12D10N Steps of St. Paul in Rome – Greece

HIGHLIGHTS

Exclude:

• Airport taxes
• Insurance

Flight details:
1 QR 945 03MAR 7 SINDOH 0200 0505 1A/E
2 QR 131 03MAR 7 DOHFCO 0835 1250 1A/E
3 08MAR A3551 FCO – SKG (Thessaloniki) 1235 – 1515
4 QR 204 13MAR 3 ATHDOH 1245 1750 1A/E
5 QR 942 13MAR 3 DOHSIN 2040 0915+1 *

ITINERARY

Day 1 – 03th March Sunday
Singapore – Rome (Lunch, Dinner)
Assemble at Singapore Changyi Airport for our flight to Rome. Upon Arrival to Rome Airport – Meet and greet at the Airport with your tour escort and transfer to the hotel for check in. After that meet the guide for an orientation tour of Rome including the Mamertine prison (site that records the tradition to be the place where Saint Peter and Saint Paul were imprisoned) and St. Peter in Chains (named for the chains that held St. Peter when he was imprisoned in Rome and in Jerusalem. The church is however best known for the statue of Moses that Michelangelo created for the tomb of pope Julius II). Dinner and overnight at the hotel or nearby.

Hotel: Hotel Shangri-La Roma / Hotel Roma Tor Vergata / similar

Day 2 – 04th March Monday
Rome (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast and visit to the Vatican City (length 4hrs approx.). St. Peter’s Basilica is a Catholic Holy Basilica located in the Vatican. It was built from 1506 to 1626 and is one of the important symbols of the Catholic Church. As the most outstanding Renaissance building and the largest church in the world, it covers an area of 23,000 square meters and can accommodate more than 60,000 people. In the center of the church is a dome with a diameter of 42 meters and a height of about 138 meters. St. Peter is in front. Plaza and Concord Avenue. then guided tour of the Vatican Museum. Our Tour-guide will lead you through the treasures preserved at the museums visiting also the Sistine Chapel with the masterpieces of Michelangelo, including the Last Judgement, and St. Peter Basilica. Transfer back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel or nearby.

Hotel: Hotel Shangri-La Roma / Hotel Roma Tor Vergata / similar

Day 3 – 05th March Tuesday
Rome – Pisa (370 km) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast meet the guide at hotel and start the Christian tour with Basilicas of Rome and the Catacomb (length 4hrs approx.). The history of these Basilicas comes together the history of Rome, scaring the religious path, the social events and the artistic experience: The Cathedral of Rome and the most ancient Basilica of the western world; St John’s Lateran Basilica. It has been funded by Constantine I as the main church of Rome and subsequently converted to the Baroque style by Francesco Borromini. All Popes have been crowned here until 19th century and nowadays it’s the official seat of the Roman Bishop. The large complex around the Church embraces the Lateran Palace, the Major Pontifical Roman Seminary and the Pontifical Lateran University.

Stop to visit the Holy Stair on the left side of the Square. The Stair that, according to the Christian tradition, was climbed by Jesus to reach the room of the Interrogation with Pontius Pilate before the crucifixion. The 28 steps have been put into effect starting from the highest one, to avoid the builders walk on them and allow only the Pilgrims to kneel down on the stair. Proceed to St Paul Outside the Walls Basilica, rising on the legendary burial place of St Paul Apostle, in the middle of an ancient guest-house on the long way to Ostia.

