Journey to Italy Celebrate the Diaconal Ordination of Nicholas Desimone October 4 18, 2009 Join the family and friends of Nick Desimone for a journey to Italy to celebrate his diaconal ordination at St. Peter s Basilica in Rome. We will spend four days in Rome and then the newly ordained Deacon Nick will join us for five days in Tuscany and four more days on the Amalfi Coast. Travel to some of the most beautiful cities in Italy, places where great artists and visionaries have created masterpieces that not only dazzle the eye but awaken profound spiritual and aesthetic experiences. We will visit cathedrals, shrines, monasteries and other places of great religious significance where men and women made the Gospel come to life in rich and powerful ways. Savor the great art, warm hospitality and the creative cuisine of the Italians. Italy combines beautiful geography and architecture in a lively culture that invites busy Americans to slow down and enjoy great food, intimate squares and the good nature of the Italians. We are all members of a global community that is increasingly interdependent. The future of our world depends on our cultivating a spirit of hospitality, respect, understanding and compassion for one another. Enlightenment comes in many forms, but we believe that there are few life experiences more moving than exploring other cultures, meeting people of diverse backgrounds, and becoming a citizen of the world leading and inspiring respectful and compassionate ways of life.
Our Program Sunday, October 4 We depart Boston today on an overnight flight to Rome. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Monday, October 5 We arrive in Rome and are met, assisted and transferred via private deluxe motorcoach to our centrally located hotel. We re just around the corner from the Pantheon and we begin our exploration of the Eternal City with this magnificent edifice, once a pagan temple, then a Christian church, now the burial place of the kings of Italy. Enjoy lunch in one of the cafes which line the Piazza della Rotonda. Then we begin a leisurely stroll to the Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and the high fashion boutiques along Via Condotti, led by Fr. Bruso. We are free to enjoy dinner at one of the Roman tavernas of the neighborhood. Overnight in Rome. The Pantheon is one of the greatest buildings of antiquity and is incredibly well-preserved. Built in the 2nd century under the Emperor Hadrian, it is dedicated to all of the gods. The building is an architectural marvel with a dome that was, until modern times, the largest in the world. The center of the single-cast concrete dome is a large opening to the sky. Since the height and diameter of the building are equal, there is a powerful sensation that occurs when one enters the space - a kind of spiritual uplifting. This is one of the first buildings deliberately designed to create a spiritual experience and is the beginning of a long history in the West of building sacred spaces (such as churches/cathedrals). Tuesday, October 6 Breakfast. This morning is filled with the best of Rome: the Baroque masterpiece Church of the Gesu, the headquarters of the Jesuits and the most admired church in Rome after St. Peter s, then to the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, the Church of Santa Maria Ara Coeli, Michelangelo s foray into urban planning - the Campidoglio, and then down the hill to the Imperial Forum and the Colosseum. This mornings visits will be guided by Fr. Bruso. The rest of the afternoon is free. In the evening you may wish to walk along the Longotevere, the broad sidewalk which lines the Tiber River, enjoying the view of St. Peter s Basilica and the Castel Sant Angelo. Many excellent dinner options can be found in the fabulous restaurants along the Piazza Navona. Overnight in Rome. The Flavian amphitheatre built over part of Nero s palace and next to a colossal statue (thus Colosseum) was the largest in the Roman Empire and entertained the Roman populace with gladiator battles, staged wildlife hunts, and other spectacles. Although used as a quarry for the marble to build many medieval and Renaissance churches (including St. Peter s), it is in amazingly good shape and easily evokes the grandeur of Imperial Rome! The Roman Forum began as a gathering place and center of trade for communities of people living on the seven hills surrounding the site in the 8th century BC. The marshy land was drained with an innovative sewer (the Cloaca Maxima) in the 6th and 7th centuries BC and transformed by the Etruscans with temples and other administrative buildings. Following the Etruscans, the Romans continued to transform the site from the Republican era through the end of the Empire. For centuries, the Forum was the symbol of Roman power with its large Senate building, great temples, triumphal arches, and the Rostrum where emperors and orators would speak to the local citizens. Despite years of ruin, the Forum is still an impressive site and easily evokes a feel for the life and times of ancient Rome. Wednesday, October 7 Breakfast. This morning we will attend the Papal Audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Every Wednesday morning, His Holiness greets the faithful at St. Peter's. This general audience is comprised of visitors from around the world. After a hopeful message pronounced in various languages the Pope imparts His blessing.then we have a private tour of the scavi underneath St. Peter s Basilica, followed by a a tour of the Basilica and the
