of the nasty pilgrims leave). And I’ll give you recommendations for dinner, be it a sandwich or a several course meal).
Tuesday,
November 19
Wednesday,
November 20
We leave the hotel at 9am to visit the Basilica of San Francis. We will have Mass at his tomb, followed by a guided tour of the incredible basilica and its frescoes. You’ll then have free time to stay in the church to pray, shop at the gift shop, and walk the town for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the Church of St Claire: in addition to her tomb, there is also the San Damiano Cross – the cross in front of which St Francis prayed when he heard Jesus speak to him. After that, we have a great dinner at another of my favorite restaurants.
After a relaxing time in Assisi, time to return to the craziness of Rome. We’ll depart at 9am, get to the city for a quick bite to eat, and then head to the Roman Forum. We’ll have a tour of the Colosseum and ancient buildings of the Forum and then head to a nearby church for Mass. We then check back into the Hotel Michelangelo, freshen up, and go out for another fun dinner.
Thursday,
November 21
This morning, we leave early to visit St Peter’s Basilica. After some quiet time to walk this great church without the throngs of tourists, we'll have a tour. You’ll then have free time to pray, explore, climb the dome, and shop. Lunch will be on your own to give you the maximum amount of time to enjoy your experience. In the afternoon, we will leave for St John Lateran: the cathedral of Rome. After Mass, we'll have a tour of the church. We will then go to the Scala Sancta, the stairs taken from Pontius Pilate’s Palace that Jesus would have walked, and have the opportunity to climb on our knees. After this long of a day, dinner is on your own and a chance to rest up.
Friday,
November 22
We begin today with a tour of the Vatican Museums - including the Sistine Chapel (or for those who choose, you can have the morning free to return to favorite churches, do last minute shopping, and explore the city on your own). You’ll have lunch on your own and then we head to St Mary Major. The last of the 4 main basilicas, we will do a tour of this great church and have a final group Mass. We then return to the hotel to freshen up and go to another of my favorite restaurants (and where Jill and I had our wedding reception). After dinner, we walk back through Rome at night, stopping in St Peters Square for one more look at the church, before heading to the hotel.
Saturday,
November 23