Crossroads of Christianity

 10 DAY PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY

Deposit - $315

JUN 01: BEGINNING OUR PILGRIMAGE Depart North America via jet service enroute to Bologna, Italy. Meals will be served in flight.

JUN 02: BOLOGNA/FLORENCE Upon your arrival in Bologna, you will be met and transferred to the Basilica of San Domenico, one of the major churches in Bologna where the remains of Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) are buried inside the exquisite shrine. Mass will be celebrated. Continue to Convent of San Marco, named for a religious complex in Florence, Italy. It comprises a church and a convent. The convent, which is now a museum, during the 15th century, was home to two famous Dominicans, the painter Fra Angelico and the preacher, Girolamo Savonarola. Afterward you will be transferred to your hotel in Florence and the balance of the day is at leisure to relax.

JUN 03: FLORENCE Full day tour of Florence, the Renaissance city. Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, with its great representation of Tuscan Gothic Architecture. The giant dome, designed by Bunelleschi, is decorated by an immense fresco, "TheLast Judgement", by Vasari and Zuccaro. Over the Porta Della Manorla along the north wall is by Ghiriandaio. Next, we proceed to visit Giotto’s Bell Tower. This 14th century Campanile rises to a height of 292 feet. Continue to visit the Baptistry of San Giovanni, with Ghiberti’s greatest work, the East Door or “Great of Paradise” which took the artist some 27 years to complete. Visit the Academy Gallery, where you will see some of the most famous works of art in the world including Michelangelo’s David. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

JUN 04: FLORENCE/ASSISI After breakfast we travel by motor coach to Assisi home of St. Francis. Upon arrival in Assisi we will visit the Basilica of St. Francis, the upper Basilica with Giotto frescos representing St. Francis, life, the lower Basilica and the Tomb of St. Francis. Mass will be celebrated. Continue to the Basilica of St. Clare, the basilica was built between 1257 and 1265 and houses the incorrupt body of St. Clare. Continue to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Portiuncula Chapel, the birthplace of the Franciscan order. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

JUN 05: ASSISI/ORVIETO/ROME After breakfast we will visit the Monastery of St. Damian (Covneto di San Damiano) closely associated with St. Francis, who received his calling here and also with St. Clare who died here in 1253. We will also visit Carceri Hermitage, a series of caves where St. Francis came to meditate and pray, together with some disciples. Then proceed to Orvieto where we visit the Cathedral of Orvieto. In the chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto is the holy corporal containing the blood from the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto in 1263 that occasioned the proclamation of the Feast of Corpus Christi and inspired St. Thomas Aquinas to write the famous hymn “Tantum Ergo.” Mass will be celebrated. This afternoon we will proceed to Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

JUN 06: ANCIENT ROME After breakfast we will start our tour with the Basilica di San Clemente (Basilica of St. Clement), including the excavations, an early Christian basilica in Rome dedicated to Pope St. Clement (d. 99 AD). The Basilica of St. Clement hosted two papal councils in the 5th century. In 1857 Fr. Joseph Mullooly, O.P., then the Prior of San Clemente, began excavations under the present basilica, uncovering not only the original, fourth-century basilica directly underneath, but also an even lower level, the remains of a first-century building. Then proceed to the Colosseum, where fights between men and beasts, gladiatorial contests, races and simulated naval battles took place in the arena. Continue to the Roman Forum, the religious, political, and commercial centre of ancient Rome. The Roman Forum which stands in the center of modern Rome as a romantic statement to past greatness. Once upon a time, most of the known world was directly affected by decisions made in the Roman Forum. Walking tour of the Forum. This afternoon we will proceed along the Appian Way on our way to visit the Catacombs. Visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus where early Christians held their forbidden service to escape persecution. Mass will be celebrated. Return to your hotel for dinner.

JUN 07: BASILICAS OF ROME After breakfast proceed to the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, St. John Lateran is Rome’s cathedral; it is here that the pope officiates in his capacity as bishop of Rome. The former residence of the popes prior to their return to Rome in 1377. Continue to the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Holy Cross in Jerusalem). It is one of the seven pilgrimage churches in the Eternal City. Santa Croce is well worth a visit for its extraordinary collection of relics from the Holy Land and its full-sized replica of the Shroud of Turin. This afternoon we proceed to St. Paul Outside the Walls to visit the burial place of St. Paul the Apostle. The chapel of relics has numerous relics, the most notable of which are a set chains said to be the prison chains of St. Paul, used in the last days before his execution. Mass will be celebrated. Continue to Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome’s only gothic church. View the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), whose body lies beneath the main alter. Continue to the Pantheon for a brief visit and then on to the Spanish Steps. Return to your hotel for dinner.