Vatican Museums. All visits today are arranged by Fr. Bruso. Overnight in Rome. The largest church in the world and center of Christian pilgrimage for centuries, St. Peter s Basilica is utterly breathtaking in size, beauty and spiritual inspiration. Constantine erected a major basilica over the tomb of St. Peter on this site in the 4th century; in the 1500 s, great Renaissance artists built the current building. Some of the major features include: Michelangelo s Dome, Bernini s Baldachino, Bernini s Chair of Peter, detailed mosaics, and the crypt. Some may wish to climb to the top of the dome or visit the crypt and tombs of the Popes. The Scavi (recent excavations) under St. Peter s Basilica have revealed a Roman cemetery with sumptuous mausolea and sarcophagi. Through extensive research, archeologists have ascertained that one tomb is that of St. Peter who was martyred in the nearby circus of Nero/Caligula. Visiting this sacred site affords an opportunity to understand the different stages of building associated with it. The Vatican Museums is one of the largest museums in the world. It was begun during the Renaissance when Popes began to create spaces to exhibit classical statues that were being found as interest in ancient buildings led to archaeological digs. Of course, the Vatican Museums include the spectacular papal apartments painted by Raphael and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo s Ceiling and Last Judgment.Our visit will include time in the Pio-Christian section with early Christian sarcophagi. Thursday, October 8 Breakfast. Today is ORDINATION DAY, at 10:00 AM, before the Altar of the Throne of St. Peter, an unforgettable, historic day for all of us in the Diocese of Worcester, followed by a reception at the Pontifical North American College on the Janiculum Hill, the highest point in Rome. The rest of the day is free for exploration or shopping or both! Overnight in Rome. Friday, October 9 After breakfast we depart Rome for the legendary beauty of Tuscany, but on the way we stop at Orvieto, set high on an Umbrian plateau. Even our arrival will be dramatic, going up to the city by funicular. The Duomo (Cathedral) of Orvieto was called by the American novelist Henry James the most perfect in Italy and when you see the mosaic encrusted exterior walls, you ll agree. We end the day in Cortona at a nice four star hotel. Saturday, October 10 Breakfast. Our private motorcoach will take us to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance. Our guide will take us to the Baptistry and the Duomo, the church of Santa Croce and the Accademia Museum to see the renowned statue of David and other masterworks. There will be time at the end of the day for shopping for some of Florence s world famous silks and leather goods and for those who like to splurge, the Ponte Vecchio is lined with goldsmiths exquisite jewelry. We return to Cortona for overnight. Florence is a masterpiece unto itself with magnificent palaces, fine crafts in gold and leather, and elegant shops with exquisite fabrics: presenting the gilded city. The evolution of art, science, and culture are deeply rooted and its myriad of churches, museums, and galleries are a testament to the greatness of those who once lived and worked here. This is the city that inspired Michelangelo and Machiavelli, and the richness of Florence's beauty continues to inspire today! The Duomo or Cathedral of Florence is one of the largest churches in the world and built in the 13th and 14th centuries. The dome was designed by Brunelleschi and represents an astonishing architectural and technological advancement and is one of the most recognized monuments of Florence. The exterior of the Cathedral is richly decorated with green and white marble and complemented by Giotto s bell tower and the Baptistry of St. John (adorned with Ghiberti s doors). The Church of S. Croce is one of the most historic churches in Florence center of life and worship during medieval and Renaissance times. It includes tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and other famous Italians and is richly decorated with frescos by Giotto and other great Renaissance artists.
The Accademia houses one of the greatest sculptures ever Michelangelo s David. This magnificent figure captures the poise and grandeur of the Renaissance. The museum houses other Medieval and Renaissance religious art and several other larger-than-life sculptures of Michelangelo. Sunday, October 11 Breakfast. This morning we travel to Urbino, the walled city that was Raphael s home, in the mountainous province of the Marche. Urbino is a creation of the Renaissance and hasn t changed significantly in 500 years. The Palace (now an art museum), Raphael s house, and the elegant squares are well worth a visit. If time permits, on our way to Assisi we ll stop in Gubbio. A quick (though steep) walk up Via della Repubblica to the Piazza Grande and you are standing in the Middle Ages! Our day is planned so that we arrive in Assisi at the end of the day. We visit the basilicas of St. Francis and of St. Clare (guided by Fr. Bruso), then, as the other tourists leave, it s time for a relaxing dinner on our own in the Citta Rosa. The sunset on the pinkish stone walls will show you how Assisi got its nickname. And we re only an hour away from our hotel in Cortona where we will return for overnight. Assisi is a graceful, serene and enchanting Umbrian hill town built of pink stone and encircled by medieval walls. The basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare welcome pilgrims at both ends of the city underscoring the spiritual heritage of the two local saints who called for a return to evangelical simplicity. Assisi preserves the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare and offers an opportunity for personal reflection and prayer in a spiritually rich setting. Monday, October 12 Breakfast. We spend the morning visiting Tuscany s second city, Siena (with our guide) a long rival of Florence with its own unique charm. Slightly more Medieval in architecture, it casts its own spell on the visitor. The tower of the city hall may look familiar (the tower of the Worcester City Hall is copied after it, in miniature), but the world famous Piazza del Campo, site of the uniquely Sienese horse race, the Palio, and the