HOLY LAND -ROME & VATICAN CITY (11 DAYS)

Travel Arrangements by Mina Tours Inc. 101 Amber St, Unit #3, Markham, ON, L3R 3B2 Tel: 905- 475-5388 / 416-846-6691 Fax: 905-475-8599

Arrival Tel Aviv and transfer to the hotel.  Overnight Tiberias

Start the day with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum visit St. Peter’s house, Mt of the Beatitudes, onward to Tabgha where the miracle of the loaves and fishes took place and to the Church of Peter’s Primacy, end of the day to The River of Jordan for the Baptismal Renewal. Overnight Tiberias.

Check-out of hotel, visit Mt Tabor, site of Transfiguration, Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed the first miracle of changing water into wine, renewal of wedding vows, Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth,  Mary’s Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel. Drive to the coast of Caesarea, where St Paulwas held a prisoner. Visit the Roman and Crusader ruins. Drive through the Carmel Mountains, visit to Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel. Continue to El Muhraqa where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and where the Carmelite Order started. Overnight Jerusalem.

Visit to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. Johnthe Baptist and Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, Drive to the Shepherd’s Fields and The Nativity Church in Bethlehem.  Overnight Jerusalem.

Visit to Mt Zion, the Tomb of King David, the Upper room of the Last Supper, the Dormition Abbey where it is believed the Virgin Mary had her last days. Visit Mt.of Olives, walk the Palm Sunday route stopping at Dominus Flevit, onward to Gethsemane, the Rock of Agony. Visit the cave of betrayal and thecave  of Assumption, the Pater Noster with the Lords Prayer displayed in 158 languages. Onward to St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied The Lord thrice. Overnight Jerusalem.

Visit to Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, drive to Jericho, view Mt. Temptation, the Sycamore Tree, Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll. On the return if time allows swim (or rather a float!)

At the Dead Sea.  Overnight Jerusalem.

Early morning retrace the last steps of Jesus, walk the Fourteen Stations of the Via Dolorosa, end at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Return to the Old City of Jerusalem, visit St. Anne’s Church, home of the Virgin Mary and her parents Sts. Joachim and Anne, pass the Ecce Home, the Wailing Wall, and holy place for Jews, and nearby is the Dome of the Rock. Onward to visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper, the Dormition Abbey where we believe the Blessed Mary died and St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied The Lord thrice. Overnight Jerusalem.

Transfer to the airport for the Rome flight. Overnight Rome, city Tour and transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Vatican   City to attend the weekly Papal Audience or Blessing given by the H. H. Pope (depending on the

 papal schedule).  Following the audience visit of the Vatican Museums, The Raphael Rooms, the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s Masterpiece and the Last Judgment. St. Peter’s Basilica and the grave of Pope John Paul II. Overnight Rome

Transfer to the Airport for the Return Flight filled with cherished memories