Abruzzese  Day

"HANDCRAFT"

"WINEMAKERS 
    AND OLIVE
    MILLS"

"NATURE AND
  GASTRONOMY"

1st DAY: ROMA APT/ABRUZZO
Arrive in Rome at Fiumicino Airport, transfer by bus to hotel in Abruzzo. Dinner and overnight stay.

2nd DAY: ABRUZZO (L'Aquila/Gran Sasso d'Italia/Campli)
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sight seeing tour of L'Aquila. Visit to the principal town monuments, Basilica of St. Bernardino, Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio and Fontana delle 99 cannelle (99 spouts fountains). Then a visit to the National Museum of Abruzzo situated in the ancient Spanish Fort. Next we are moving to Gran Sasso d'Italia, biggest mountain of the Appennini, then arrival at Campo Imperatore, 2117 mt. o.s.l. Visit to the hotel room where Mussolini was kept in forced residence. Lunch at the restaurant. Moving to Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia, visit to the Sanctuary of St. Gabriele dell'Addolorata, "the Saint of smiles". Visit to the Basilica that St. Francesco d'Assisi founded in 1200, visit of the new Basilica. Then moving to Campli to visit the Sanctuary of the holy stairs: 28 wooden steps which pilgrims climb on their knees whilst praying to get absolution. In special days of the year, climbing the stairs on your knees you can obtain plenary indulgence. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

3rd DAY: ABRUZZO/ROMA/ABRUZZO
Breakfast at the hotel. Leaving for Rome. The whole day is dedicated to the "Religious Rome" also taking part in celebrations concerning the Jubilee of 2000 in the Citta' del Vaticano. Visit to the Basilica of St. Pietro, the Cupola, Vatican Museum and Cappella Sistina. Lunch not included. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

4th DAY: ABRUZZO/S.GIOVANNI ROTONDO/MONTE
                 S.ANGELO/ABRUZZO
Breakfast at the hotel. A tour of Padre Pio's places in San Giovanni Rotondo. Visit to the Sanctuary. A short period for praying on Padre Pio's tomb, the venerated father of Pietrelcina. Lunch at the restaurant. Visit to the "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" a hospital that Padre Pio inaugurated in 1925. Visit to the Sanctuary of St. Michele in Monte St. Angelo. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

5th DAY: ABRUZZO/POMPEI/NAPOLI/ABRUZZO
Breakfast at the hotel. A trip to Pompei, one of the most important archaeological areas in Italy. A visit of the ancient town that was buried under the lava of Vesuvio during the Roman Age. Next, visit to the Sanctuary of Madonna di Pompei. Moving next to Naples. Lunch not included. Visit to the main monuments: Duomo di St. Gennaro, Castel Nuovo, better known as Maschio Angioino and the famous Teatro St. Carlo. Then a tour of the characteristic sights of Naples including Piazza Plebiscito, Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) and Galleria Umberto I, a famous Italian gallery. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

6th DAY: ABRUZZO (Chieti/Lanciano/Casalbordino)
Breakfast to the hotel. A trip to Chieti, the ancient Roman Teate. Visit of the historical sights and main monuments: the Tempietti, Terme romane, the elegant promenade C.so Marrucino, the Cathedral of St. Giustino and the National Museum of Antiquities where the statue of the "warrior of Capestrano" is kept. Lunch at the restaurant. Departure to Lanciano to visit the first and the most important Eucaristic Miracle that the Catholic church remembers. It's kept in the St.Francesco church of 1200. The miracle happened during VIII century A.C. because of a basilian friar helding a very strong doubt about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucarist. Visit of the historical side of the city and main monuments: Madonna del Ponte, the churches of St. Maria Maggiore, St. Agostino and St. biagio, the Ponte di Diocleziano, and Torri Montanare. Departure to St. Giovanni in Venere to visit the Benedictian Abbey. Continuation to Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Miracoli in Casalbordino, where according to tradition, Our Lady appeared to a farmer in Pollutri. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

7th DAY: ABRUZZO (Fara San Martino/Lama dei Peligni)

ABRUZZESE DAY: "NATURE AND GASTRONOMY"

8th DAY: ABRUZZO/ROMA APT
Breakfast at the hotel. Loading luggages. Departure for Rome Airport. End of our services.