Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart USA.
Day 2: Arrive Holy Land-Jaffa-Caesarea
Arrival in Ben Gurion Airport , near Tel Aviv meet your guide and driver,drive to Jaffa visit St Peter church (mass) after lunch(on your own) drive to Caesarea Maritima which was the center of early Christians . Dinner & Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 3: Haifa- Nazareth- Mt Tabor
Today we drive to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, to visit the Carmelite church Stella Maris. Next travel to Nazareth, visit the Grand Basilica of the Annunciation (mass) and St. Joseph's Church, then We will stroll through Nazareth's colorful Bazaar and visit St. Gabriel church near Mary's well. We end the day with a visit to Mount Tabor, the Mount of the Transfiguration (Matth. 17:1-8). Dinner & Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 4: Cana -Sea of Galilee
Today we drive to Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water to wine at a wedding. Its modest church is a suitable place to reconfirm wedding-ties. Next we shall drive to The Sea of Galilee which is rich in memories of the three years of Jesus' ministry. We visit Mount of Beatitudes, the scene of the Sermon on the Mount (Matth. 5) then we will have a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to visit the ruins of Capernaum (mass) which in Jesus' time was a flourishing border town and was called "his own city" because of the frequency with which Jesus visited it and the mighty works he did there, then we shall visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes and the Chapel of the Primacy at Tabgha. (Dinner & Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 5 : Bethlehem-Ein Kerem
Today we shall visit Bethlehem the royal city of David, to kneel at the place of the birth of Christ in the Grotto of the Nativity (mass) . We visit also the Shepherd's Field where the Angel of the Lord appeared to the Shepherds, on that first Christmas Eve and announced the birth of the Savior (Lk. 2: 8-18 ) then we shall drive to the hill country to "city of Judah" which today is called Ein Karem. Here we shall visit the Church of the Visitation, which by tradition is built over the house of Zacharias, where the Virgin Mary came to visit her cousin Elisabeth (Lk. 1:39-80). Here John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was born. Dinner & Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 6: Mount of Olives-Mt Zion
Start the day with a panoramic view from the Mt Of Olives-Seeing the eternal golden city, then a walk along palm Sunday road stopping at Dominus Flevit from where Jesus wept over the city, carry along the Jewish Cemetery with a view over the Eastern gate known as the Thrones of Judgment, enroot to the Garden of Gethsemane (mass) and the Church of All Nations where Christ prayed on the night of his betrayal (Lk. 22:40-46), Then we shall cross the Kidron Valley and visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu which is built over the Palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest, who imprisoned Jesus and interrogated him before his trial before Pontius Pilate (Lk. 22:54). Then we shall stop to see the Upper Room, the Tomb of King David, and the Doormition abbey where the blessed mother rested in peace. Dinner &Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 7: Jericho-Jordan River - Qumran -Dead Sea
This morning we depart from Jerusalem, driving through the Judean Desert to visit Jericho (mass) ,the most ancient city in the world. Stop at Sycamore tree of the kind Zaccheaus climbed in-order to see Jesus, view the Mount of Temptation, and Elijah’s Spring. our next stop is the baptismal site, then drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written over 2000 years ago Next there will be an opportunity to bathe in the waters of the Dead Sea – the lowest spot on Earth. Return to Jerusalem. Dinner &Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 8: Old City
After Breakfast we shall drive to the old city of Jerusalem visit the Pools of Bethesda where we can see the ruins of the two pools and St Ann church, then walk on along the Via Dolorosa, following the 14 Stations of the Cross from Pilate's Judgment Hall to the empty Tomb in the church of the Holy Sepulcher (mass), Then we shall walk Through the Jewish Quarter to the last standing remnant of the ancient Temple at the Western (Wailing) Wall, rest of the day is free. Dinner &Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 9: Jerusalem- Rome
Today we depart from the Holy Land for on flight to Rome. Upon arrival in Rome you will be met by your driver and transfer to the hotel .This afternoon We will make our way to Mass, followed by a welcome dinner with wine. This evening we will walk to St. Peter’s Square.
Day10: Rome-Papal Audience-Tervi Fountain/Piazza Navona-Basilica of St John the Lateran and St Mary Major-Holy Steps
Following breakfast, we will make our way to St. Peter’s Square to attend the Papal Audience, led by His Holiness, Pope Francis. (Papal Audience: Is scheduled to take place every Wednesday, pending the schedule of Pope Francis.) Following the audience, we will make our way to the Trevi Fountain built in the 15th Century to mark the ending destination of the Aqua Virgo – a man-made channel erected in 19 B.C or Piazza Navona where at the center: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi “Fountain of the Four Rivers. After lunch (on your own)we will visit the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under the main altar. It was here that Pope Francis was formally installed as Bishop of Rome. Next we see the Holy Staircase which is believed to be a staircase from Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem and brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4th century. Time permitting we may climb the steps on our knees in memory of Christ’s Passion. Continue to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the most important and the oldest church dedicated to Our Lady. St. Mary Major contains a relic from the Manger of the infant Jesus.(mass), Dinner & Overnight Rome.
Day11 : Rome, Vatican – Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls – Catacombs
After breakfast, we will depart to celebrate Mass in the largest church in Christendom, St Peter's Basilica, built on the site where St Peter was martyred. Following Mass, we will visit the Vatican Museums, containing a group of the most impressive edifices with hundreds of galleries filled with art treasures. See awe-inspiring relics, and works of art donated throughout centuries as tributes of faith. We'll cover The Tapestry Gallery, The Raphael Rooms and the most overwhelming Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's Masterpiece, restored mural of the Last Judgment. Next we make our way back into St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis visited the tomb of St. Peter, following his elevation, for a visit of devotion that lasted 45 minutes. He is the first Pontiff to visit the necropolis since extensive archaeological excavations were conducted at the ancient site decades ago. We will also visit the tomb of St. John Paul II located at the Vatican. After Lunch (on your own), we will continue on to visit St Paul. Outside the Walls. Continue our tour via the Appian Way -- the oldest road from Roman times--plus the famous Domino Quo Vadis Chapel; see the ancient Baths of Caracalla, Arch of Drusus; Tomb of Celilia Metella, and the catacombs of St Callixtus where the early Christians hid themselves to escape persecution. We will conclude our day and wonderful stay in Rome with dinner at a local restaurant in Rome.
Day12: Return Home
After breakfast transfer to airport for return flights home.