Israel & Italy
Year round
Itinerary:
Day 1 USA/TEL AVIV
Depart the USA to begin your spiritual journey to the Holy Land. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board your trans-Atlantic overnight flight.
Day 2 TEL AVIV
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, an Altura representative will meet and assist you. Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. Welcome Dinner. D
Day 3 JAFFA/CAESAREA/HAIFA/ACRE/TIBERIAS
Drive through Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv to Jaffa , the ancient Joppa, city of Jonah and Simon the Tanner. See the restored Old City and visit the Church of St.Peter. Then travel along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea , Old Crusader City and the Capital of the Roman Province. See the Amphitheater, the impressive Aqueduct and the harbor from which St.Paul was taken prisoner to Rome. Proceed to beautiful Haifa and ascend to Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the profhets of Baal. Visit the Carmelite Monastery, Stella Maris and the Persian Gardens. Continue to Acre, famous old Crusader stronghold; then proceed to the biblical city of Tiberias for overnight. B,D
Day 4 GALILEE
Today drive to the Mount of Beatitudes including its church , site of the Sermon on the Mount. Then to Tabgha, to view a beautiful mosaic depicting the scene of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. See Capernaum and the ancient synagogue, and Chorazim which along with Capernaum was cursed by Jesus for spurning His teaching. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, then on to Mount Tabor to visit the church, traditional site of the Transfiguration. Proceed later for a Baptism ceremony at the River Jordan where it flows out of the Sea of Galilee. Return to Tiberias. B,D
Day 5 NAZARETH/JORDAN VALLEY/JERICHO/JERUSALEM
Leave Tiberias for Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle and Nazareth where Our Lord spend His childhood and early years. Visit the church of Annunciation, Joseph’s Carpenter Shop and walk through the old bazaars to see Mary’s Well. Depart to Beit Shean, ancient Scythopolis and through the scenic Jordan Valley towards Jericho, the oldest known inhabited city in the World. Tour the ruins and archelogical site. See Mount of Temptation to the west then continue south to the Dead Sea, with a stop in Qumran, site of the Dead sea Scrolls discovery. View Mt.Nebo and follow the ancient Roman route through the Judean Desert, via the Good Samaritan Inn and Bethany, where Jesus raise Lazarus, before continuing to Jerusalem. B,D
Day 6 JERUSALEM: MT OF OLIVES/GETHSEMANE/KIDRON VALLEY/BETHLEHEM
Drive to the Mount of Olives and the place of Ascension for a wonderful view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem. Visit the Pater Noster Church and the Chapel of Ascension. See the Palm Sunday road, on which Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Drive to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Drive down the Kidron Valley to the Church of St.Peter in Gallicantu, built over the Palace of the High Priest Caiaphas. Proceed to Mount Zion and visit the Room of the Last Supper, King Davids Tomb and Dormition Abbey. Continue to Bethlehem to see the Church of Nativity, built over the stable
where Jesus was born. Visit the plains of Boaz and Shepherd’s Fields. View Mt. Herodium where Herod’s Palace stood. Return to Jerusalem. B,D.
Day 7 JERUSALEM: EIN KAREM/NEW AND OLD CITY
This morning drive pass the Knesset, to the Israel Museum. Visit the Shrine of the Book and see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Proceed to the Model of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus and on to the Church of Visitation in Ein Karem, traditional home of Elizabeth and the birthplace of John the Baptist. Continue to Yad Vashem for a visit to the Memorial of the Holocaust. In the afternoon, enter the Old City of Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall, the Temple Area with the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Pool of Bethesda, St.Anne’s Church, birthplace of Mary, Arc of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) , and the Via Dolorosa and Holy Sepulchre. Stroll through the Bazaars before returning to your hotel. B,D.
Day 8 TEL AVIV/ROME Transfer to the airport for your flight to Rome, the “Eternal City”. An Altura representative will meet and assist you. Transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure. B,D
Day 9 ROME Morning visit of St.Peter’s Basilica, the largest Church in Christendom with its origins in the XVI century. See The Vatican Museum and its large Library and the Sistine Chapel with one of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces. The ancient glory of Rome is evident in our afternoon sightseeing; Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Forum, Piazza Venezia, Palazzo Venezia , Capitol Hill, St.Peter’s in Chains with the majestic Moses by Michelangelo, The Colosseum , Arch of Constantine , Circus Maximun and Palatine Hill. B,D
Day 10 ROME Drive to St.Peter Square to attend the Papal Audience if available. Continue with a visit of the great Christian landmarks including St. Mary Major, St.John in Lateran, oldest in Rome and first Papal residence, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, believed to be the site where the Apostol was martyred, the Holy Stairs, Old Appian Way , where Paul walk, Domine Quo Vadis Chapel, the Catacombs, secret underground burial places of Christians and where their took refuge from persecution, and a panoramic view a the end of Caracalla Baths. B,D
Day 11 ROME Today is at leisure. Take the opportunity of an optional visit to Assisi, home of St.Francis , revisit a place of interest or perhaps just relax and explore on your own this magical city. B,D
Day 12 ROME/USA Transfer to the airport for your return flight home as your journey comes to an end. B
Add an optional extension to the Shrines of Italy or Medjugorje.
Every Spiritual Journey includes:
· Roundtrip air transportation via the finest scheduled service airlines
· Meeting and assistance service at airports
· First class and/or first class superior hotel accommodations
at selected hotels
· Breakfast and dinner daily
· Sightseeing by deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach including
entrance fees
· Professional English – speaking tour guides/escorts
· Roundtrip transfers including baggage handling
· Hotel taxes and service charges
· Travel documents
· Assistance by local Altura Representative
FREE TRIP INCENTIVE PROGRAM
· One free journey for every five paying passengers
· Travel credits for very odd-paying passenger
· Assistance with creating your program brochure
Medjugorge
As a Rome Extension or Independent Program - 5 Days
Day 12 ROME/SPLIT/MEDJUGORGE Transfer to the airport for your flight to Split. Upon arrival, in the former Yugoslavia , an Altura representative will meet and assist you. Transfer by motorcoach to the Village of Medjugorge in the mountains of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Overnight in your Guest House. D
Days 13 through 15 MEDJUGORGE During your stay in Medjugorge you will join the daily morning English Mass at St.James Church. In the evening, join the villagers to pray the Rosary follow by the Croatian Mass and special prayers. You may visit the Apparition Hill and Mount Krisevack , known as the Cross Mountain. You may also have the opportunity to meet with some of the visionaries and Father Jozo in the Franciscan Monastery of Siroki Brieg. Overnight in your Guest House. B.D
Day 16 MEDJUGORGE/SPLIT/ROME Depart Medjugorge by motorcoach to Split for your return flight to Rome and connecting fligh(s) home.
This itinerary can be operated as an independent program with optional extra nights
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