BEAUTY EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW - ctscentral.net

1 BEAUTY EVER ancient , EVER NEWBEGINNING THE NEW YEAR WITH POPES PAST & PRESENT\[DR. ELIZABETH LEVFR. GARRETT AHLERSDay 1: Wednesday, December 26 | Depart USAD epart the on overnight flights to Rome, 2: Thursday, December 27 | Arrive Rome | St. John Lateran Arrive at the Rome Airport, meet your professional Italian escort, and transfer to your hotel. Your pilgrimage will start with a visit to the oldest church in the world, St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome and Papal residence from 324 to 1308. We ll have Mass in the basilica, which has seen so much Christian history. See the Holy Stairs and venerate the relics of Christ s Passion at the church of the Santa Croce. Then, you ll return to hotel with time to freshen up before a special welcome dinner.]

2 Overnight in 3: Friday, December 28 | St. Peter s Basilica | Scavi | Vatican Museums This morning, after Mass in St Peter s Basilica, we dig deep into the roots of the papacy, visiting the apostle s tomb and learning about the extraordinary rediscovery of his burial site. From there, we will ascend into the soaring spaces of St Peter s Basilica built upon this rock . We will see how over the centuries, popes, architects and artists transformed the pauper s grave of Peter into the most splendid church in the world. After lunch, there will be a little free time to catch your breath before you have the option to return to see the crowning glory of the Vatican complex, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. In a private, after-hours opening just for us, Liz will discuss the relationship of faith and BEAUTY in front of Raphael s frescoes and Michelangelo s Last Judgment.

3 Dinner on your own. Overnight in 4: Saturday, December 29 | Popes and Princes and the Extraordinary Women of Rome After breakfast, we ll visit the glorious Palazzo Colonna, home to the Colonna princes for almost 1000 years and the residence of Pope Martin V who returned the papacy to Rome, MarcAntonio Colonna the victor of Lepanto, not to mention the setting for the spectacular final scene of Roman Holiday. Continue to visit the Pantheon, followed by Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Celebrate Mass and see the resting place of the body of St. Catherine of Siena in the high altar. Enjoy free time for lunch in Trastevere and end the afternoon with visits to the beautiful basilica of Roman martyr Santa Cecilia and the dazzling jewel of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

4 Evening and dinner is at leisure and overnight in 5: Sunday, December 30 | Catacombs | Borghese Gallery This morning, we will explore the origins of Christian art in the Catacombs of St. Priscilla, visiting this ancient cemetery which is home to the earliest Madonna and Child image in the world as well as the tombs of many popes and martyrs. Celebrate Mass in the catacombs. Afterwards, we ll head to the Borghese museum to be dazzled by the sculptures of Bernini and the paintings of Caravaggio. Remainder of the afternoon, evening, and dinner is at leisure. Overnight in 6: Monday, December 31 | Castel Gandolfo | Anagni | Vatican Museums After breakfast this morning, explore two splendid papal residences: Castel Gandolfo and Anagni. After touring through the residence and Papal Gardens at Castel Gandolfo, celebrate Mass, then enjoy free time for lunch on your own at one of the various restaurants in the town.

5 Continue on to tour through Anagni, among the favorite residences of the popes in the in the 12th and 13th centuries and see how faith and reason were an integral part of the medieval intellectual life of the church in a special frescoed crypt labelled the Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages . We ll ring in the New Year together with a special New Year s Eve dinner tonight. Overnight in Rome. Day 7: Tuesday, January 1 | World Day of Peace Mass | Walking Tour Early morning breakfast at the hotel, then walk to St. Peter s Square to attend the New Year s Papal Mass (pending confirmation). Enjoy lunch on your own, then celebrate the feast of Mary, Mother of God, by visiting oldest Marian church in the West, St. Mary Major. Afterwards, we ll marvel at the beautiful churches dedicated to Santa Praxedes, with its splendid mosaics and to Santa Pudenziana, home to Rome s 17th century Eucharistic miracle.

6 Remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy shopping, relaxing and exploring on your last day in Rome. Reconvene for a special farewell dinner. Overnight in 8: Wednesday, January 2 | Depart for USAT ransfer to Rome s International Airport for return flights home. \[ = COntinental Breakfast | = Lunch | = Dinner\[CASTEL GANDOLFOPALAZZO COLONNACATACOMBS OF ST. PRISCILLA41780 W Six Mile Road, Suite 1oo, Northville, MI 48168P: | F: |]]