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 Rome
Pilgrimage Itinerary
This schedule is designed to give our group a full experience
of Rome as we journey in Lent toward Easter. Venturing off
on your own or in your formed smaller groups is permissible,
but not the responsibility of Road To Cana. We want you to
get the most out of our Rome trip as well as time with the
single Catholics of our group. So please consider this itinerary
to be a "home base" schedule that you can always
plug in to.
Friday, March 17
Travel day
Saturday, March 18
Arrive in Rome and settle into your quarters. Spend
the day in resting or optional tour of:
The Pantheon
Rome's 2000 year old monument, whose name means "to honor
all gods," is a must-see. The Pantheon was built by Marcus
Vipsanius Agrippus in 27 B.C., and houses the tombs of Rafael
and several Italian kings, and was consecrated as a church
dedicated to Our Lady and all the martyrs.
San Ignazio--Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola
The church of St. Ignatius of Loyola was built as the church
of the Roman College which was the work of St. Ignatius and
founded in 1551 as a "school of grammar, humanities and
Christian doctrine, free of charge." The church is erected
on the spot where the temple of Isis once stood in Imperial
Rome, and its present facade stands where the Acqua Vergine
once flowed, and still runs beneath the ground today. The
church is entirely Baroque in style, and the final important
characteristic of St. Ignazio is that it is a superb example
of Baroque illusionism. When money ran out before a dome could
be built, the clever Jesuit artist Andrea Pozzo (1681-1701)
painted a fake dome over the altar. The trompe l'oeil perspective
is the biggest joke in Rome (the uninitiated standing underneath
never guess that the ceiling is really flat).
 Church
of Il Gesù -- The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus
This is the Jesuit Mother Church, and stands upon the site
which St. Ignatius chose for his headquarters, once he founded
the Society of Jesus. The church is ornamented in the Baroque
style with frescoes by "Il Baciccia," Giovanni Battista
Gaulli. The church also houses the relic of the arm of St.
Francis Xavier, the first Jesuit missionary saint.
Sunday, March
19 - (Feast of St. Joseph)
Mass
The morning tour will include trips to:
San Clemente --The Basilica of St. Clement
for Mass and a tour. This 12th-century church, at street level,
was built over a 4th-century church, which was in turn built
over a Roman house containing a temple to Mithras, and the
foundations are believed to date from the time of the Republic.
San Clemente has been under the care of the Irish Dominicans
since 1667, when the English outlawed the Irish Catholic Church
and expelled the entire clergy. At that time the Order was
given refuge at San Clemente, where to this day they maintain
a convent for priests studying and teaching in Rome.
 The
Coliseum
The construction of the Coliseum, also known as the Flavian
Circus, began in 75 AD and was completed in 80 BC. In the
three or so centuries of its operation, the Coliseum was the
scene of much suffering and death for the edification of fifty
thousand Roman spectators. Beast shows were put on in which
exotic animals were put to death. Condemned prisoners were
thrown to wild animals to be torn limb from limb. Gladiators
fought, very often to the death. The Coliseum survives only
as a ruin, though a part of it has been restored so that stage
plays and concerts are now held there. It is, nevertheless,
one of the most impressive historical attractions in the world.
(from "A History Lover's Guide to Rome")
The afternoon tours will include:
The Palatinum
According to legend, Romulus chose Palatinum Hill to found
the ancient city of Rome. This is confirmed by very ancient
ruins found right at the top of this hill. The Palatinum was
the place where most of the luxurious homes of very rich and
noble people were concentrated.
The Roman Forum
When the center of the world was Rome, the center of Rome
was the Forum. The most famous, the Roman Forum, was designed
by the architect Vitruvius. For centuries, the Roman Forum
was the site of the city's most important public buildings
including the Arch of Septimius Severus, built in 203 B.C.
and the Rostra or public speaking platforms. The reliefs on
the triple arch represented many of Rome's victories over
oriental tribes and the Rostra was decorated with prows of
warships captured during battles. The Roman Forum became the
spectacular showcase of the Empire filled with beautiful statues
and architecture.
Basilica di Ss. Cosma e Damiano--The Church of Ss.
Cosmos and Damian
What is now a chapel of the church of Saints Cosmos and Damian
was once a temple erected by Maxentius and dedicated to his
son Romulus. The church once housed a large hall which formed
part of Vespasian's Forum of Peace. In the apse are 6th century
mosaics, among the most beautiful in Rome, which were restored
in 1989.
Monday, March 20
Mass celebrated by a Cardinal in Rome.
The Mass will be followed by a conference on:
"The Spiritual and Theological Dimensions of the Sacrament
of Marriage."
