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 (Fara San Martino/Lama dei Peligni)

ABRUZZESE DAY: "NATURE AND GASTRONOMY"

4th 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.

5th DAY: ABRUZZO (Lanciano/Casalbordino/Vasto)
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Lanciano to visit the first and the most important Eucaristic Miracle that the Catholic church remembers. It's kept in the St. Francesco's 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 Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Agostino and St. Biagio, 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. Continuation to Vasto, the ancient Histonium. Visit to the storical town and main monuments as Piazza Rossetti, Palazzo D'Avalos, the Fortress built in 1200, the Cathedral and church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Typical dinner with brodetto di pesce alla vastese. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

6th DAY: ABRUZZO/LORETO/GRADARA/VENEZIA
Breakfast at the hotel. Luggage loading, departure to Loreto the "Holy City". Visit to the Sanctuary of the Holy House, one of the most famous Sanctuaries dedicated to Virgin Mary. According to devout tradition, Angels carried the house of the Virgin from Nazareth to Loreto. Continuation to Gradara to visit the fortress, one of the most beautiful in Italy. Lunch not included. Dinner and accomodation at the hotel in Venice or there about. Possibility of a Venice by night tour.

7th DAY: VENEZIA
Breakfast at the hotel. The whole day in Venice. Sailing on boat to touristic resort. Guided tour of the city. Venice with its marvellous monuments as Piazza St. Marco and the Basilica, Palazzo Ducale, Ponte dei Sospiri, Ponte di Rialto. Lunch not included. Shopping. Dinner and overnight stay.

8th DAY: VENEZIA/PADOVA/VENEZIA
Breakfast at the hotel. The whole morning to visit the Isole Veneziane (Venice Isles). Tour by boat of the three isles of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Guided visit of Murano, famous all over the world for its glass craft art. Guided visit to the lace museum, followed by sailing to Torcello. Guided visit to the impressive cathedral, which contains the magnificent mosaic of the Last Judgement. Next visit at St. Fosca's Romanic church. Lunch not included. In the afternoon there is an excursion to Padua. Sight seeing of the city and visit at the Basilica of St. Antonio di Padova,  one of the most famous and important Sanctuaries in Italy. Built to keep the tomb of the saint, it consists of a three naves and a large presbytery. The cathedral keeps precious paintings and monumental statues and capitals. Dinner and accomodation at hotel.

9th DAY: VENEZIA/LAGO DI GARDA/GARDONE RIVIERA
                 SIRMIONE/VENEZIA
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. Visit the Vittoriale di D'Annunzio at Gardone Riviera. 
The wonderful residence of the abruzzese writer since 1921 till his death. Continuation to Sirmione to discover on your own the Penisula of Lago di Garda. Visit to the Roccascaligera Fortress, built during 1200, completely surrounded by water. Next a visit to the Grotte di Catullo, a magnificent Villa of I century, situated on the extreme edge of the Penisula. Possibility of a  boat trip. Lunch not included. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

10th DAY: VENEZIA/VERONA/FIRENZE
Breakfast at the hotel. Luggage loading, leaving to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Visit of the main monuments of the city as Arena, St. Zeno Maggiore, the Dome, Santa Maria Matricolare and Castelvecchio. Visit to the characteristic squares of: Piazza delle erbe and Piazza Bra. Visit to Julietta's house. Lunch not included. Accomodation and dinner at the hotel in Florence or there about.

11th DAY: FIRENZE
Breakfast at the hotel. The whole day to visit Florence. Guided sight seeing tour of the city, starting from Piazzale Michelangelo where the panorama of the city is on its best. Next to historical town and visit of the main monuments and charming spot of the city as the Duomo, Campanile di Giotto, Battistero, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio.  Possibility to visit the well known Galleria degli Uffizi, the most important Art Gallery in Italy, where you can admire the masterpieces of Italian painting of all ages. Lunch not included, dinner and accomodation at the hotel.

12th DAY: FIRENZE/SIENA/SANTA MARIA DEGLI
                   ANGELI/ASSISI/ABRUZZO
Breakfast at the hotel. Luggage loading. The day is completely pointed to visit the "Italian Patron Saints" Santa Caterina and San Francesco. Trip to Siena, the city famous for the palio and its panforte, the typical sweet. Sight seeing of the medieval town and Santa Caterina's house. Lunch not included. Excursion to Santa Maria degli Angeli to visit the stately Basilica, that was built where St. Francesco foundet his order. Next visit at the Cappella della Porziuncola (chapel of Porziuncola). Continuation to Assisi to visit St. Francesco's Basilicas, two churches laid one on the other, in the inside is kept the holy body of St. Francesco. On the walls there are the most magnificent frescos and paintings of Italian art of 1300. Continuation to Basilica of Santa Chiara. Dinner and accomodation at the hotel in Abruzzo.

13th DAY: ABRUZZO (Chieti/Guardiagrele)
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Chieti, the ancient Roman Teate. Visit to 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. Continuation to Guardiagrele, a town at the restaurant. Visit of the historical town. Guardiagrele smithers are famous all over the world for their gates, bed heads and balconies. Visit to a smither's laboratory, to watch the creative procedure for their artistic articles. Break at the confectionery to taste the typical sweet "sise delle monache". Continuation to a bee keeping farm. Tasting the different kinds of honey. Return to hotel, dinner and accomodation.

14th DAY: ABRUZZO/ROMA/ABRUZZO
Breakfast at the hotel. Leaving to Rome. The whole day is dedicated to the "Historical Rome", the "Eternal City", by bus. Visit to the main monuments as Colosseum, Fori Imperiali, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona, Fontana di TRevi, Piazza di Spagna, Pantheon and Villa Borghese. Lunch not included. Return to hotel, dinner and accomodation.

15th DAY: ABRUZZO (Chieti Landscape)

ABRUZZESE DAY: "WINEMAKERS AND OLIVE MILLS"

16th DAY: ABRUZZO/ROMA APT
Breakfast at the hotel. Loading luggages. Departure to Rome Airport. End of our services.