Poland & Italy – John Paul II

Day 1

WARSAW

You are met by our Tour Director and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2

WARSAW

After breakfast, we take you on a guided tour of Warsaw.

You will visit the most interesting places like the Old Town with the Market Square, St. John’s Cathedral, Barbican and Castle Square, Holy Cross Church where Chopin’s hear is kept…

We will walk through the Lazienki Park with the famous Palace on the water. At the end we will visit Wilanow Palace.

Day 3

WARSAW – CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW – 362KM

After breakfast, we leave to Czestochowa where we stop and visit Jasna Góra Monastery.

We will pay tribute to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The most valuable treasure is the miraculous painting of Our Lady.

Because of this painting, Jasna Góra became Poland's most famous sanctuary among the numerous sites to Marian devotion throughout the country.

There is the possibility to celebrate a mass. After lunch we proceed to Krakow.

Day 4

KRAKOW – WIELICZKA – KRAKOW

After breakfast, our local guide takes you on a guided tour of Krakow where you will visit St. Mary’s Basilica, a Brick Gothic church built in the 14th century.

It is particularly famous for its wooden altar carved by Veit Stoss. Afterwards we head to the sanctuary of Lagiewniki where you can pay tribute to St. Faustina.

It is here that St. Faustina lived the part of her life when Jesus appeared to her, revealing to her the merciful love of the Father. Afterwards we shall head to Wieliczka to visit the famous Salt Mines, where there is the possibility to celebrate a mass.

Day 5

KRAKOW – WADOWICE – AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU – PRAGUE – 555KM

After breakfast, we head to Wadowice, the birthplace of the Pope John Paul II. Orientation tour and short stop.

Then we proceed to Oswiecim to visit the Concentration Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. After the visit we head to Prague.

Day 6

PRAGUE

After breakfast, our local guide takes you on a guided tour through the most sacral monuments of Prague like St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Wenceslas´s Chapel (house of the Czech crown jewels), Church of Our Lady Victorious (house of the figure of the Holy Infant of Prague), Church of St. Nicholas, Old Jewish cemetery and the Jewish Quarter.

We will visit as well the Hradcany Castle, the Golden Street, the Bridge of Charles V, the Royal route, the square of Stare Miesto, the Astronomical Clock among other places.

Day 7

PRAGUE – VIENNA – 295KM

After breakfast, we drive to Vienna. Our local guide takes you on a guided tour through the most beautiful places of the Austrian capital.

Along the Ringstrasse we will show you numerous magnificent buildings such as the MAK, the State Opera House, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum, the Museums Quarter, the Hofburg Palace (former Habsburg winter residence), the Parliament, the City Hall and the Burgtheater.

We finish our tour by visiting the showrooms of Schönbrunn Palace.

Day 8

VIENNA – VENICE – 580KM

After breakfast, we leave from Vienna direction of Venice enjoying the scenic route of the day.

Day 9

VENICE – PADUA – FLORENCE – 264KM

After breakfast, our local guide takes you on a walking tour to St. Mark’s Square and the Byzantine Basilica, Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.

After Venice we head to Padua for an orientation tour of the city and to visit St. Anthony’s Basilica. Pilgrims all over the world come here to pay tribute to St. Anthony who helps lost cases and things and girls to find a husband.

Then we proceed to Florence.

Day 10

FLORENCE – ASSIS – ROME – 358KM

After breakfast, our local guide takes you on a walking tour through the unforgettable city of Florence.

You will visit the magnificent Cathedral, Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery’s heavy bronze “Gate of paradise” and the sculpture-studded Signoria Square. At the end of the visit don’t miss the Academy of Fine arts where you can admire Michelangelo’s celebrated David.

After the visit we proceed to Assis where we stop to explore the city and to visit the Basilica of St. Francis. Assis is famous as the birthplace of St. Francis, a 12th century monk who founded the Franciscan order devoted to achieving an “abundance of the divine” through the practise of ascetism, poverty and chastity. After the visit we head to Rome.

Day 11

ROME

After breakfast, our local guide takes you on a full day guided tour. The morning is dedicated to St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Papal Audience (depending upon availability).

In the Vatican Museums you will see art masterpieces of Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Giotto, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Bernini… We end the morning with a visit of the Coliseum.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Basilica of St. John at the Lateran, known as the Mother of All Churches, dedicated to Our Saviour, and to St.s John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.

We will end our day in the Holy Staircase (Scala Sancta) actual stairs that Jesus Christ walked on the day he went to Pilate’s Palace.

Day 12

ROME – LANCIANO – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – 537KM

After breakfast, we head to Lanciano to visit the Miracle of the Eucharist in the Chapel of St. Longinus. Lingering doubts by a priest about “transubstantiation” caused the bread and wine to turn into “the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ”.

Here, the pilgrim can find meaning in the Lord's solemn words, “Take and eat, for this is my body”. After the visit we drive to San Giovanni Rotondo to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Grace where we see Padre Pio’s tomb and cell.

You will see the crucifix from which he received the Stigmata in 1918.

Day 13

  SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – MONTE SANT ANGELO – MONTE CASSINO – ROME – 400KM

Opportunity to celebrate a Mass at the tomb of Padre Pio. After we drive to the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, one of the most ancient of Christian shrines, dedicated to the Archangel Michael who appeared here in the 5th and 8th centuries.

We will visit the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. Six different popes, St. Francis and at least four other saints have knelt in prayer at this grotto, seeking the protection of St. Michael.

After the visit we head to Monte Cassino, to visit the Abbey of Monte Cassino which symbolizes the endurance and resilience of the Christian faith. Then we continue to Rome.

Day 14

  ROME

After breakfast, a last opportunity to say “Arrivederci” to Rome, as we transferred you to the airport.