Day 1 : Departure
Departure to Rome Fiumicino airport from Boston Logan airport or elsewhere.
Day 2 : Rome–Assisi
Gather at Fiumicino airport at 1.00 pm, meet with Patrizia at the arrival point and drive by private bus to the old town of Assisi. Arrival, hotel check-in, and dinner around 6.30 pm. Meeting after dinner. Overnight in the amazing town of Assisi.
Day 3 : Assisi
Sitting at 7.30 am followed by yoga practice. After breakfast walk or drive to St. Francis Basilica. Meet with our Franciscan guide and visit the Basilica. We will learn about the paintings of Giotto and the life of St. Francis. Special time by the tomb of St. Francis, one of the most sacred places in the world that calls people from many religions. Lunch on your own. Meet at 3.00 pm to visit the Basilica of St. Claire (Santa Chiara) with a guide for a spiritual introduction to Santa Chiara. Followed by free time. Meet at 5.30 pm for daily sharing and discussion of our theme for the day. Dinner at the hotel (included). Overnight in Assisi
Day 4 : Assisi
Daily sitting and yoga practice followed by breakfast. Depart at 10.30 a.m. by bus to Eremo delle Carceri, St. Francis’s retreat place. Theme of the day: “What is beauty and how does it manifest in art?” Peaceful time here for personal meditation/writing/painting. Lunch on your own. Departure at 4.00 p.m. to the famous Spoleto and time to wander around this interesting town. Special dinner (included). Afterwards return to Assisi for overnight.
Day 5 : Assisi–Todi
Daily sitting and yoga practice followed by breakfast. Depart to San Damiano visiting the place where St. Francis composed the Canticle of the Creatures, bus back to Assisi. Lunch on your own. At 3.00 p.m. depart to St. Mary of the Angels which contains the little chapel of Porziuncola, the original chapel where St. Francis lived and prayed. We continue to Todi, an enchanting medieval town with free time to explore, then dinner (included) at restaurant there. Overnight in Assisi.
Day 6 : Celleno-Siena–Pienza
Daily sitting and yoga practice followed by breakfast. Departure to Siena. Arrival and meeting with our guide. Visit includes the amazing Piazza del Campo where the famous Palio of Siena is held. Lunch on your own. Depart at 3.00 p.m. to one of the jewels of Tuscany, Pienza. Transfer to Monastery of St. Giovanni, a remarkable 16th century monastery—our base for the next days. Check-in and dinner (included). Overnight in Celleno.
Day 7 : Celleno–Civita di Bagnoregio
Morning retreat and visit of the property. Lunch (included). Afternoon, departure to Civita di Bagnoregio, an amazing UNESCO World Heritage site. Dinner (included) in Celleno.
Day 8 : Celleno–Papal Thermal Bath
Morning practices followed by breakfast. Departure to Viterbo for a whole day experience of the Papal thermal bath. Return for dinner (included) in Celleno.
Day 9 : Rome
Travel to Rome after an early breakfast. Arrival around 10.30 a.m. Our location is just few minutes’ walk from the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Meet with our guide, Alessia, and transfer to the Vatican area. Visit the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, the Crypt, and St. Peter’s Basilica. After, return to the hotel and check in. Free time followed by dinner (included) at a restaurant. Overnight in Rome
Day 10 : Rome
Morning practices followed by breakfast. Departure to the Coliseum and Imperial Fort with our guide. We will continue on to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. In the afternoon walk around the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Campo dei Fiori. Free time followed by dinner at a restaurant (included)
Day 11 : Rome
Morning practices followed by breakfast at the hotel. At 10.00 a.m. motor coach transfer to Vatican area. Visit the Vatican Excavations. This is one of the most sacred parts of the Vatican, not often visited. Afternoon free time. Final meeting at 6.00 p.m. followed by a farewell dinner (included).
Day 12 : Rome-Departure
After breakfast, departure to Fiumicino airport, only one departure to the airport.
The order of events and visits may be subject to change .