Day 1 – Saturday May 29,2010
Depart from the USA from Seattle to Philadelphia via US Airways. The flight was almost 6 hours long. The seats were jam pack! The Flight from Philadelphia to Fuimincino was about 8.5 hours. On flight, I saw a movie called Temple Grandin which was about a woman (starring Claire Danes) who had autism. Despite her autism, she ended up having a masters in science and becoming an expert in cattle, and wrote numerous articles on cattle behavior.
Day 2 – Sunday, May 30, 2010
We arrived at Rome and met up with the rest of the group. The total number of people in the group were 18 which included our tour guide. We rested at the hotel, and then made our way to Castel Gondolfo, the Pope’s summer residence. Population is almost 9,000. In the evening, we had a wine tasting in one of the local stores, and then had dinner. The Gondolfo is a family that owned the building, but the Vatican bought it and used it as the Summer residence of the Holy Father. (Castel Gondolfo)
Day 2 – Monday May 31, 2010
After breakfast, we are making our way to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, which is the largest Basilica in the world. St. Peter was martyred in Rome in the year 64AD during the reign of Emperor Nero. According to a historical account, St. Peter wanted to be crucified upside down since he felt unworthy to die like Christ. We also saw the catacombs of some popes like Pope John Paul II, and Pope John 23, and Pope Paul VI. Our next visit was St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore). St. Mary Major is the biggest basilica dedicated to our Blessed Mother in the world. Currently, Cardinal Bernard Law is the Archpriest of the basilica. According to a 13th Century legend, the first church was built here under Pope Liberius (352 – 366AD) on the site of an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The legend has it that the Virgin appeared to Pope Liberius and the patrician Giovanni Patrizio on August 4, 352, instructing them to build a church on the Esquiline Hill. That night, the floor plan was outlined by a miraculous snowfall. It just so happens that one of our pilgrim couples was married by Cardinal Bernard Law 43 years ago when he was a young priest. The couple and I met the Cardinal inside the sacristy. After telling him where I'm from, he asked me: "Would you like to concelebrate mass with me?" "Yes, of course," I replied. The mass was in honor of the Visitation, and it was in Italian. Cardinal Law didn't know much Italian until his stay at St. Mary Major. Now, he's quite fluent in Italian.
Day 4 – Wednesday June 2, 2010
Please click on link to see: Audience with the Holy Father Video
After the audience, we went to the Sistine Chapel. Known as the Chapel of chapels during the Pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV between 1475-1481, with the help of Giovannio De’ Dolci, Baccio Pontelli, and many artists. The Sistine Chapel is a spacious rectangular hall with a barrel vault, divided into two unequal parts by a marble transenna or screen by Mino da Fiesole. Michelangelo, employed under Pope Julius II worked on the ceiling from 1508-1512, created a powerful framework for the well known figures of the Sibyls and the Prophets, the elegant bold Ignudi, the nine Stories from Genesis (famous of all is the Creation of Man). Michelangelo returned 25 years later between 1536-1541 under the Pontificate Clement VII to work on the whole back wall for the Last Judgement. Since his frescoes were so large, two other frescoes had to be destroyed, and two large arched windows had to be walled up.
9 stories of Genesis – Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo
1. God separates light from darkness
2. Creation of sun and moon
3. Separation of waters
4. Creation of Adam
5. Creation of Eve
6. Original Sin
7. Noah’s sacrifice
8. The flood
9. Noah’s drunkenness
Day 5, June 3, 2010
We traveled to Pompeii. Pompeii is a city near modern day Naples, that was destroyed as a result of a volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. The eruption buried Pompeii under 22 meters of ash and pumice, and the city was lost for nearly 1600 years before it’s rediscovery in 1592. The excavation of Pompeii provides insights into the life of people during the Roman Empire. It is a very popular site to visit, averaging over 2.5 million visitors each year.
Day 6, June 2, 2010
We traveled to Pompeii. Pompeii is a city near modern day Naples, that was destroyed as a result of a volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. The eruption buried Pompeii under 22 meters of ash and pumice, and the city was lost for nearly 1600 years before it’s rediscovery in 1592. The excavation of Pompeii provides insights into the life of people during the Roman Empire. It is a very popular site to visit, averaging over 2.5 million visitors each year.
We stayed overnight in Sorrento. Sorrento is a town in southern Italy with a little more than 16,000 inhabitants. Sorrento is known for producing limoncello, a refreshing alcoholic dessert beverage made from lemon zests, alcohol, water and sugar.
Day 7, June 3, 2010
Island of Capri. The Island of Capri is the home of a beautiful placed called the Blue Grotto. The beautiful Blue Grotto is a sea cave on the coast of the Island. Sunlight passes through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawater creates a blue reflection that illuminates the cavern.
Day 8, June 4, 2010
Today, we are making our way to Florence along the west coast of Italy. We drove through the Amalfi Coast. Overnight stay in Florence.
Day 9, June 5, 2010
Sites visited are Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizzi, Flea market, Duomo Cathedral, Baptistry, Michelangelo’s David, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Medici Chapel, Basilica della Santa Croce (where Michelangelo is buried)
The Duomo Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi. This Cathedral took 5 centuries to complete, and is currently the 4th largest church in the world. In the dome of the Duomo contains one of the nails of the Crucified Christ. The roof of the Cathedral is described as a Gothic Church renowned for its spires, pinnacles, and flying buttresses.
Day 10 June 6, 2010
We visit Venice, a city built on water. We also visited St. Mark’s basilica and plaza, and ride on Gondolas.
Day 11, June 7, 2010 – We spend the day in Como and then made our way back to Rome.
Day 12, June 8, 2010 – Ceremonies with the Pope in the Year of the Priests
Day 13, June 9, 2010 – Ceremonies with the Pope in the Year of the Priests.
Day 14, June 10, 2010 – Ceremonies with the Pope in the Year of the Priests.