 The
afternoon tours will include:
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme--The Basilica of the Holy
Cross of Jerusalem
This Basilica is one of the most sacred places of the capitol
of Christianity. It was probably Constantine who, around 320,
ordered the transformation of the Palazzo Sessoriano into
the place where the relics collected by his mother, St Helena,
during her trip to the Holy Land could be preserved. Here
are kept soil from the Holy Sepulchre, fragments of the Holy
Cross , two thorns from the Crown, the crosspiece from the
cross of the penitent robber who was crucified beside Christ
and many other venerated objects. It is one of the seven churches
which are jubilee destinations during the Holy Years.
San Giovanni in Laterano -- The Basilica of St. John
Lateran
St. John in Lateran is the Cathedral of Rome, one of the four
major basilicas and the mother of all churches in Rome and
in the world. Founded by Constantine, during the time of Silvester
(314-335) it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The
current basilica dates from the 17th century. This area once
belonged to the Laterani family, and was presented to the
Church by the Emperor Constantine.
 Tuesday,
March 21
Tuesday morning will be spent touring:
The Vatican Museum
It has been estimated that if you spent one minute on every
object in the Vatican Museum, you would be there for 14 years.
The Sistine Chapel
"Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form
no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving."
- Goethe, 1787 in Rome
San Pietro en Vaticano -- The Basilica of St. Peter
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is the largest church
in the world, and one of the most beautiful. The ground upon
which St. Peter's Basilica stands was once a chariot racing
stadium, constructed during the reigns of the Emperors Caligula,
Claudius and Nero, in the years 40-65.
The afternoon hours:
Conference with keynote speaker Archbishop J. Michael Miller,
Secretary for the Congregation for Catholic Education..
Wednesday, March 22
Wednesday morning is a high point of the trip:
General Audience with Pope Benedict XVI
The afternoon hours include tours of:
Campidoglio--The Capitol
The Capitol was the center of political power in ancient Rome.
It was also the center for the most important ceremonies,
such as the investiture of the consuls on January 1, and above
all the Triumph. The Capitol's importance has endured throughout
the history of Rome. This splendid square was conceived by
Michelangelo, who also designed the two palaces on the opposite
sides of the square. It is reached by the grand flight of
steps known as the "Cordonata," built to a design
by Michelangelo especially for the triumphal entry of the
Emperor Charles V in 1536.
Capitolin Museum
This museum, founded in 1471, houses findings and works of
art that tell the full history of Rome, from the antique sculptures
and bas-reliefs portraying the acts of the emperors to the
paintings on show in the Picture Gallery.
 Santa
Maria d'Aracoeli--Our Lady at the Heavenly Altar (The city
church of Rome)
A 4th century legend in two versions claims that the Blessed
Virgin appeared to the emperor Augustus at this site on the
northern side of the Capitol hill, or alternatively, that
the birth of the Son of God was foretold to the emperor by
an oracle. In the interior are a coffered Renaissance ceiling
and a mosaic of the Virgin over the altar in the Byzantine
style. The church is known for its Bufalini Chapel, a masterpiece
by Pinturicchio, who frescoed it with scenes illustrating
the life and death of St. Bernardino of Siena. He also depicted
St. Francis receiving the stigmata. These frescoes are a high
point in early Renaissance Roman painting.
Thursday, March 23
Mass will be celebrated. The rest of the day is a FREE day
to shop for gifts and souvenirs, or go off in your own groups
for private exploration.
Tour put together by Lisa Wells (a member who is attending):
Scavi Tour of the catacombs below St. Peter's
The tours are arranged between 9am and 3pm and lasts for 1.5
hours. They limit the number of each tour to 10-12 people. I
would like to know if there are others who would like to do
this in the morning so that we could get a group or two together.
If you are interested in signing up for this tour which costs
$12, or 10 Euros, please let me know. lwells@cfht.hawaii.edu.
Friday, March 24
Features tours of:
Piazza Farnese
This square is home to the prototype for many princely palaces,
the imposing Palazzo Farnese, which was originally built for
Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (who became Pope Paul III in 1534).
Michelangelo had a plan for the Farnese gardens to be connected
by a bridge to the Farnese home in Trastevere, Villa Farnesina.
The elegant arch spanning Via Giulia belongs to this sadly
unrealized scheme. The palazzo was completed in 1589, on a
less ambitious scale, by Giacomo della Porta. It is now the
home of the French Embassy.
Campo dei Fiori
The Campo dei Fiore is a colorful outdoor fruit and vegetable
market that has been in business for 300 years. Its food stands
are popular with residents, and there are clothing stalls
and souvenirs scattered among the local wares. It is a colorful
place for candid photos and a good spot to pick up some refreshments
until it closes at noon.
Piazza Navona
This piazza is a marvel of light and sculpture. It is exceptionally
long and owes its shape to the ruins that formed it, for under
the buildings that surround Piazza Navona are the remains
of the Circus Domitianus, Domitian's stadium -- a part of
which can be seen if you leave the piazza by the north exit
and turn left. The piazza marks the area for the races in
the stadium. It features many fine old buildings, a beautiful
church and three stunning fountains.
