Pictures from the Italy

In the Footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare

Senior High Youth Pilgrimage to Italy

Led by:

Stacey Olson
St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral
Minneapolis, MN

July 11 – 20, 2011

Trip map

DAY 1, Monday, July 11, 2011 - Depart the Minneapolis, MN Airport for our trans-Atlantic flight on American Airlines connecting in Chicago O’Hare.  There, we transfer to our American Airlines flight into Rome.  Dinner on board the aircraft. M

DAY 2: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 - We will arrive at the Rome airport where we will board a private motorcoach and depart Rome to travel north to Assisi.  Our home for the next 5 nights will be Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and a city whose walls have hardly changed since the Middle Ages.  Overnight Casa del Terziario, Assisi. MD

DAY 3: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - A full day outside the walls exploring where St. Francis began his ministry.  This morning we will walk to the church of San Damiano, where St. Clare lived and where St. Francis received his vision to "rebuild the church."  Then on to Santa Maria degli Angeli, the baroque church which was built over the Porziuncola, the little chapel restored by St. Francis.  It is here in a spartan cell that St. Francis died.  We will also visit Eremo Delle Carceri, a monastery in the dense woodlands on the side of Monte Subasio.  It was here on the slope of the mountain, in caves, where Francis and his followers established their first home and to which he returned often during his lifetime to pray and meditate.  Overnight Casa del Terziario, Assisi. BLD

DAY 4: Thursday, July 14, 2011 - Today we will enjoy a full day excursion to Florence.  We will visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its magnificent dome, Bell Tower and Baptistery.  The Baptistery has golden doors designed by Ghiberti representing scenes from the Life and Passion of Christ.  We visit the Museum of the Duomo to see Donatello's sculpture of Magdalene and then visit the Accademia and see Michelangelo's famous statue of David.  We will have some time this afternoon to explore Florence prior to dinner and then we will return to Casa del Terziario, Assisi for overnight. BLD

DAY 5: Friday, July 15, 2011 - Today we have the day free to explore Assisi on our own in small groups with a chaperone.  Overnight Casa del Terziario, Assisi. BLD

DAY 6: Saturday, July 16, 2011 - This morning we will take the half-hour walk to Cannara.  Outside the town are the fields of Pian d'Arca which legend identifies as the site of St. Francis' sermon to the birds.  We will visit the church of Santa Chiara, dedicated to St. Clare, who was one of the earliest and most fervent of Francis' followers.  We will see the Cappella del Croscifissco, the cross that spoke to St. Francis and led him to a life of piety.  Now we will return to Assisi to visit the Basilica di San Francesco which contains one of the most imposing series of frescoes, 28 scenes from the life of St. Francis, by Giotto, and the crypt where the remains of St. Francis rest.  The remainder of the day we will be free to explore Assisi on our own.  Overnight Casa del Terziario, Assisi. BLD

DAY 7: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - This morning we begin our journey toward Rome as Francis did in the spring of 1209.  We will travel along the "Highway of the Sun" and visit Greccio to see the Greccio Monastery.  It is here that St. Francis celebrated Christmas in 1223 by placing a manger and live animals before the altar which started the custom of making creches or manger scenes at Christmas.  We will see the Chapel of the Crib and continue on to Rome.  We will then enjoy a panoramic tour of Rome with a visit to the Coliseum prior to arriving at our hotel for overnight.  Time permitting we will visit the church of St. John the Lateran.  Overnight Casa Tra Noi, Rome. BD

DAY 8: Monday, July 18, 2011 - This morning we will tour the Vatican State, an entire European state comprising only 109 acres, ruled by the Pope, and having its own postage stamps, coinage, anthem and flag.  Within the boundaries of the Vatican stands St. Peter's Basilica, built on the site where St. Peter was buried after he had been martyred in Nero's Circus.  The first chapel on the right as you enter St. Peter's contains the Pieta', the moving and powerful masterpiece carved by Michelangelo.  We will tour the Sistine Chapel and marvel at the beauty created by Michelangelo on its ceiling.  Overnight Casa Tra Noi, Rome. BD

DAY 9: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - This morning we will visit St. Paul's Inside the Walls, an Anglican church within the walls of ancient Rome.  We will spend some time with the refugees at the Joedl Nafuma Refugee Center, a ministry of St. Paul's.  We continue on to the Catacombs, the burial site of thousands of Roman Christians.  (Pending confirmation, we will celebrate Eucharist in the Catacombs.)  We will end the day with a "Pizza making" dinner in a local restaurant.  Overnight Casa Tra Noi, Rome. BD

DAY 10: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - After breakfast we will depart for the Rome Airport where we board our American Airlines flight to Chicago O’Hare.  There, we transfer to flight back to Minneapolis, MN. BM

Price: Contact Leader.  Price is based on double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Minneapolis, MN.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single Supplement $189.00.  * Excludes airline taxes and surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice.  Estimated taxes as of September 24, 2010 $412.50.

* Price includes Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

$200.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy of passport.

Final payment due April 11, 2011

** The price is not guaranteed and may change due to the fluctuation of the Euro and the US dollar.  We make every effort to avoid any increase and will only do so if the value of the dollar falls against the Euro.  Your pricing was based on the exchange rate of $1.34825 to the Euro. **

Cancellation Penalties
◊ September 28, 2010 – April 10, 2011 - $100.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ April 11, 2011 – June 10, 2011 - $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After June 11, 2011: 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.