INCLUDED
- Roundtrip airfare
- Hotel accommodations (Double Occupancy)
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Professional Tour Escort and Local Guides
- Daily Mass
NOT INCLUDED
- Tips to Tour Escort, Guides, and Drivers ($165)
- Travel Insurance (can be purchased from website)
- Lunch, Drinks during meals & Personal extras
- Single Room Supplement is $900
To Reserve:
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Noelette Tours Tel: 845 770 4122 / 845 634 5746
Email: sa***@******te.com Website: www.noelette.com
*Depending on local conditions, itinerary/price may change to maximize the site visits. Min 25pax.
ITINERARY
DAY 1, OCT 18: DEPART USA
Depart from the USA for transatlantic flight.
DAY 2, OCT 19: BURGOS
Welcome to Madrid! Enjoy a short (bus) orientation tour of Madrid. Transfer to Palencia and drive around Palencia, where St Dominic received his early education and the initial formation of Dominican Intellectualism. Proceed to Burgos for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3, OCT 20: CALERUEGA and LOYOLA
After breakfast, visit Caleruega, the birthplace of St Dominic, proceed to the Crypt Chapel for Mass. Visit the Shrine of Domingo de Silos, where Blessed Joan de Azo (St Dominic’s Mother) prayed and had a prophetic vision of a dog leaping from her womb that led to the symbolism of the Dominican order: the dog with a torch on its mouth, and the imagery and representation as “Domini Canes”, faithful watchdogs of faith. Transfer to Loyola for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4, OCT 21: LOURDES
After breakfast, visit St Ignatius’ childhood home(museum) and celebrate Mass in Loyola Castle. Visit the Basilica of Loyola, Sanctuary of Latz (where Ignatius knighted himself to Mary), and Arantzazu (where Ignatius made his vow of chastity). Travel to Lourdes for dinner and overnight and join the evening procession.
DAY 5, OCT 22: TOULOUSE and PROUILHE
Early morning transfer to Toulouse, considered to be the birthplace of the Dominican Order, and visit Maison Seilhan, the historic residence of the first members; Couvent des Jacobins, considered the Mother Church of the Dominicans, and the relics of St Thomas Aquinas. Proceed to the monastery at Prouilhe, the birthplace of the Dominican nuns and where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic and gave him the devotion of the Holy Rosary to assist in his mission. Visit the town of Fanjeux, where St. Dominic saw a globe of fire (Seignadou or “Sign of God”) from the sky and descended upon the site where he established the first monastery. Transfer to the hotel in Toulouse for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6, OCT 23: NICE
After breakfast, drive to Nice. Dinner and overnight in Nice.
DAY 7, OCT 24: FLORENCE
After breakfast, drive to Florence. Pass through Pisa for lunch stop. Dinner and overnight in Florence
DAY 8, OCT 25: BOLOGNA
After breakfast, take a guided-walking tour of Florence: the Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower. Visit the Convento di San Marco (which is now filled with Fra Angelico’s frescoes and paintings). After lunch, proceed to Bologna for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9, OCT 26: ROME
After breakfast, visit the Basilica of St Dominic in Bologna, a major pilgrimage site for those following the footsteps of St Dominic. Visit the Arca that contains his remains and the Inlaid Choir by Fra Damiano Bergamo, highly regarded in the 16th century as the “eighth wonder of the world”. Proceed to Siena and the Santuario di Santa Caterina which encompasses the Benincasa family home where St. Catherine was born and houses the 12th century crucifix before which she received the stigmata. We’ll also visit the Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico where St Catherine’s head is venerated. Proceed to Rome for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10, OCT 27: ROME
Early morning visit to the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the headquarter of the Order of Preachers and the room of St Dominic, located next to the convent to the Basilica. Visit the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, where the body of St Catherine rests at the main altar. This gothic basilica was built by Dominicans in 1280 and houses the tomb of Beato Angelico and the room where St Catherine died that has been relocated adjacent to the sacristy. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
DAY 11, OCT 28: ROME
After breakfast, attend the weekly Papal Audience at the Vatican, pending papal schedule. Visit the Vatican Museum, including entrance to the Sistine Chapel, ending in St. Peter’s Basilica. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
DAY 12, OCT 29: ROME
After breakfast, visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran and Scala Santa, St Mary Major and Dinner and overnight in Rome. Time permitting, panoramic tour of the Colosseum, Pantheon, and TreviFountain. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
DAY 13, OCT 30: RETURN TO USA
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to USA.