shady streets and alleys remind us that we are in another world. The afternoon is spent in the miniature city of Pienza, called the Ideal City, because it was rebuilt as a perfect Renaissance city by native son Pope Pius II. (They renamed the city after him in honor of his munificence.) We end the day lingering over a seven course meal prepared for us at the Palazzo, a country villa, outside the walls of Cortona in Santa Caterina Fratta. Fr. Bruso will take care of making the arrangements for our evening meal. Overnight in Cortona. Tuesday, October 13 Breakfast. A day to relax in Cortona, made famous by the book and the film Under the Tuscan Sun, and the PBS special Andre Rieu in Tuscany, the city remains untouched by modern commercialism. There is so much to do in this very walkable city. The birthplace of Fra Angelico, some of his most important works are in the Diocesan Museum. The Etruscan Museum is a repository of pre-roman art. The churches range from the Middle Ages to the 100 year old (that s modern by Tuscan standards) Basilica of Santa Margherita and the Medici castle overlooking Lake Trasimeno. Shopping along Via Nazionale, a cab ride to Bramasole, Frances Mayes home, or sipping a cappuccino in the Piazza make a day in Cortona leave you longing for more. Overnight in Cortona. Wednesday, October 14 Breakfast. Our motorcoach takes us from Tuscany south to the Amalfi Coast, where summer lingers well into October. Hotel Le Fioriere in Praiano overlooking the Mediterranean is a destination for fun in the sun, or maybe you ll just want to relax on your private balcony watching the sun sink into the sea as you share a bottle of wine. Overnight in Praiano. The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world. No one who has ever seen it forgets its crystal blue waters, steep dark green hillsides, jewel-like hill towns and abundant lemon groves. Breathe the heady Mediterranean air and revel in the sights and smells of this fairytale kingdom. Thursday, October 15 Saturday, October 17 Breakfast daily. One day melts into another as we explore the Amalfi Coast at our leisure. Visit neighboring Positano, the jet setters playground, or Jacqueline Onassis favorite getaway, Ravello, or historic Amalfi and Sorrento. Take a ferry to romantic Capri or quaint Ischia. Enjoying a glass of locally made limoncello after a beachfront dinner is the perfect way to top off another day in paradise. Overnight in Praiano.
Positano, synonymous with romance and glamour, looks onto a small bay and has a marvelous beach backed by mountain buttresses. Its gleaming white houses, built on terraces among gardens, seem to cascade down the steep hillside crisscrossed with myriad sets of steep, narrow stairs. In the lower part of the town the short beach is dominated by the parish church of S. Maria Assunta with its majolica dome. Boutiques abound, selling the unique clothing and souvenirs that make this special town a shopper's paradise. Sunday, October 18 Breakfast. All good things must come to an end. We say goodbye to Deacon Nick, as he returns to his studies at the Gregorian University in Rome, and we return across the Atlantic to Boston.. Inclusive Features Roundtrip air transportation via regularly scheduled flights between Boston and Rome. First class hotel accommodations in the following cities: o Rome ~ 4 nights o Cortona ~ 5 nights o Praiano ~ 4 nights Continental buffet breakfast served daily in the hotels. Transportation via private, deluxe motorcoach with English-speaking assistance. Privately guided sightseeing with government licensed local expert guides as per the itinerary. Luggage, porterage, road and local taxes.. Program Prices The current price is a Land-Only price, excluding airfare. Airfares for the group will be quoted upon receipt of all registration materials. The land price is in Euro. A deposit amount will be due in March as noted below. An invoice will be mailed to each participant 4 months prior to departure, outlining the balance due based upon the currency exchange rate at the invoice date. EUR 1660.00 per person based on double occupancy EUR 585.00 supplement for single room occupancy Please note: Single rooms for single use are limited to 10% of the total number of rooms reserved. Thereafter, double rooms for single use will be secured at a supplemental cost of approximately 150%. All prices listed are discounted for payment by check. When paying with a credit card you will be charged the standard base price which is 5% higher. Illume strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance to protect this important investment. Please refer to the attached Conditions and Clauses for the cancellation policy. A link to Travel Insured International is provided on the Travel Resource Center for your program: www.travelillume.com/trc/dea The prices are based on availability of services at the time registration material is received; currency exchange rates in effect at the invoice date and on 2008 land tariffs and are subject to change. All services are provided subject to Illume s Conditions and Clauses. Program Registration: Complete the Registration Application. The application can be found on the Travel Resource Center, using the website address listed above www.travelillume.com/trc/dea. On the right hand side, click Event Registration to download the application. Forward with your $ 700.00 deposit per person (checks made payable to illume) no later than March 1, 2009 to: Fr. Bob Bruso St. Anthony Church 84 Salem St. Fitchburg, MA 01420 978-342-4706 frbob@net1plus.com Please make note of the following two information sessions: Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM Our Lady of Loreto Parish Center 33 Massasoit Road Worcester, MA
Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 2:00 PM St. Anthony Church Hall 84 Salem St. Fitchburg, MA 01420 Balance of payment due not later than: July 4, 2009 Program No. 9431.09