The Basilica, rebuilt after the fire on 1823, is the second largest Church after St
Peter at the Vatican. Here, under the major altar, there’s the tomb of St Paul Apostles and for this reason this Basilica has always been a pilgrimage destination; since 1300 date of the first Holy Year, it has been part of the Jubilee itinerary and seat of the Holy Door’s opening ceremony. After St. Paul outside the Wall Basilica we’ll visit the Three Fountain Abbey raised on the spot where St. Paul was beheaded by order of the Emperor Nero. Legend accounts for the three springs (fontane) with the assertion that, when severed from Paul’s body, his head bounced and struck the earth in three different places, from which fountains sprang up. These still flow and are located in the sanctuary. We will end our tour with the visit to one of the Catacombs of Rome. This can be to St Calisto, St Domitilla or St Sebastian. For their
importance, the precious heritage of paintings and sculptures, the Catacombs are nowadays visited by thousands of Pilgrims from all over the world. They are authentic archives of the primitive Church, an attestation of the costumes and rituals of how the Christian doctrine was meant and applied.

Back to city center and visit the of Imperial Rome A leap into the Roman Age (length 3hrs approx.). Welcome to one of the most incredible avenues of the world: Via dei Fori Imperiali. It begins from the slopes of Capitol Hill, behind Venice Square. We start with the visit of one of the most impressive, unknown corners of Rome, the Trajan Market (from outside). It is the first huge, historical commercial area, and was a real shopping centre for the Romans!

Miraculously surviving to our modern age, it preserves the signs of the ancient men and women who inhabited it, using its rooms in many different ways, almost 2.000 years ago. It has been built on six floors covered with vaults. Partially hidden inside the Esquilino Hill, behind the Trajan Forum, today its ambient impact is not so evident due to the collapsing of most of the walls around, but you should know that it was 40 metres tall during the Empire, with corridors and pedestrian passages connecting into other buildings.

Leaving the markets and the Trajan Columns recounting the Roman victory in Dacia region, we continue walking along the Imperial Forum, admiring the Augustus Forum, Tito’s Arch, Settimio Severo’s Arch, Ulpia’a Basilica, Caesar’s Forum and Massenzio’s Basilica therefore we come to the magnificent Coliseum, the Flavius Amphitheatre. Once it was completely covered by white marble, surrounded by columns and statues and it was covered by a huge velario (a tent) protecting the public attending the gladiators show from the sun. In the central platform covered by sand, the sad exhibition of the gladiators fighting to survive against the lions, all around terraces for the common people, the balcony for the Emperor and the Senators…all for the delight of the spectators. Dinner and overnight at the hotel or nearby.

Hotel: Hotel Shangri-La Roma / Hotel Roma Tor Vergata / similar

Day 4 – 06th March Wednesday
Rome – Assisi – Florence – Rome (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast transfer to Florence. On the way stop in Assisi for an half day visit with local licensed guide. Assisi, a quaint magical Umbrian town on a hillside still surrounded by ancient walls, spread on the green slopes of Mount Subasio, birthplace of St.Francis, with a mystical atmosphere of serenity and profound spirituality and where, every step, every ston e, reminds us of his life. Saint Francis is the founding father of the Order of Friars Minor more commonly known as the Franciscan Order, and venerated as Saint of the Catholic Church. His tomb is the pilgrimage destination for thousands of believer from all over the world. An interesting visit to Saint Francis’ Basilica with its early Renaissance masterpiece by Giotto showing in 28 splendid scenes of the life of the Saint. Time free for lunch or relax. In the afternoon we will visit St Chiara Church (Saint Claire) a loyal follower of the Saint and founder of the Clarisse Order, San Damiano a very important place during the two Saints life, the Cathedral, the Romanesque St Peter’s Church and St
Mary of the Angels Basilica with the enclosed Porziuncola, the thornless bush, the ever-present doves and the cave where St. Francis retired for prayer. Late afternoon leave for Florence for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Hotel Shangri-La Roma / Hotel Roma Tor Vergata / similar

Day 5 – 07th March Thursday
Rome – Pisa – Rome: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast proceed to Pisa. A professional Guided Walking Tour will take you to the Piazza dei Miracoli, where your informative guide will take you on a thorough guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli and its monuments which are called
“miracles” because of their incredible beauty and uniqueness. You will be dazzled by this marvelous square which is dominated by the Cathedral (*), a model of the distinctive Pisa Romanesque architecture , the celebrated Leaning Tower, the round-
shaped Baptistery surrounded by its suggestive columned arcades and its “Camposanto”, originally a cemetery, an extraordinary quadrangular cloister, delimiting with its marble façade the Square to the North . The commentary of our guide will be particularly focused on the Leaning Tower one of the wonders of the world. You will be enthralled by the history and the leaning structure of the Tower which stirs the imagination of all visitors. Continues to Rome and Overnight stay in Rome.

