TOUR #: PIO1002

Mon, Oct 2^nd: New York/Rome - Depart JFK or Newark Airport on your overnight flight to Italy.

Tue, Oct 3^rd: Rome - Upon arrival in Rome we are transferred to our hotel. This evening we have a “Rome by Night Tour.” (B,D)

Wed, Oct 4^th: Rome/Papal Audience - This morning we go to St. Peter’s Square for a Papal Audience (provided the Holy Father is in residence).  Remainder of the day is free to enjoy Rome on our own.  (B,D)

Thu, Oct 5^th: Rome/Pietrelcina/San Giovanni Rotondo – This morning we travel south leaving Lazio and arriving at the region of Campania where we visit Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio. We visit his home, the Church of Santa Ana, where he was baptized and we have Mass at Santa Maria degli Angeli.  Next we stop at Piana Romana to visit the place where Padre Pio received the invisible stigmata. After our visit, we travel east passing into the region of Apulia to San Giovanni Rotondo to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Grace where we see Padre Pio’s Tomb and cell.  (B,D)

Fri, Oct 6^th: San Giovanni Rotondo/St Michael’s Cave - Today we go to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie for Mass at the Tomb of Padre Pio. We continue to the English Office for a talk on Padre Pio.  Next we visit the new Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. This afternoon we visit St. Michael’s Cave where St. Michael the Archangel appeared. (B,D)

Sat, Oct 7^th: San Giovanni Rotondo/Bari Alberobello/San Giovanni Rotondo - Our route continues south through Apulia, to Alberobello. En route we stop at the Basilica of Bari to see the relics of St. Nicholas. The remains of St. Nicholas were taken from southern Turkey in 1087.  They lie in the crypt and are the source of pilgrimage for Catholic and Orthodox Christians. After our visit, we continue to ALBEROBELLO  to see the world famous trulli buildings which can only be found in this area.  Their origin is obscure. It is suggested that these buildings, dating from the med-14^th century, evolved to provide a rustic building that could be quickly erected and dismantled in order to avoid punitive taxes on permanent houses. A trullo is made of limestone blocks and mortar-less or dry-stone construction. Many of the inhabited ones have added mortar in recent years. After our v sit,  we return to San Giovanni Rotondo. (B,D)

Sun, Oct 8^th:  San Giovanni Rotondo/Mugnano/Sorrento - Morning departure to Sorrento. En route we stop at the Shrine of St. Philomena in MUGNANO. In spite of much research, little is known of the life of Saint Philomena before the discovery of her celebrated tomb in the Catacombs of Pricilla at Rome.  The only information we have about the life of the Saint is derived from the revelation that she herself made to the Servant of God, Sister Maria Luisa of Jesus, her fervent devotee, on August 3, 1833.  Speaking to the holy sister while she was in prayer before a statue of her, the Saint recounted in detail all her life. After our visit, we continue to SORRENTO.  Upon arrival we have a walking tour of the city. (B,D)

Mon, Oct 9^th: Sorrento/Pompeii/Sorrento - This morning we go to POMPEII for Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.  After Mass we have some free time before returning to Sorrento. Remainder of the day is free. (B,D)

Tue, Oct 10^th: Sorrento /Subiaco - This morning we depart Sorrento and head towards Rome to SUBIACO where St. Benedict started his first Monastery.  From Subiaco twelve other Monasteries arose. Giovannoni said of the Monastery of St. Benedict: The beauty of the shrine, which comprises two churches one above the other and several chapels, consist particularly in the artistic irregular arrangement of walls, vault and steps which are almost identified with the rocks, and in the paintings which decorate every surface, thus making numerous lights, and adorning the faint light of the passages and the caves.  (B,D)

Wed, Oct 11^th: Rome - Morning departure to Rome airport for our return flight to the USA.. (B)

Visit the Padre Pio Foundation of America's web site