PRIVATE ROME AIRPORT (FCO)

In the Footsteps of St. Francis

Tour Code TUR-01529

Duration 10 days

Group Type Private

Departs From Rome Airport (FCO)

Meeting Point Fiumicino International Airport

Customize This Journey View Full Itinerary

Overview

This tour is designed for pilgrim groups wishing to visit some of the most important sites connected with the life of St. Francis.

Starting with 3 nights in Rome, you will have time to explore the city, and spend a day visiting the Papal Basilicas of St. Peter's, St. Paul's outside the Walls, St. Mary Major and St. John in Lateran, where St. Francis went to meet the pope to request permission to form his Order. On Wednesday morning, you will be able to attend the Papal Audience, then decide how you wish to spend the rest of the day (additional tours can be arranged on request).

From Rome, we will travel north to Assisi, stopping at the Benedictine Monastery in Subiaco. The monastery is beautifully situated in the mountains, built around the cave where St. Benedict decided to form his Order. St. Francis came here on retreat in 1223-1224 and in the Lower church we find the only known portrait of the saint painted during his lifetime, showing him without either halo or Stigmata.

Arriving in Assisi, you will be staying in a spa-hotel in the center of the town, giving you total freedom to visit the town, relax in the spa, attend mass and pray as you wish.

In the following days, there will be tours of the churches which played an important part in the life of St. Francis, and St. Clare, as well as the town itself.

Leaving Assisi, we will stay in the town of Gubbio, close to the boarder with the Marche region. Near here we will visit the La Verna Sanctuary where the saint received the Stigmata from God.

The tour will end with 2 nights in the city of Florence. We will take a private tour of the city and have some free time for shopping before we take you to the airport for your flight home.

Itinerary

Where We Visit: Rome | Meeting Location: Fiumicino International Airport

Upon arrival in Rome, one of our team members will be at the airport to meet you (after you pass through customs) to help you with your luggage and begin your transfer to one of our most centrally located hotels in Rome.

After time to unwind at the hotel and get cleaned up after a long flight, we will begin our orientation tour of Rome which will include some of the city's major sites like Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Campo Dei Fiori and many other locations. Rome is simply an open air museum and best seen with a local who can bring the city to life!

In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Roman trattoria in the heart of the city where you will enjoy pasta and local Roman specialities.

Following dinner we return to the hotel where hopefully you will have an incredible sleep in the Eternal City following this incredible day in bella Roma!

Overnight in Rome.

Where We Visit: Rome

This tour will take you to the four Major basilicas of Rome: St. Peter's, St. Paul's outside the Walls, St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. The order of the tour will be decided when the calendar for each church has been published.

St. Peter's Basilica is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive sights in Rome today. This is the second basilica to be built on this site, commissioned by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century over the site of Constantine's original basilica and the necropolis where St. Peter was buried. Worked on by the greatest architects of the time, including Michelangelo, Bramante, Maderno and Bernini, the size of the structure and the light that floods in from the high windows, strike the visitor as much as the immense papal tombs and gilded decoration.

Like St. Peter's, the Basilica of St. Paul lies outside the ancient walls, over the necropolis where the saint was laid to rest. It was the only one of the Constantine basilicas to have survived from antiquity in its original form when it was burnt down in 1823. Thanks to donations from around the world, it was rebuilt just as it had been in just over 20 years, with the original Medieval cloister that survived the fire. Inside, mosaics of every pope from St. Peter to Pope Francis look down on visitors.

In the city center the Basilica of St. Mary Major, stands on the site where snow fell on an August night in the 5th century. It was one of the first churches to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary, following the Council of Ephesus in 431, which declared her to be the Mother of God. Much of the church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1348, but the original, beautiful 5th century mosaics still line the apse walls and the triumphal arch, depicting, scenes from both the Old and the New Testaments.

Not far from here, is the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The cathedral of Rome and once the official residence of the papacy, it is the highest ranking of all the churches in Rome, known as 'archbasilica' and as the oldest and most important basilica in the world, it holds the title of Ecumenical Mother Church of the Catholic Faithful. Constantine's original basilica was built on the site of the barracks of the Imperial Guard, who had fought against Constantine at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Following his victory, Constantine disbanded the guard and razed the barracks, eventually donating the Lateran Palace to the Pope. Like the other basilicas, St. John's has been rebuilt over the years, much of its current appearance dating to the 17th century, but the original private chapel of the pope, the Sancta Sanctorum, can still be seen across the road at the top of the Holy Steps.

Overnight in Rome.

Private Tour of the Monastery of Subiaco

Where We Visit: Rome Subiaco Assisi

In the morning, we will leave Rome and head north, following the Anio River to the town of Subiaco and the monastery founded by St. Benedict

The monastery, built high on a hillside between the 9th and the 18th centuries, stands over the cave where the saint lived as he developed the Rules of the Benedictine Order. Here we will visit the cave which forms part of the lower church, richly decorated in 13th century frescoes of the ‘Romano Popolare’ school. The frescoes include an image of Saint Francis of Assisi, the oldest known portrait in existence of the saint, having actually been drawn before his death. This dates back to St. Francis' retreat to Subiaco between 1223 and 1224 and he is therefore depicted without the stigmata and without a halo.

In the upper church we will see 14th century frescoes from the Siena School, depicting the final week of Christ’s life and his Resurrection and 15th century frescoes with scenes from the life of St. Benedict.

Later in the day, we will arrive in Assisi.

Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Tour of the Papal Basilica of St. Francis

Where We Visit: Assisi

After breakfast this morning, you will meet your guide for a tour inside the beautiful Basilica of St. Francis. Visible across the Umbrian countryside for miles, the basilica and its adjoining monastery, are incredible works of art in themselves, ornately decorated by some of the master painters of the 13th century.

Construction of the church began following the canonization of the saint in 1228 and two years later, the mortal remains of St. Francis were laid to rest here. The light Upper Church is decorated in colorful frescoes by Giotto and his school, showing scenes from the life of St. Francis. The Lower Church, which houses the monumental tomb of the saint, contains frescoes by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini.

In the afternoon, there will be time to hike up to the Carceri Hermitage, situated 4km above the town on Mount Subasio (bring sturdy shoes). Throughout his lifetime, St. Francis would come to a cave here to pray. Over time he was joined by others who sought the tranquility of the mountain for contemplation. Today the small community of Franciscans living here, happily welcome visitors who make the walk up from the town.

Return to the hotel for dinner.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's Included

4-star accommodation
Private Tours with English-speaking guides
Private Air-Conditioned Transportation
Meals as described in the program
Entrance fees as described in the program
Bilingual escort

What's Not Included

Everything not clearly specified under â€œrates includeâ€.
Food and beverages not mentioned in the program
Gratuities of any type
International fights

Pricing & Availability

Please contact us today by either phone or email for assistance with this booking.

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