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Day 2 • Rome
Day 5 • Santa Maria delle Grazie
Day 7 •St. Francis Basilica
Day 8 • Florence
Day 10 • Casa di Giulietto
Day 12 • Münster Cathedral
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
We start our journey to Europe with an overnight flight to Rome, Italy.
Day 2 • Rome
After arrival in the Eternal City of Rome, we are met by our friendly Signature Tours International Manager who assists us in transferring to our hotel. En route, we enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour. There is time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure for exploration. We have dinner and stay the night in Rome.
Day 3 • Sistine Chapel
Day 3 • Rome
Today we take a sightseeing tour of Vatican City. We see one of the greatest collections of art in the world – the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with the work of Michelangelo. We also visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, decided in 324 AD to build a basilica on the site where St. Peter was buried after he had been martyred in Nero’s circus. There is time for lunch on our own before an afternoon at leisure under the guidance of our Tour Manager. Dinner and the night are in Rome.
Day 4 • Rome
Our day begins with a sightseeing tour of Ancient Rome, including a visit to the Coliseum. Originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre after its builders, the Coliseum began construction around 70 AD in a low-lying area that had once formed the pond of Nero's Domus Aureus. The amphitheater probably came to be called the "Coliseum" because a colossal statue of Nero once stood near it. It was completed in 80 AD and seated more than 50,000 spectators. Its opening was celebrated with 100 days of games. There is free time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure to explore Rome under the guidance of our Tour Manager. Enjoy the shopping and many sights to see!! We have dinner and stay the night in Rome.
Day 5 • Rome/San Giovanni Rotondo
We depart Rome for San Giovanni Rotondo, which is considered a town "filled with history". Its origin dates back to the eleventh century, and its first inhabitants were the Pirgians. There is time for us to have lunch on our own before we visit the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Building work on the original church began in 1540, with the church being consecrated and dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie with great solemnity on July 5, 1676. We have dinner and stay in San Giovanni Rotondo for the night.
Day 6 • Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
Day 6 • San Giovanni Rotondo/Lanciano/Assisi
Leaving San Giovanni Rotondo behind, we head toward Assisi via Lanciano. We visit the San Francesco Church, where the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano occurred. According to history, a wondrous event took place in the 8th century A.D. in the little Church of St. Legontian. As a divine response to a Basilian monk’s questioning of the doubt of the real presence of Jesus in Holy Mass, the host was changed into live flesh and the wine was changed into live blood. We have time for lunch on our own and individual exploration before we continue our journey to Assisi for dinner and the night.
Day 7 • Assisi
Assisi represents an ensemble of masterpieces of human creative genius, such as the Basilica of San Francesco, which has made it a reference for art history in Europe and the world. We take a guided sightseeing tour of Assisi with a visit to St. Francis Basilica, where on July 17th, 1228, the day after the canonization of St Francis, Pope Gregory IX laid the first stone of the lower Basilica. Two years later, the saint's body that had been resting in the church of San Giorgio was brought here in secret, for fear of looting by tomb raiders, and buried in the unfinished church. We have time for lunch on our own and an afternoon to experience Assisi with suggestions by our Tour Manager. We have dinner and spend the night in Assisi.
Day 8 • Assisi/Florence
We leave Assisi today and travel to Florence, home of the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, inventors and men of science were encouraged to base their research on the reinterpretation of the achievements of the Classic civilization and on the expansion of the new scientific horizons. Florence was home to many, including Dante, Giotto, Lorenzo the Magnificent and Michelangelo. We tour the amazing Accademia of Fine Arts, where we see their fine collection of Michelangelo sculptures, including the original David. Our next stop is the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Liore. With origins dating back to 1296, it is one of the largest cathedrals in the Christian world. Dinner and overnight are in Florence.
Day 9 • Cathedral Duomo
Day 9 • Florence/Milan
Leaving behind the amazing city of Florence, we arrive in Milan, Italy, the capital of high fashion and finance. Milan is thoroughly modern in appearance. However, it is also a storehouse of artistic treasures. Upon arrival, we have time for lunch on our own before an afternoon guided sightseeing tour. Our first stop is the Cathedral (Duomo), a Gothic marvel of white marble. Continuing on, we visit La Scala, where many people from far and wide travel to attend excellent concerts and recitals by world-class musicians. Dinner and overnight are in Milan.
Day 10 • Milan/Verona/Oberammergau
Today we depart Milan and travel to Oberammergau. En route we stop in Verona. Verona stands on the banks of the Adige in a hilly setting and is, after Venice, the finest art center in Venetia. Verona was occupied by the Austrians in 1814 and united as part of Veneto with Italy in 1866. Verona was home to Romeo and Juliet, immortalized by William Shakespeare. Casa di Giulietto, or the Capulet’s house, which was Juliet’s home, is located in the Via Cappello. The famous balcony, from which Juliet beckoned for her fair Romeo, is located in the inner courtyard. We continue to Oberammergau for dinner and the night.
Day 11 • Passion Play
Day 11 • Oberammergau/PASSION PLAY
Today is the day we have all been waiting for! This small town of peasants and craftsmen, encircled by the wooded foothills of the Ammergau, owes its fame to the internationally renowned Passion Play. Performed only once every ten years and involving 1,100 amateur actors from the local population, this play, re-enacting the final days of Christ, lasts an entire summer’s day. This is sure to be a day we will never forget. Dinner and overnight are in Oberammergau.
Day 12 • Oberammergau/Ulm/Heidelberg
After a day we won’t soon forget, we board our motor coach for the ride to Heidelberg, Germany. We stop in Ulm, home of Albert Einstein, where we visit the Münster Cathedral. With a spire that stands 528 ft. tall, it is the tallest in the world. We have lunch on our own before we continue to Heidelberg for dinner and the night.
Day 13 • Heidelberg Castle
Day 13 • Heidelberg
Our day begins with a guided sightseeing tour of Heidelberg, including entrance to the Heidelberg Castle. The Heidelberg Castle is one of Germany’s most romantic locations, with a long and turbulent history. First constructed in the early 15th century as a residence for the Palatine princes, it was destroyed twice during war times and was once struck by lightening. Stones have even been removed to construct other buildings, thus it has a variety of architectural styles. There is free time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure to explore on your own. Your tour manager is available to direct you. Tonight we gather for a Farewell dinner and stay the night in Heidelberg.
Day 14 • Heidelberg/Frankfurt/Hometown, U.S.A.
We transfer to Frankfurt Airport for our return flight to the U.S.A. with many memorable experiences to share!!