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Day 3 • Marienburg Fortress
Day 4 • Passion Play
Day 6 • Venice
Day 9 • Athens
Day 12 • Ephesus
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
Today we begin our adventure in travel as we board our giant jet for an evening flight over the Atlantic to Frankfurt, Germany.
Day 2 • Arrival Frankfurt/Wurzburg, Germany
We arrive in Frankfurt and are met by the Signature Tours International representatives who assist us with our baggage. We enjoy an orientation tour on our way to our hotel in Wurzburg. The rest of the day is free to explore on our own.
Day 3 • Wurzburg/Rothenburg/Oberammergau
We see the Marienburg Fortress, visit the Prince-Bishop’s Residenz and visit other sites. Then we drive to the 16th century town of Rothenburg, with time for shopping before departing for Oberammergau for mass and overnight.
Day 4 • Oberammergau/PASSION PLAY
Today we see the Passion Play performed by the residents of Oberammergau. This production has been offered almost every decade, without interruption, since 1634. It is a perpetual sign of gratitude to God for the cessation of the Black Plague that took so many lives but stopped just short of Oberammergau. Dinner and overnight in Oberammergau.
Day 5 • Oberammergau/Innsbruck/Dolomites/Venice
On our drive today, we have a coffee stop In Innsbruck, Austria, to see Maria Theresa’s Golden Roof. Then we continue driving south, across the Europa Bridge, thru the Brenner Pass and magnificent Dolomites to Venice, Italy, for overnight in the Venice Mestre area
Day 6 • Venice/Florence
This morning, from a motor launch, we see the Grand Canal, the Basilica of San Marco, the town square, the Bridge of Sighs, and other fascinating sites, before driving to Florence for dinner and the night.
Day 7 • Florence/Rome
Today we have a morning guided sightseeing tour of Florence before we transfer to Rome in the afternoon. Dinner and the night are in Rome.
Day 8 •Vatican City
Day 8 • Rome
Today we visit the world’s smallest country, the Vatican City, seeing the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, to view Michelangelo’s Last Judgment and St. Peter’s Basilica. We continue to the Papal Blessing (Audience with the Pope) if the Holy Father is in residence. This afternoon we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, St. John in Lateran and Scala Santa. We also see the Roman Forum, Mammertine Prison, and the Colosseum. The rest of the day is free to explore Rome on our own, and we stay the night here.
Day 9 • Rome/Athens, Greece
After breakfast we fly to Athens, Greece, where we take a half-day city tour of Athens. We climb the Acropolis and see the Parthenon, and then visit the Areopagus, where St. Paul preached about the “Unknown God”, the Agora, Hadrian’s Arch, and Syntagma Square. The rest of the day is free to explore Athens on our own.
Day 10 •Mykonos
Day 10 • Greek Isles Cruise: Piraeus/Mykonos
After a leisurely morning, we transfer to the port city of Piraeus for our cruise. We first sail to Mykonos, a vibrant island with a colorful harbor. Enjoy the shopping or taste a delicious crepe!
Day 11 • Greek Isles Cruise: Rhodes
We then glide into the harbor that in ancient times was straddled by the famed Colossus. The old city, built by Crusader Knights of the Order of St. John, has changed little from medieval times
Day 12 • Greek Isles Cruise: Kusadasi/Ephesus/Patmos
Today in Kusadasi, you may take the shore excursion to the ruins of Ephesus, one of Asia Minor’s richest cities. You walk the marble streets and see the old theatre, the Temple of Diana, and more. Later, stop in Patmos, where exiled John penned the Apocalypse.
Day 13 • Greek Isles Cruise: Piraeus/Corinth/Athens
We spend the morning in Piraeus where we take a tour to Classical Greece, stopping at the Corinthian Canal, and then Corinth, seeing the Temple of Apollo and the Agora, the traditional site where St. Paul preached. We return to Athens for overnight.
Day 14 • Athens/Hometown, U.S.A.
We transfer early to the Athens International Airport for our flight back home, bringing with us wonderful and inspiring memories of our pilgrimage to be treasured and relived for the rest of our lives.