17 – 22 May 2012 The Path of Christianity (Rome and the South of Rome) conducted by Dott. Rosa Maria Letts
“How beautiful the Path of Christianity was, the sunshine and beauty of what we saw throughout shall stay with me always”
This tour explores some of the early Christian churches in Rome and three great abbeys to the South of Rome. In Rome we stay at the Hotel Columbus, Via della Conciliazione 22, a 15C della Rovere Palace, now a 4-star hotel.
During our stay we visit St. Peters Underground where, beneath the great Renaissance Basilica lie layers of Roman and Medieval remains including the tomb of St. Peter. We follow this with a visit to the Vatican Gardens – a wonderful haven of peace in the midst of the crowds in the museum. Also in Rome our visit includes some of the more beautiful and interesting early Christian churches, all with Roman origins.
On Sunday 20 May, we leave for the Roman Campagna to continue our visits of the abbeys and Anagni. We will be staying in Fiuggi, situated among the Monti Ernici, and renowned for its curative mineral waters. Our hotel there for 2 nights is Hotel Ambasciatori, which is a 4-star spa hotel.
We meet BA flights at BA2542 at 7.00 am from London Gatwick and BA0552 at 7.05 from London Heathrow arriving at Rome Fiumicino at 10.35 & 10.40 respectively.
10.00 am: Visit S. Agnese and S. Costanza.
8.00 pm: Dinner in hotel by invitation.
Fri. 18 May.
10.00 am: Visit to St. Peters Underground and The Vatican Gardens.
2.30 pm: Afternoon free. Dinner at leisure.
Sat. 19 May.
10.00 am: Visit S. Clemente and S. Quattro Coronati.
2.30 pm: Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, S. Prassede and S. Pudenziana. Dinner at leisure.
Sun. 20 May.
9.30 am: We head south passing by the glorious gardens of Ninfa in their verdant setting and which we will visit. From there a short journey brings us to the Abbey of Fossanova. It is a beautiful Cistercian Abbey of the 12C in a suggestive setting high above the coastal plain between Terracina and Latina. From there we cross over the Lepini hills on our way to Fiuggi and our Hotel Ambasciatori.
8.00 pm: Dinner in hotel by invitation.
Mon. 21 May.
9.30 am: We go to two abbeys – Monte Cassino and Casamari. Monte Cassino remains the most famous monastery in the world. Founded by St. Benedict of Norcia in 529 the abbey went through many campaigns of destruction by the Lombards (589), the Saracens (884), the Normans (1030) and an earthquake in 1349. But this centre of cultural enlightenment was patiently and more magnificently rebuilt every time by the devoted labours of the Benedictines. It dominates the area. It was the scene of a famous battle in World War II when it was severely damaged. After the war it was again perfectly restored by Italian experts to its original plan. Its library which contained Paulus Diaconus 8C collection, the Bibbia Hebraica of St. Gregory the Great, the Liber Moralium with notes handwritten by Thomas Aquinas forms now part of the Vatican Library. They were all written in the Abbey. The Abbey of Casamari was rebuilt by the Cistercians in the 13C and modelled on the Abbey of Fossanova. It is a lovely example of early Italian gothic architecture. Returning to our hotel, we will have dinner preceded by drinks in the garden.
Tues. 22 May.
9.30 am: We will leave Fiuggi to visit Anagni, the ancient capital of pre-Roman times, now a beautiful Roman and Medieval Town. Throughout the Middle Ages it was a favourite summer residence of the Popes. It was also the birthplace of four Popes Innocent III, Gregory IX, Alexander IV and Boniface III and where died in 1159 the English Pope Adrian IV. On the main hill which commands the most beautiful views, is the Romanesque Cathedral built in the 12C. Later in the 13C, gothic arches were added to the nave and transept and a new Choir was built. The Cathedral is famous for its cosmatesque floors, the Ciborium on the Altar, the Bishop’s Throne and the mosaic decoration; but what is most remarkable is the crypt for its intact original features: the cosmatesque floors and the frescoed ceilings. Here is the most important medieval frescoe cycle of the Roman school in southern Italy. Painted by Benedictine monks they relate stories from the Greek philosophy, cosmography and science; visions of the Virgin Mary to whom the Cathedral is dedicated and the Apocalypse. The New York Times has called it the Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages. An incredible sight which must be seen at least once in a lifetime.
We then head towards Rome Fiumicino airport via the Colli Albani where we can have lunch in a memorable restaurant Baffone (Margo dei Funghi) (by invitation), for our return flights BA2541 to London Gatwick at 18.10 or BA0557 to London Heathrow at 18.45.
Price: £1,595(Friends of Artstur £1,450)Single supplement: £100
Price includes 5 nights in 4-star hotel incl. breakfast, 3 dinners, 1 lunch, transport throughout including airport transfers, entrance fees and expert guiding. (THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE FLIGHTS).
Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
(selected dates)
The Sistine ceiling is one of the great masterpieces of the Renaissance.
To view it on one of our private visits, when the museum is closed to the general public, is a unique and inspiring occasion.
