VIRGILIO TRAVEL
DETAILED ITINERARY
(Subject to Change)
Updated September 24, 2023
Friday,
March 1
Depart for Tel Aviv Airport for arrival on Saturday, March 2nd.
American Airlines 146 non-stop from New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV).
Departs Friday, March 1 at 11:15pm, Arrives Saturday, March 2 at 5:00pm.
Those electing to purchase the LAND + AIR package will have a guaranteed seat on this flight.
Saturday,
March 2
Upon arrival, you'll meet a representative from the tour company with our names on it. They'll help you clear passport control, collect your luggage, and meet Lino and Tyler - who will be waiting for you in the Arrivals Hall. We'll get on the 2 buses
and start the drive to the incredibly beautiful Sea of Galilee. Once we arrive, we'll head to the hotel to check in, clean off those airplane germs and have a welcome dinner together.
Sunday,
March 3
We start our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Then onto Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus. We’ll visit the synagogue where Jesus said He is the "Bread of Life" as well as celebrate Mass above the home of St Peter. For lunch, we’ll have St Peter’s fish (caught fresh from the Sea). Then, we’ll visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. After
that, we visit the spot of Peter’s Primacy: where Jesus appeared on the shores of the Sea to Peter after the Resurrection. We'll then walk the Valley of the Doves - a path Jesus Himself surely walked - and we'll head back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at a great local restaurant.
Monday,
March 4
This morning, we head for Nazareth where we'll visit the cave where the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and the Word was made flesh. We'll celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation and pray the Noon Angelus there. We'll then have a tasty lunch and go to Cana: where Jesus performed His first sign - turning water into wine. There will be an opportunity for couples to renew their marriage vows and for everyone to receive a special blessing. We'll then get back on the bus
and head to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration (Shiny Jesus!). We'll tour the Basilica with its amazing mosaics, as well as enjoy the amazing views overlooking the valley. After getting down the small, windy roads, we'll return to Tiberias and enjoy a memorable seaside dinner. Get ready for a late night and some special surprises only for the 25th anniversary!
Tuesday,
March 5
This morning we enjoy our last views of Galilee before checking out and heading to Magdala (home of Mary Magdalene). There we will celebrate Mass and see what remains of Magdala before departing for Jerusalem. Upon arrival, we'll have a delicious lunch with an incredible panoramic view of the city. We'll then go to the Jordan River, where we'll have a chance to renew our baptismal vows before
making our way to the Dead Sea where you'll have the opportunity to float at the lowest place on Earth and cover yourself in the mineral-rich mud. There's nothing like it! And for those who don't want to float, you can always enjoy a drink at the lowest bar in the world. We'll finish our day by heading into Bethlehem and check into our hotel before heading out to a delicious dinner at a fun local restaurant.
Wednesday,
March 6
We'll begin with a visit to Shepherd's Field - where the angels announced the Good News to the shepherds. We'll celebrate Mass in one of the caves there before heading into Bethlehem. After a tasty lunch, we'll visit the Church of the Nativity - the very spot where Jesus Christ was born. We'll then go to the Kando Store: a co-op that helps support the local
Christians, where you'll have the opportunity to buy souvenirs, carved olive wood and even antiquities from the time of Jesus. We'll return to the hotel to freshen up before heading to a favorite restaurant - where there will be a Catholic Guy Q&A Show and another great dinner. And karaoke!
Thursday,
March 7
This morning we'll check out of the hotel and head to Jerusalem. We'll begin by visiting the Mount of Olives with its majestic view of the city. We then do the Palm Sunday walk with a visit to Dominus Flevit (where the Lord wept overlooking Jerusalem) before getting some lunch. We'll then walk the Old City where we'll see Mt. Zion, the Upper Room (site of the Last
Supper) and Dormition Abbey before ending up in the Garden of Gethsemane where we will celebrate Mass. We'll then embark on one of Lino's favorite walks of the city: one that he's never done on any pilgrimage. And no pilgrimages ever do. And it's amazing. We'll check into our 5 star hotel after a long day. Dinner tonight is on your own because tomorrow is our (one and only) early morning.
Friday,
March 8
Today is our only early morning of the trip, and it will be worth it. We begin the day walking the Via Dolorosa: the Stations of the Cross, which ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will visit Golgotha, the place of crucifixion, as well as visit the Tomb of the Resurrection. Afterwards, we will have a tour of the church with plenty of time for personal prayer. We continue by walking through the Jewish Quarter, and visiting the Western Wall. We'll then spend time on the Southern Steps of the Temple, another place which Jesus surely walked.
After lunch you'll have the afternoon for free time. You can explore Jerusalem more on your own, do any last minute shopping, or return to your favorite places. For those who want tattoos, Lino has arranged with his friends at Razzouk Tattoos (the oldest tattoo shop in the world) to set aside appointments for our group. In the late afternoon, Lino will do another of his favorite personal walking tours that he's never done on a pilgrimage. We then have time to freshen up and the group heads to Bethlehem for a fun and memorable dinner.
Saturday,
March 9
Our last day is a long one so we'll start a little bit later by visiting the Pools of Bethesda and celebrating Mass at St. Anne's (the birthplace of the Virgin Mary).
We'll have our final lunch at a restaurant with breathtaking panoramic views of Jerusalem before a little more free time and touring of the city.
RETURNING HOME
After dinner, we'll head to the airport for our flights home, having made a lifetime of memories, new friends, and with the knowledge that we'll never see the Bible – or Christianity – the same way again.
American Airlines 145 non-stop from Tel Aviv (TLV) to New York (JFK).
Departs Saturday, March 9 at 11:45pm, Arrives Sunday, March 10 at 6:20am.
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