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12-Day Pilgrimage to
Greece and Italy
Visiting Athens, Corinth, Kalambaka, Thessaloniki, Kavala,
Veria, Vergina, San Giovanni Rotondo, Pietrelcina, and Rome.
Contact
us for a price for
your group.
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Day 1:
Transatlantic flight to
Athens, Greece
Depart today towards Athens. During the international flight,
meals will be provided by the airline. |
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Day 2:
Athens
Arrive into Athens International Airport, where
your tour escort will greet you and take you to the
motor-coach for a panoramic sightseeing and a
walking tour
across Athens’
downtown, seeing monuments which represent both its modern and
ancient history. After
Mass enjoy a welcome dinner and meet your fellow travelers.
(WD) |
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Day 3:
Athens
This morning, visit the Acropolis to see the ruins of
the Parthenon, Erectheum and Propylae.
Afterwards, ascend the Aeropagus Hill, where St. Paul
delivered his sermon “On the unknown God” and gained his first
convert, Dionysius the Aeropagite, who subsequently became the
patron saint of Athens. The rest of the day is at leisure; you
may visit the Plaka area, with its multitude of restaurants
and stores; or one of the many fascinating museums of Athens,
like the Byzantine Museum, covering 1,500 years of Byzantine
art and architecture; or the Benaki Museum, an outstanding
collection of Greek art and crafts, painting, and jewelry,
local customs spanning over 5,000 years. (BB) |
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Day 4:
Athens – Corinth – Kalambaka
Today travel to Ancient Corinth. Here St. Paul preached
and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly gentile
church founded by him in the year 50 AD, caused him much grief
and prompted him to write at least fours letters to the
Corinthians. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where St.
Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the agora where St.
Paul’s trial by Gallio took place. Afterwards, travel to
Kalambaka for dinner and overnight. (BB, D) |
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Day 5:
Kalambaka –
Thessaloniki
Today visit the beautiful and strange geographical formation
of Meteora, formed by hanging rocks on top of which
several Byzantines monasteries were built between the 9th
and 12th centuries. Visit two of those monasteries,
which still reflect the real monastic life of the Middle Ages.
Afterwards, travel to Thessaloniki,
one of the most world renowned cities in the world. St. Paul
visited twice during his journeys in 50 and 56 AD, and
preached in the Synagogue despite the hostility of certain
Jews; he also founded the church to which he addressed several
Epistles. See the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting at the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery
of the Roman Empire, and other Roman ruins. (BB, D) |
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Day 6:
Thessaloniki – Kavala –
Thessaloniki
This morning travel to
Philippi,
where St. Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing
the seeds of Christianity. Here St. Paul baptized a woman
called Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe. Visit the
Forum, the theater, and the prison where St. Paul and St.
Silas were thrown. Continue on to the modern port city of
Kavala,
ancient Neapolis, where St. Paul first set foot in Europe
accompanied by St. Silas, St. Luke, and St. Timonthy. On the
way back to Thessaloniki, visit Amphipolis, the ancient
city, known as the “holy mountain”. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (BB, D) |
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Day 7:
Thessaloniki –
Igoumenitsa – Ferry to Bari, Italy
This morning explore Thessaloniki with visits to some of its
churches. Thessaloniki contains the only two remaining 5th
century basilicas, St. Demetrius, built on the
martyrdom site and tomb of St. Demetrius, patron saint of
Thessaloniki; and Panagia Ahiropiitos, meaning “not
made by human hands”, named after a miraculous icon of the
Virgin Mary. This afternoon depart for Kalambaka. En route,
stop at Vergina to visit the famous museum that houses
the Macedonian Dynasty Royal Tombs, where Philip II,
father of Alexander the Great, is buried. Our passing through Veria (Boroea of the Acts) will recall the ministry of
St. Paul in this important city. Continue to Igoumenitsa to
take the overnight ferry to Bari, Italy. (BB, D) |
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Day 8:
Bari – San Giovanni
Rotondo
Arrive this morning to Bari.
Your Italian tour escort greets you and takes you to the
motor-coach to travel to San Giovanni Rotondo, to render
homage to the remains of St. Padre Pio. Afterwards,
travel to Mount San
Angelo where St.
Michael the Archangel appeared to the Bishop of Sipontum in 493 AD. Return to San Giovanni
for dinner and overnight. (B, D) |
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Day 9:
San Giovanni Rotondo –
Pietrelcina – Rome
This morning travel to Pietrelcina, the town where
St. Padre Pio was born and lived in his early years and
youth. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Church where he
started his ministry, the house where St. Padre Pio was born
and lived his childhood, the Little Church of St. Ann
where he received baptism, confirmation, and first communion,
as well as other sites related to St. Padre Pio’s life in
Pietrelcina. Afterwards, travel to the Eternal city of Rome
for dinner and overnight. (BB, D) |
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Day 10:
Rome
This morning attend the Papal Blessing. Afterwards, visit
St. Peter’s Basilica, the place of martyrdom and burial of
St. Peter the Apostle. Render homage to the many Popes and
saints entombed in this site, including the incorrupt body of
St. Pius X. Next, to commemorate St. Paul’s year, visit St.
John Lateran, the basilica where the head of the saint is
enshrined in the canopy of the altar; the Catacombs;
St. Paul Outside the Walls, housing St. Paul’s remains,
and Tre Fontane Church, where St. Paul suffered
martyrdom. (BB, D) |
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Day 11:
Rome
Today take advantage of a free day in Rome to visit those
sites you have always wanted to see but have not had enough
time. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the success
of your pilgrimage. (BB, FD) |
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Day 12:
Transatlantic flight back to the U.S.
This morning transfer to Rome's airport for your return flight
to the U.S. (BB) |
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Call today for a price quote for your group!
Group leaders can travel for free! Call
1-800-290-3876 for details or
fill out our online
Information Request Form.
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