JUN 08: DAY TRIP TO SUBIACO Today’s excursion is to St. Benedict’s Monastery at Subiaco. We will have Mass in Subiaco. Proceed to Tivoli Gardens for a brief visit. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

JUN 09: PAPAL AUDIENCE AND VATICAN After breakfast we drive to Vatican City to attend the weekly Papal Audience. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica built on the site where St. Peter was martyred. Construction of St. Peter’s began in 1506 and was completed in 1626. St. Peter is buried here along with many other popes. Afternoon

proceed to visit the Vatican Museum and Library, as well as the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Treasury. Return to hotel for Dinner and overnight.

JUN 10: ROME / NORTH AMERICA Transfer to the airport for your return flight to North America.

***Mass will be celebrated daily. **

TOUR CONDITIONS

AIR TRANSPORTATION: Economy class jet connecting IATA and ATC carriers. Airfare is based on SUPER APEX 6-21 days plus domestic add-on fares where applicable. Airfares are based on July 2009 rates and are subject to change without prior notice.

BAGGAGE: Limited to one normal size suitcase, the weight of which should not exceed 50 pounds. Flight bags, cosmetic bags, briefcases, and camera cases remain in the personal care of tour members and are not included in the 50 pounds.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: Superior First Class and First Class Hotels, two persons sharing a twin bedroom with private bath. A limited number of single rooms are available at $650.00 supplemental cost. Confirmation required before departure.

MEALS – TWO MEALS PER DAY: Breakfast and dinner daily.

SIGHTSEEING: Catholic historian and theologian, Dr. Marcellino, will be our primary commentator on the art, history, culture and spiritual heritage of Italy, Crossroads of Christendom. He will be assisted by English-speaking escorts and local government licensed guides. All entrance fees are included when applicable to specified sites.

TIPS: Tips associated with porterage at the hotels, meal gratuities, GUIDES and DRIVERS rendering services are NOT included. You will be billed for this amount on your final invoice.

TAXES: Service charges as imposed by lodging facilities, taxes by local administrations and government authorities on lodging are included on all services rendered to the group. Airport taxes and international border taxes where applicable abroad NOT included in the price of the tour and are subject to change without prior notice. You will be billed for this amount on your final invoice.

THE TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Expense of passports, laundry, wines, liquors, mineral water, lunches and after supper coffee or tea or items not found on the menu, excessive baggage expenses, and all items of a personal nature, plus those not listed as being included in the tour price.

BOOKING AND CONDITIONS: Deposit and payment. A deposit of $300.00 per person is required at the time of booking. Final payment must be made no later than 60 days prior to departure.

CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellations made up to 60 days prior to departure, refunds will be made less $100.00 per person administrative fee. Cancellations made 59-36 days prior to departure will be subject to $300.00 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received 35 days or less prior to departure have to pay a charge equivalent to 75% of the cost of the basic tour from the Gateway City.

NO SHOW NO REFUND. Cancellation charges with medical reasons certified by a hospital and accepted by the airlines and suppliers will only be made based on refunds from suppliers and less $300.00 per person administrative fee. CANCELLATION INSURANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. No refunds for services or sightseeing rendered and not used by tour members. In the event departure does not reach the minimum required number prior to departure, Consolidated Tours Org. Inc. RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL, withdraw or change the tour in whole or in part at any time in the event a change is deemed necessary by CTO, Inc. The sole obligation of CTO, Inc. is to refund payments received in connection herewith if not acceptable to tour members.

RESPONSIBILITY: Consolidated Tours Org. Inc. (CTO) and their Agents assume no liability or responsibility for any injuries or loss of property, accident, delay, changes in schedule or itinerary or incidental damages, occasioned by circumstances beyond the control of CTO, Inc. or by any person or reason whatsoever, including but not limited to default or omission of and by any third party providing services or facilities related to or included in this tour or any part thereof or in arranging for same. The IATA carriers, steamship firms and other transportation companies whose services are featured in these tours are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not on board their respective conveyance. The passage contract in use by these companies, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger and CTO, Inc. assumes no liability or responsibility in connection therewith.

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