In the Footsteps of St. Francis

Saints and Their Stories

A pilgrimage to Italy exploring the world of Peter and Paul, Saint Francis and Clare, Catherine of Siena, and Saint Benedict

Led by:

The Rev. Jeffrey MacKnight
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church
Bethesda, MD

April 16 – 27, 2012

DAY 1: Monday, March 12, 2012 - Depart the United States on Lufthansa for the trans-Atlantic flight changing planes in Munich for our final destination, Rome. M

DAY 2: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - We meet our tour manager and driver at the airport in Rome and stop on our way into the city to visit St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, the monumental basilica dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle.  There will be a brief orientation tour as we travel into Rome.  We will have some leisure time this afternoon before we join together for a “welcome to Italy” dinner.  Overnight Rome. MD

DAY 3: Wednesday, April 14, 2012 - An early morning visit to the early Christian Catacombs where we shall celebrate Eucharist.  Next we visit the Vatican, the smallest city/state in the world.  We will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and see Michelangelo’s famous Pieta’ (possibly obtain tickets for the Papal audience which takes place on Wednesdays) and then visit the Vatican Museum where we shall see Michelangelo’s famous fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  Overnight Rome. B

DAY 4: Thursday, March 15, 2012 -Today, we visit the Roman Forum, the Coliseum, the Basilicas of Saint John Lateran and Saint Mary Major and the Episcopal Church of Saint Paul Within-the-Walls.  Overnight Rome. B

DAY 5: Friday, March 16, 2012 - We head toward Umbria today to Assisi, birthplace of Francis and a city whose walls have hardly changed since the Middle Ages.  We will stop on the “Highway of the Sun” at Greccio to see the Greccio Monastery.  It is here that St. Francis celebrated Christmas in 1223 by placing a manger and live animals before the altar.  This started the custom of making crèches at Christmas. Upon arrival in Assisi, we will visit the Basilica to view the magnificent frescoes.  Our lodging in Assisi will be in a beautiful monastery to deeper our spiritual experience.  Overnight Assisi. BD

DAY 6: Saturday, March 17, 2012 - We visit Francis’ birthplace, the Church of San Ruffino where he was baptized, the Carceri, the little Hermitage where Francis was often drawn for prayer and solitude, San Damiano, where Clare lived and where Francis received his vision to “rebuild the church’, the church of Santa Chiara, The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli which is built over the Porziuncola, the little chapel St. Francis restored.  It is here in the Transito Chapel where Francis died on October 3, 1226.  Overnight Assisi. B

DAY 7: Sunday, March 18, 2012 - Today we depart from Assisi and stop at Verna to visit La Verna Monastery, founded in 1214 by St. Francis and the place where he received the Stigmata.  Here we will see the magnificent della Robbia terracottas.  We continue back to the Eternal City of Rome where we will dine together.  Overnight in Rome. BD

DAY 8: Monday, March 19, 2012 - We begin today with a walking and public transport tour of Rome which will include the Castel San Angelo, the Piazza Navona, the Church of San Andrea, the Cat Forum, the Piazza Venezia, the Trevi Fountain, the Via Conditi, the Spanish Steps, the Piazza del Populo and the Borghesi Gardens.  (Bring your sneakers or comfortable walking shoes.) Ovenight in Rome. B

DAY 9: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - Your last full day in the Eternal City to just enjoy in whichever way you wish:  shopping, returning to some of your favorite sights, sitting in a nice park or piazza people gazing or anything that you might just want to do.  (Father Ramon will have plenty of suggestions and ideas.)  Farewell dinner in Rome at a restaurant of our choosing.  Overnight in Rome. BD

DAY 10: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - Breakfast and then transfer to the Fiumincino Airport (Rome) for the beginning of our journey back to the USA arriving back in Charlotte in the late afternoon. BM

Price: $2,629.00*.  Price is based without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Charlotte Douglas Airport, Charlotte, NC on Lufthansa German Airlines.  Air transportation available from other cities.  * Pricing is based on double occupancy and excludes airline taxes and fuel surcharges which are $564.50 on September 1, 2011. These will be added to your final invoice.

** The price is not guaranteed and may change due to the fluctuation of the Euro and the US dollar.  We make every effort to avoid any increase and will only do so if the value of the dollar falls against the Euro.  Your pricing was based on the exchange rate of $1.41 to the Euro. **

The cost of this pilgrimage includes round-trip airfare, overnight accommodations (based on double occupancy), most transportation while in Italy in an air-conditioned tour bus with local guides at sites, all breakfasts and some dinners.

Father Ramon, who lived in Italy for 4 years and is fluent in Italian, is more than pleased to be your spiritual guide and companion during this journey which he promises will be full of wonderful experiences, outrageously delicious meals, holy sites that will become lifelong memories and a longing to return one day to these wonderful, fun and holy places and to explore new ones you will not be able to see during this trip.

If you have questions, would like more information or would like to express your interest in this wonderful Pilgrimage/Journey to Italy, please contact Father Ramon Aymerich by either sending him an email at FatherRamon@aol.com or calling him on his mobile:  704-681-6371.

Final payment due December 15, 2011

$200.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy of passport.

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until December 15, 2011:  $100.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After December 16, 2011:  NO REFUND

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner, M Meals on Aircraft

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.