OECTA - Religious Education AQ in Italy - Summer 2025

Overnight flight from Toronto to Rome (Fiumicino - Leonardo Da Vinci Airport).

Welcome to beautiful Italy and to this important celebration in the Catholic Church - the Jubilee! Transfer to the hotel. 

3:00pm  check-in (a coach bus will be arranged for all participants who have booked international air on the group rate with G/Hardy Tours).  

The group will gather at 4:00pm for a welcome cocktail/ice breaker/welcome reception and aperitivo (snack/prosciutto/cheese/bread etc). 

The reception will be followed by an early Welcome Group Dinner.  

Overnight Rome.

Breakfast at the hotel.

If there is a mass today at the Vatican, the day will be programmed around the mass. 

The morning will be spent exploring the wonders of Ancient Rome including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum & Ruins on a private group guided tour.

There will be time for lunch and souvenir shopping after the tour.

After lunch, participants have the option to walk with your G/Hardy Rep to see some of the highlights of Baroque Rome including the Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon etc.  Travellers may choose to enjoy some free time for shopping and/or to explore the heart of the Eternal City on their own.  

Prior to dinner, the group will attend vespers at the stunning Basilica di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.  This incredible church was in the 3rd century and is devoted to a young Roman woman Cecilia, martyred it is said under Marcus Aurelius.  Tradition holds that the church was built over the house of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of singers and musicians. The church includes the baptistery associated with the original church,  the remains of a Roman house of the early Empire, and some spectacular frescos including the 13th century painting depicting the Last Judgment (1289–93) by Pietro Cavallini in the choir of the nuns - it is a spectacular place to experience the solemnity of vespers.

A special group dinner (approx 20:00)  this evening will be in the vibrant and trendy Trastevere neighbourhood.

Overnight Rome.

Breakfast at the hotel.

If there is a mass today at the Vatican, the day will be programmed around the mass. 

This morning the group will visit the heart of the Catholic Church, St. Peter's Basilica.   This summer is an extra-special year in the Roman Catholic tradition as it is a Holy Year, or Jubilee.  OECTA Members, friends and family will have the unique and special opportunity on this important pilgrimage to witness the Jubilee celebrations at the Vatican.  

The group will tour the Vatican Museums, see the spectacular Sistine Chapel, and the impressively beautiful St. Peter's Basilica on a private guided tour.

There will be free time for lunch in the Vatican area followed by some free time to pick up souvenirs in the Vatican area or attend a mass in the afternoon at St. Peter's Basilica (timing tbd).

The remainder of the day will be at leisure with dinner on your own.

A late afternoon Mass will be arranged in one of the many spectacular Catholic churches in Rome (location and time tbd)

Overnight Rome.

Breakfast at the hotel followed by check out.

The group will board their private coach to depart Rome and head into the beautiful Italian countryside in Tuscany.   A time for Mass at one of the many spectacular Catholic Churches in Italy will be arranged (location and timing tbd). 

On route to the beautiful Tuscan countryside,  the group will visit Assisi.  Assisi is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany and an important site for Catholic pilgrims.  They will see the beautiful San Damiano cross in the Basilica of Saint Clare.  The group will tour Assisi and see the *cathedral & procession & or blessing from Franciscans.

There will be free time for lunch, followed by a trip to see the original position of the cross in the church of San Damiano nearby.  According to Franciscan tradition, it was while praying before this cross in the chapel of San Damiano that Francis of Assisi received a call to rebuild the Church.

After the day spent in Assisi, the group will continue their journey onward to the beautiful Tuscan country estate, Villa San Paolo.

There will be free time to settle in before a special group dinner and wine tasting.

Overnight Villa San Paolo

 Breakfast at the hotel.

Today is a free day at the country estate for participants to enjoy the hotels facilities.  Book a spa treatment (at own expense), relax by the swimming pool, spend some time in prayer, reflection, or enjoy a day of relaxation to nurture well-being.  

Details regarding the Spa at the hotel:
From the hotel: "The indoor and outdoor hydro-pool heated to 34°C is part of the IriSpa Wellness Path  - together with sauna and bio-sauna, Turkish bath, Tuscan aromarium, Kneipp pools and hot/cold waterfalls.
The cost for 5 hours at the spa is 40 Euro per person, paid directly to the spa.

Details regarding the pool at the hotel: 
From the hotel: "the summer swimming pool (open from May to October, unheated) immersed in our olive grove is for the free use of guests. It is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm”

A group dinner this evening at Villa San Paolo.

Overnight Villa San Paolo.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Following breakfast, the group will board their private coach for a visit to Siena.  The first stop will be at the spectacular Duomo to attend Mass.    Siena Cathedral is a spectacular medieval church dedicated from its earliest days as a Roman Catholic Marian church; it is now dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. After Mass, the group will enjoy a walking tour lead by your GHT rep of Siena.  The group will continue onward from Siena following their tour to enjoy an extra special late lunch and wine tasting at a winery in the rolling Tuscan hills.

After lunch, the group will return to their hotel; participants can buy a light dinner at the hotel restaurant or bar this evening. 

Overnight Villa San Paolo.  

Breakfast at the hotel followed by check out.

The group will board their private coach and transfer to Parma with a stop on route in beautiful Florence.  

The group will enjoy a private guided 1/2 day tour of Florence.  The group will see the spectacular Duomo, the Renaissance masterpiece that towers over the centre of the city.  They will cross the Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno and  will have time to visit the iconic San Lorenzo leather market for some souvenir shopping.

After the day in Florence, the group will continue onward to their hotel in Parma.

Overnight Emilia Romagna.

Breakfast at the hotel

Today there will be an optional excursion to either Cinque Terre for a beach day or an Optional Excursion to Ferrari, Basalmic Producer  & Parmigiano Factory for a tour and tasting (availability will be determined by a minimum 10 paying participants)

Return to the hotel.

Dinner on your own this evening.

Overnight in Parma

Breakfast at the hotel

Today is a day at leisure.  Enjoy the facilities at the hotel, an opportunity to gather as a group for meditation, prayer and reflection.

This evening there will be a special closing ceremony in a beautiful gala venue with a gala dinner which will feature foods of the region “Emilia Romagna Tasting Menu”. 

Overnight Parma

Breakfast at the hotel followed by check-out.

There will be a morning departure by train or bus to Rome Airport.