Accommodation
The Villa Palazzola
We have exceptionally attractive accommodation situated on the slopes of Lake Albano. It is situated within its own estate that includes gardens, a swimming pool, a soccer pitch and of course superb views that can be enjoyed from sunny terraces. For extensive details click here.

Day 1
We arrange flights departing from airports throughout the U.K. and Ireland.

The group will be met at the Airport by our coach and our representative.

Rome originated in the wooded hills to the east of today’s great city. Volcanic in nature these hills are gathered around the beautiful Lake Nemi and Lake Albano. A short drive from Ciampino Airport takes us to the villages that grew from these early Roman settlements. ‘The Castelli’ are known throughout Italy for their charm and beauty. We plan to visit two of these:

Castel Gandolfo
The Pope’s summer residence, on the edge of Lake Albano. There is a pleasant town square with tourist shops that sell high quality goods at a more reasonable cost than those sold in central Rome. There are also pavement cafes for some rest and relaxation.

Nemi
People come from far and wide to visit this little town on the edge of the Lake.
It offers wonderful local products, such as grapes and wild strawberries, cheeses, the famous spiced ham, home made bread and biscuits.
Transfer to the Villa Palazzola. Allocation of rooms and settle in.
Participants will have an opportunity to unpack and settle before coming down for supper at 19.30

There will be three courses:
Soup or pasta. Main course. Fruit.
After supper we sing the Salve Reginum in the cloister.

Day 1
Guided tour of the Basilica of St. Peter
Our visit will enable us to see the product of the labours of Giovanni Bernini and Michelangelo. Bernini’s work in Rome includes the colonnaded piazza in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. In St. Peter’s itself he created several marble monuments and the elaborate canopy over the high altar. Pilgrims are attracted to Arniolfo de Cambios’ brass statue of St. Peter, with its toe worn down by centuries of contact. The focal point for artists is, however, the Pieta by Michelangelo.

Walk from St Peter’s Basilica along the River Tiber as far as the Ponto Umberto 1. Crossing the river we will enter the Piazza Navona.

The Piazza Navona
Our tour will continue with a visit to one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. The fountains in the Piazza Navona, were designed by Bernini. The piazza is full of life, with street artists, stalls cafes and restaurants. It lies directly over the original hippodrome of the Emperor Domitian, hence its elongated shape.

The Pantheon
Onward walk to the Pantheon. One of the greatest Roman sites in the World – built by the emperor Hadrian, it is still in use today, but only preserved through its re-dedication as a Christian Church.

The Trevi Fountains and the Spanish Steps
We will walk the short distance along the Via Del Corso to the Piazza Di Trevi and the Spanish Steps for a pleasant time enjoying the beautiful fountains and some café society.

Return transfer.

The evening is available for a wide variety of activities as required.

Day 3
Transfer into central Rome after breakfast.

THE ESQUILINE AREA OF ROME
This is where Christianity first developed in Rome and we offer some memorable visits.
The early Christians met in private houses, some of which grew into churches after Christianity was recognised by the state.

Visit to the most charming church of St Maria Maggiore

Some features:
• Obelisk in Piazza dell’Esquilino.
• The ceiling made from pure gold brought back from America by Columbus.
• The Column in the Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore. This came from the Basilica of Constantine.
• A most beautiful Sistine Chapel.
• The Tour Director will tell the story of the snow that fell on the Esqueline Hill during the heat of summer.

Visit to the Church of St. Pietro in Vicoli - Saint Peter in Chains

Features:
• The Chains of St. Peter that bound him in the Marmetine Prison.
• Michelangelo’s Moses.
• The Roman Walls of the original Christian meeting house.

The Coliseum
We continue onwards, down the Esquiline Hill into the Forum area and the Coliseum where we will conduct a guided tour. A dreaded and gloomy monument of the cruelty of men and the suffering of the Martyrs.
The museum includes marble from the site, such as that which faced the arena where the Senators who sat in the front rows had their family names inscribed.

The Roman Forum:
• The Arch of Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor.
• The Arch of Titus. It describes the sack of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Here is Titus in his triumph, followed by soldiers bearing the looted Jewish Candelabra
• We will make our way through the ancient Roman Forum along the Sacred Way, past the Forum of Augustus, the Forum of Caesar the Forum of Nerva and the Senate House to the Capitoline Hill where Romulus set the limits of the original settlement with a stick to mark the outline

Our last visit of the day will be to Trajan’s Column and the Monument of Victor Emanuel 11 with its Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame. Return Transfer.

Day 4
Early morning departure to attend the Papal Audience and blessing
We will have invitations from the Venerable English College to enable us to be seated directly in front of the Papal Throne.

We will wait for the arrival of the Holy Father. Time soon passes as there will be lots going on and there is a wonderful atmosphere to share with pilgrims from all over the world.

The excitement builds until, on the big screen you see the Holy Father enter the square in his open top vehicle. At first it is hard to locate him and people start climbing up on chairs. I am always surprised at just how close one gets to him as he passes. It really is a wonderful experience, a bit unnerving as it always seems as though he looks directly at you as he passes.

Our group, along with others, will be brought to the attention of the Pope and the gathering in general and the high point will be the Papal Blessing.

Afternoon visit: The Catacombs of St Callisto
We will offer a guided visit to the Christian Catacombs situated along the Via Appia Antica.

Onward transfer to the Villa Palazzola.
We can enjoy a walk part way round Lake Albano, to visit the caves that were occupied by Christian hermits in the early years of the Church.

Rest and relaxation by the poolside, soccer, volleyball and tennis activities.

Day 5
A fascinating ‘get on and get off’ coach tour.
Our tour will take us past the Circus Maximus to visit the great Papal Church of St. Giovanni in Laterano. The Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) is Rome's cathedral, a church originally established by Constantine.
In the immediate vicinity you can see the religious shrine of the Holy Stairs, and the well-preserved Roman Aurelian Wall with the original fortified gateway alongside the present day Porta San Giovanni.
Onward tour past the Baths of Caracalla to the Via Appia Antica.
This is the old Roman Appian Way, which ran from Rome down to Brindisi. It is possible to walk a long way along the old stretch of road, The beginning of the road, outside the Porta San Sebastiano, a gate in the city walls, is lined with ancient Roman buildings, including the church of Domine Quo Vadis, where St. Peter had a vision of Christ. Jesus's footprints were preserved for posterity in a slab of white marble (in the centre of the church floor).

Return flight – We will arrange flights to suite your requirements.

Some groups like to arrange for a two centre tour.
It is perfectly acceptable to combine a pilgrimage to Rome with Assisi. (We use the Hotel Da Angelo, Via San Potente, right next to the centre of Assisi.)
Or Rome and Pompeii.(We use the Best Western Hotel near Pompeii.)
Or Rome and Florence. (We use the four star Hotel Ricasoli in Florence)