San Luigi dei Francesi--Church of St. Louis of France
The site was full of remains of Roman buildings, including
the Baths of Agrippa and the Baths of Nero. In the early 16th
century, the Medici family took over, and Cardinal Giulio
de Medici, later Pope Clement VII, commissioned a church for
the French community here in 1518. Building was halted when
Rome was sacked in 1527, and it was finally completed in 1589.
The fifth chapel on the left was decorated by Caravaggio.
The paintings depict three scenes from the life of St Matthew:
the Call of St Matthew, the Martyrdom of St Matthew and Matthew
and the Angel.
The afternoon will be spent in conference with keynote speaker:
Archbishop John P. Foley, Prefect of the Council for Social
Communications
Saturday, March 25 - (Solemnity
of the Annunciation)
Begins with a tour of:
 San
Paolo fuori le mura -- The Basilica of St. Paul outside the
Walls
The Apostle Paul, after his martyrdom, was buried in a cemetery
at this site. A shrine was erected, and many Christians came
to venerate St. Paul. The first church on this site was built
by Emperor Constantine in 324 over the grave site. The present
basilica is little changed in appearance since the 4th century.
Catacombs of St. Calixtus
The catacomb is actually three separate burial chambers that
were joined to create a single network. It was opened in the
early 3rd century, as the principal Christian cemetery in
Rome, and is named after the Deacon Callixtus, to whom Pope
Zephyrinus (199-217) gave the responsibility for the catacombs.
St. Cecilia was originally interred here.
The afternoon hours will be spent touring the:
Basilica of St. Sebasitan
The Basilica of St. Sebastian, outside of Rome, along the
Appian Way, is one of the most ancient and venerated of Rome's
pilgrimage sites. A chapel on the left of the church marks
the place where Sebastian, one of the early soldier saints,
was buried in the catacombs below.
The tour will be followed by Vigil Mass and a tour of the:
Catacombs of St. Sebastian
Sunday, March 26
Mass will be celebrated, followed by a tour at:
Basilica Patriarchale di S. Lorenzo Fuori le Mura--The
Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls
The Basilica is also one of the seven traditional pilgrimage
churches in Rome. In 303, Emperor Constantine honored the
Roman deacon martyr St. Lawrence of Rome by building a large
basilica near the saint's tomb. The basilica was flanked by
the church of Pope Pelagius II, (579-590), built directly
over that martyr's tomb, which also contained the remains
of the martyr St. Stephen. The present structure was built
by Pope Honorious III (1216-1227). A bombing in 1943 destroyed
a large part of the church, but it was rebuilt using the original
stones. The basilica contains the tomb of Blessed Pope Pius
IX.
We will also tour:
Santa Maria Maggiore - The Basilica of St. Mary Major
St. Mary Major is one of the four main basilicas in Rome,
and is the largest church in the world dedicated to Our Lady.
Its name means that it is Rome's principal church dedicated
to the Mother of God. Legends say that the church was built
in 352 B.C. after an appearance by the Blessed Virgin. The
legend further claims that the outline of the church was laid
by a miraculous snowfall in August.
The afternoon tour on this day will include visits to:
The Piazza Venezia
This square was named in honor of the Republic of Venice that
opened up its embassy in this very square. Piazza Venezia
was unfortunately made famous when it became the stage for
Mussolini's speeches that he pronounced from the balcony of
Palazzo Venezia, an imposing building that dates back to the
second half of the 15th century. The Vittoriano, dedicated
to Vittorio Emanuele II, is another important building.
Church of the Apostles
Followed by:
 Fontana
di Trevi--Trevi Fountain
The Fontana di Trevi is famous because the legend says that
if you throw a coin you will come back to Rome some day. It
is without doubt the most famous fountain in Rome. The imaginative
concept, the theatrical composition, the sober and imposing
beauty of the sculptured marble figures make it a true masterpiece
both of sculpture and of architecture. Pietro da Cortona and
above all Bernini, who began the undertaking, both had a hand
in the project.
Piazza di Spagna--Spanish Steps
This is perhaps the most charming square in the city. Its
unique shape is reminiscent of a butterfly. The square's name
comes from the fact that the Spanish Embassy stood in the
square in the 17th century. The square is permanently full
of tourists, and as far back as 1600 it was the favorite place
for visitors to Rome from all over the world. The steps that
connect the Church of Trinità dei Monti to Piazza di
Spagna are amazing, a mixture of curves, straight line and
terraces, where it is possible to see the house of poets such
as Keats and Shelley.
Piazza del Popolo
This square is located at the top of the triangle that is
formed by three long streets: the central one is the famous
Via del Corso. At the center of the square there is an obelisk
that was brought to Rome by the Emperor Augustus after he
conquered Egypt.
Monday, March 27
After breakfast the pilgrimage concludes with morning bus
service to the airport and departure.
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