Hotel: Hotel Shangri-La Roma / Hotel Roma Tor Vergata / similar

Day 6 – 08th March Friday
Rome – Thessalonica (Breakfast) 08MAR A3551 FCO – SKG (Thessaloniki) 1235 – 1515
After breakfast transfers to Rome Airport. Meet your driver and transfer to the Airport to Thessaloniki

Thessalonica Arrival : (Lunch,Dinner)

Meet in the arrival’s hall at Thessaloniki airport and with an official English-
speaking Guide, proceed.to the tour. See the White Tower, (the symbol of the city), the Church of St. Dimitrios, Arch of Galerius, Rotunda, Upper City, Citadel, Byzantine Walls, Roman Agora. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki Hotel.

Day 7 – 09th March Saturday
Thessalonica – Kavala : (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Kavala, the Biblical Neapolis where St. Paul first set foot in Europe. Kavala hosts neoclassical mansions, the famous aqueducts and the Byzantine castle. View the ancient harbor of Neapolis and then walk to the church dedicated to the landing of Paul in Greece. Visit Philippi. See the remains of the Agora, the Octagon, the remains of the Basilicas, St. Paul’s prison, Lydias’ Baptismal site, Church of St Nicholas, Old Port, Aqua docks. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki Hotel.

Day 8 – 10th March Sunday
Thessalonica – Veria – Kalambaka (Meteora): (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast in the hotel. Drive south, into central Greece, to the mountain town of Veria and see the Bema from where St. Paul preached the gospel. Continue to
Kalambaka, the town nestling at the foot of Meteora. Visit Meteora with its impressive scenery, ageless Monasteries (1), suspended between earth and sky. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka Hotel.

Day 9 – 11th March Monday
Kalambak (Meteora) – Athens: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast in the hotel. The monasteries (1) are perched on top of towers of sandstone, which for centuries provided totally inaccessible retreats for the monks. Inside the Byzantine Monasteries see priceless historical and religious treasures. Depart for Athens. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). Arrive in Athens. Free time at own leisure for shopping in Plaka area and Syntagma Square (Coach & English-Speaking Assistant Service Included). In the evening transfer to a local restaurant for dinner (starters, salad, main course, dessert). After dinner transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Athens Hotel.

Day 10– 12th March Tuesday
FULL DAY CORINTH TOUR (6 hrs): (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast in the hotel. With an official English-Speaking Guide and proceed on your Full Day Corinth Tour. Depart for Corinth. Stop to see the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and the Ionian Seas. Continue to and visit Ancient Corinth. See the Bema, the Temple of Apollo, the remains of the Agora, and Pyrene Fountain. Pass by the port of Cenchreaes from where St. Paul departed on his journey. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). Return to Athens and have free time in the city centre (Coach and English-Speaking Assistant Service Included). Dinner at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). After dinner transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Athens Hotel.

Day 11 – 13th March Wednesday
Half day Athens Sightseeing Tour: (Breakfast, Lunch)
Breakfast in the hotel. With an official English-Speaking Guide proceed on your Full Day City Tour. Pass by Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Athens Academy, the University, the National Library, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the Parthenon. See the Mars Hill or Aeropagus. Transfer to a local restaurant for lunch (starters, salad, main course, dessert). After lunch, transfer to the Athens airport for your International Flight back home.

OR:
Extension 4 days 3 nights to Santorini

Day 12- 14th March Thursday
Arrival Singapore