The Grand Canal, Venice

The Duomo, Florence

The Ponte Vecchio, Florence

Lemons of Sorrento

Dome of Saint Peter's Basilica

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

All photos ©Scott Parmelee.

Join Father John and your fellow Office of Radio & Television supporters and WJMJ listeners this fall on a 13 day/11 night classic tour of Italy from September 25th to October 7th, 2010.

This fully escorted classic Italian holiday begins in the romantic city of Venice the “Queen of the Adriatic”.  See the Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and some off-the-beaten-track surprises. There's also a stop in Verona, setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliette!

From Venice, journey south through the beautiful Italian countryside to Cinque Terre an Italian National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Visit the Leaning Tower in Pisa.  Explore the birthplace of the Renaissance… Florence.  Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia home of Michelangelo's David, the Duomo, and see the Ponte Vecchio.  There’s also visit to the L'Uffizi Gallery available as an optional excursion.  Visit a 12th century castle with a torrid past... hint April Blood... now owned by a family that produces fine wines and olive oil, for a tour and wine tasting.

Our journey continues to the famous Tuscan "hilltop" town of San Gimignano and its thirteen medieval towers.  Tour Siena… home of Saint Catherine with a local guide and learn about the "contrata" and the annual Palio horse race.  From Siena we travel to magical Assisi... home of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, patron saint of the television Mass.  Visit the Basilica of Saint Francis and see the frescoes by Giotto.  Visit the Basilica of Saint Clare, foundress of the Poor Clares.  Travel through Italy's spine, the Apennines, and the scenic regions of Lazio and Campania to Sorrento which overlooks the Bay of Naples.  Travel back to an earlier time on our visit of the ancient ruins at Pompeii, once a resort for wealthy Romans, the city was buried under the ash of Mount Vesuvius during the cataclysmic eruption in AD 79.  Explore the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and visit picturesque Amalfi. 

From Sorrento, trek north to the Eternal City, Rome.  In Rome, visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel… where popes have been elected for centuries.  Explore Saint Peter’s Basilica… the largest church in all Christendom.  Pray at the tomb of Servant of God John Paul II.  Attend a audience with Pope Benedict XVI.    Discover ancient Rome.  See the Coliseum and the Roman Forum.  Visit Trevi Fountain and toss that coin, trust us it really does work.  We're going back again, aren't we?  There’s free time too!

Whether this is your first trip to Italy or you've been before, there's nothing like a pilgrimage tour of Italy with Father John.  Why you ask?  Who better to show you around than someone who lived in Rome for four years completing his studies for the priesthood.  We also have the BEST tour escorts.  So please join us and together, we will laugh and pray, share the joy and heritage of our faith, meet new friends, walk in the paths of the saints and sample the food and wine of the Italian regions we will visit.

ANDIAMO!

If you have any questions, please call Joan or Scott at (203) 758-7367.  To add your name to our mailing list to receive further information about this or future pilgrimages with Father John please click here.  You may download the Bella Italia with Father John information, forms and documents as an Adobe® PDF files, just click on the following links.

Bella Italia with Father John Brochure and Reservation Form Travel 360° Travel Insurance Certificate Comprehensive Plan

You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view the pilgrimage brochure and reservation form. You can download the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader directly from Adobe by clicking on the icon below.

Please visit again, as we will be continually updating this web page with additional information about the Bella Italia tour.  Also be sure to check our web site for future pilgrimages and tours.

Hotels

Click on any  image below to link to the hotels web site.

Antony Palace Hotel, Marcon

Hotel Ercolini & Savi, Montecatini Terme

Hotel San Pietro, Assisi

TBA
Sorrento

Crowne Plaza-St. Peter's, Rome