Holy Land and Italy Regular

Flights to the Holy Land and Italy

• Flights can originate from anywhere in the U.S. where published

Hotels

Hotels listed below are our preferred hotels. If reservations cannot be made at one or more of these locations, a comparable hotel will be reserved. We only use 4 or 5 star accommodations.

Trip Includes

• Flights can originate from anywhere in the U.S. where published. (same price)
• Daily Mass is available but not mandatory. Proximo Travel, LLC, has always one or more Catholic Priests accompanying the group as chaplain(s).
• Airport Taxes, Security Fees & Fuel Surcharges
• Transfers as per itinerary
• 4 or 5 star hotels in downtown areas
• Transportation with luxury bus - Our buses in the Holy Land now have Free WIFI!
• All breakfasts and all dinners. Wine included with all dinners
• All tips to driver, hotel, and tour guide
• Guided Tours and Tour Fees
• Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
• Remember: Our trips are not more expensive during high season ~  Passengers will never be expected to pay extra for anything while on the trip ~ Our group size is small to medium ~ We always wait for passengers and never leave anyone behind ~ There are no extra charges if a passenger would like to depart from overseas at a later date

Trip Does Not Include

• Lunch
• Travel Cancellation Protection Policy (optional) : $200 per person
• $400 surcharge for those flying from Hawaii or Alaska

Trip Itinerary

• Day 1: Depart from USA. Arrival next day.
• Day 2: Arrive and recuperate in Jerusalem.
• Day 3: Walk on the Via Dolorosa: The Way of the Cross on which Our Lord carried his cross. Visit the Empty Tomb and the Resurrection Church and experience the place where Jesus gave his life for us and rose from the dead. Go to the church where the cock crows: Remember that Jesus told Peter that before the cock crows he will deny him three times. Then visit the Upper Room where Jesus had the Last Supper and the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary: At the end of her life the Virgin Mary was assumed into Heaven, body and soul. Visit Mount of Olives: a place of many of Jesus’ activities; Dominus Flevit, where Jesus cried over Jerusalem; Ascension Church and The Our Father Church. Visit Beit Faji Church, where Jesus started his ride toward Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. See Gethsemane where Jesus suffered the agony in the garden right before his crucifixion; and Mary Magdalene Church, the place where she encountered Jesus and changed her life forever; the wailing Wall and Dome of the Rock. Dinner at 6:45 pm at the hotel. Wine included. Long pants or capris during the day. Casual dress in evening. Overnight in Jerusalem.
• Day 4: Visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord. Enjoy peace of Nativity Church. See the Cave and Tomb of St. Jerome who spent his life studying Holy Scripture. Visit Shepherd’s Field where angels announced the birth of the Lord. Then to the Church of the Milk, where Mary fed Jesus, and Ain Karem, where Mary visited Elizabeth. Visit the Dead Sea, the lowest place on the earth; Qumran, where the scrolls were discovered; and Jerico, where Zachaeus encountered our Lord and changed his life. See the traditional sycamore tree that Zachaeus climbed to see Jesus. Pass by Mount of Temptation on which Our Lord was tempted 40 days and 40 nights. Casual dress. Dinner at 6:45 pm at the hotel. Wine included. Overnight in Jerusalem.
• Day 5: Travel at a slow pace to Galilee. Pass by the Jordan River where Jesus was Baptized: renew your baptismal vows. Enjoy the peace of the Lake of Galilee. Boat ride on Lake Galilee. Pray on top of the Mountain of Beatitudes and relax in an atmosphere of silence and peace. Visit both the Church of Peter's Primacy where Jesus handed Peter the keys of the Kingdom and the Church of Multiplication of Bread and Fish. Dinner at 6:45 pm at the hotel. Wine included. Casual dress throughout the day. Overnight in Galilee.
• Day 6: Visit Nazareth where the Annunciation took place. Then visit Cana in Galilee, where Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding feast: renewal of marital vows is available for those who are celebrating their wedding anniversary. Go to Capernaum and see the house of Sts. Peter and Andrew, where Jesus did most of his preaching and healings. Dinner at 6:45 pm at the hotel. Wine included. Overnight in Galilee.
• Day 7: Fly to Rome. Check-in at your hotel. Have a leisurely afternoon.
• Day 8: Late Start. Visit the Colosseum in the morning. The Colosseum, the symbol of the city of Rome , is a great building that has been standing since 80 A.D. In the afternoon go to St. John Lateran, the first Basilica ever to be built in the Roman Empire and then visit the Catacombs. The Catacombs are breathtaking. 500,000 people were buried there.  Back at the Hotel around 5:30 pm. Rest for an hour. Dinner around the hotel area at 6:45 pm. Red and white wine included. Overnight in Rome.
• Day 9: Start the day by visiting St. Mary Major, the main Basilica dedicated to Mary in Rome. We will see the remains of Jesus’ manger, the tomb of Bernini, the remains of St. Matthew the Evangelist, the tomb of St. Jerome, and the oldest icon in the world of the Virgin Mary painted by St. Luke: the famous Salus Populi Romani. We will visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel (the Pope's private Chapel) and St. Peter's in the Vatican, the largest Basilica in the world.  Long pants, capris, or skirts below the knee. Shoulders covered. Dinner and overnight Rome.
• Day 10: Private bus around 7:30 am to the Vatican to experience the 10:00 am Audience with the Pope. We will see the Pope very closely; sometimes we even shake his hand.  We will visit the Spanish Steps. This is the place where the Romans hung out. Walk to Trevi Fountain for lunch and shopping. Walk to Pantheon, the oldest functional building in the world and then to the great artistic place of Piazza Navona around 4:30 pm. Dinner at Piazza Navona. Red and white wine included. Casual Dress throughout the day. Overnight in Rome.
• Day 11: En route to Florence stop in Assisi. See the tombs of St. Francis and St. Clare, enjoy a peaceful walk on the streets of Assisi. Dinner in Assisi. Overnight in Florence.
• Day 12: Tour of Venice: an amazing city built on water. Leave to Venice in the morning on our private bus. Estimated time of arrival is 11:00 am. Visit St. Mark’s plaza. Optional: Gondola ride and shopping. Early dinner in Venice 5:00 pm at a local restaurant. Red and white wine included. Back to hotel 10:00 pm. Long pants if you intend to go inside St. Mark’s. Casual dress if you intend to go on a Gondola ride or spend time shopping and visiting the beautiful streets and bridges of Venice. Overnight in Florence.
• Day 13: Tour of Florence in the region of Tuscany. Tour of the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizzi, Michelangelo's master piece, The David, Flea Market, Duomo (Cathedral), and the Baptistery. Tour Guide will show to those interested the location of Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel (where the Medici family was buried), and Basilica della Santa Croce (where Michelangelo and 15 other glorious Italian artists and thinkers were buried). Have a wine Tasting and dinner in rustic Tuscany. Red and white wine included. Casual dress throughout the day. Overnight in Florence.
• Day 14: Our private bus brings us to the airport in Florence or Rome to fly back to USA.

General Trip Information