Holy Places, Holy Spaces

A Pilgrimage to Italy

Led by:

The Rev. Rob Fulton
First United Presbyterian Church
Bellefontaine, OH

June 3 - 12, 2013

DAY 1: Monday, June 3, 2013 - We will depart from Columbus, OH and change planes in Philadelphia to our nonstop service to Venice, Italy. M

DAY 2: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 - We will arrive in Venice, Italy where we will meet our tour manager and transfer via water taxi to our Venice Hotel. We will have free time in the afternoon to browse through this beautiful city before we join together for a “welcome to Italy” dinner and overnight. MD

DAY 3: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 -A day of exploring Venice. We will see St. Mark's Square, the Basilica, Doge's Palace, and more! We will have the afternoon free to explore Venice on our own. Our guide can make recommendations for us. You might consider taking a canal cruise or head to Murano and see the Glass Factory. A fun and inexpensive way to see Venice from the canals is to take a vaporetto (public water bus transportation). A one-time ticket for the vaporetto is currently 7 Euro. Please consider taking the number 1 vaporetto in the evening for a breathtaking view of the lights of Venice. Overnight Venice. B

DAY 4: Thursday, June 6, 2013 - After breakfast in our Venice hotel, we transfer by water taxi to the coach stop where we meet our coach and driver and begin our journey to Florence. En route to Florence, we will stop in Verona where we have some free time to explore this area that William Shakespeare used as a base for Romeo & Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew. We continue to Pisa where we visit the famous Leaning Tower which was begun in 1174 and began leaning when construction reached the third floor. We will see the great Duomo and Baptistery. From Pisa, we will travel to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance era, and considered by many to be the most beautiful of all of Italy’s cities. We will have dinner and overnight in Florence. BD

DAY 5: Friday, June 7, 2013 - Today, take a morning walking tour of Florence. We visit the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower) whose dome is famous as part of the skyline of Florence. We visit the Academy of Fine Arts, also known as the Accademia which is home to Michelangelo’s famous statue of David. The afternoon will be free for more exploration of Florence. Overnight Florence. B

DAY 6: Saturday, June 8, 2013 - We depart Florence this morning and travel to Monte san Savino, the quaint walled Etruscan City in the province of Arezzo. En route to Monte san Savino, we stop in Siena, famous for its Piazzo del Campo where, two times each year, the famous Palio (horse races) are held. After leaving Siena, we will drive through the picturesque town of Cortona on our way to Montalcino where we will have a wine tasting at Enoteca La Fortezza, a wine bar built into the grotto of the 16th century Medici Fortress. We will have 3 glasses of local wines, cheese, salami and snacks. We will visit Montepulciano, famous for its Piazza Grande. We continue to Castelo di Gargonza, a private Tuscan village where we will have dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 7: Sunday, June 9, 2013 - Today, we travel to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis who founded the Franciscan religious order in the year 1208, and St. Clare, the founder of the Poor Sisters, which later became the order of Poor Clares. The Basilica of St. Francis is a Franciscan monastery and an upper and lower church were begun after the canonization of St. Francis in 1228 and completed around 1253. The Basilica of Santa Chiara (St. Clare) with its massive lateral buttresses, rose window and simple Gothic interior, was begun in 1257 and contains the tomb of St. Clare as well as 13th century frescoes and paintings. We will also see St. Mary of the Angels while in Assisi. We continue to Montefalco where you'll enjoy a wine tasting at Agienda Agraria Scacciadiavoli. We will return to Castelo di Gargonza for our overnight. B

DAY 8: Monday, June 10, 2013 - We depart for Rome today and stop in Orvieto which is perched atop a rock and still appears as a medieval jewel. We continue to Rome, where we meet our local English speaking guide and enjoy a half day tour including an entrance to the Coliseum and Roman Forum. The Coliseum, famous for its gladiators, is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. We will make a quick stop at Trevi Fountain before we check into our Rome hotel for our overnight. B

DAY 9: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - Today we visit St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican with the Sistine Chapel. After lunch we continue our sightseeing tour of Rome. We will visit the Castle St. Angelo, followed by an entrance to the Catacombs, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains). St. Paul Outside the Walls is one of Rome's four ancient major basilicas. The basilica was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine, I, over the burial place of St Paul, where, it was said, that after the Apostle's execution, his followers erected a memorial. San Pietro in Vincoli is a minor basilica in Rome, best known for being the home of Michelangelo's statue of Moses, part of the tomb of Pope Julius II. We will have a “farewell to Italy” dinner and overnight in Rome. BD

DAY 10: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - After breakfast, we will travel to the Rome airport and board our nonstop fight to Philadelphia where we will clear customs and connect to our final flight to Columbus, OH. M

Price: $3,999.00*.  Pricing is based on an exchange rate of 1.26 dollars to the Euro.  Pricing includes current airline taxes and fuel surcharges of $590.05 on September 1, 2012.  If the value of the dollar to the Euro or if the airline taxes and fuel surcharges change, price may change.

* Pricing is based on double occupancy.  Single Supplement: $799.00.

Final payment due March 1, 2013

$300.00 per person deposit due no later than November 15, 2012 with registration and copy of passport.

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until February 28, 2013:  $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After March 1, 2013:  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.