pilgrimage
13 days 12 nights Paris - Noyon - Versailles - Rheims - Strasbourg - Basel - Bern - Geneva - Venice
Visit the major holy sites in France Switzerland and Italy that will start in Paris with the final day in Rome.
Day 1
Paris
Arrival in Paris, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Paris.
Day 2
Paris
Guided panoramic tour of the city lights with a walking tour of historic Paris. Visits of Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter. You will hear interesting stories about the Sorbonne and the early Protestant Reformers which taught there and influenced the life of John Calvin who was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. Overnight in Paris.
Day 3
Paris – Noyon (107 km /1h30min) – Versailles (124 km (1h30min) – Paris (24 km /30min)
The day starts with traveling north to Noyon, where John Calvin was born in 1509. Visit to the Museum of Calvin and the reconstructed house where he was born. Much of the city was destroyed during World War I and was rebuild. Return to Paris and visit Versailles palace. Overnight in Paris.
Day 4
Paris – Rheims (144 km/1h30min) - Strasbourg (348 km/3h)
Depart Paris towards Rheims, which is famous for its Champaigne and is known as the “Capital of Champaigne”, visiting one of the Champaigne caves and sampling some of the wines. Depart Rheims towards Strasburg, a short stop in Verdun to see the World War I battlefields and visit a cemetery. Arrival in Strasbourg, away from the modern city sites we will visit the medieval section known as “Petite France”. Overnight in Strasbourg.
Day 5
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is called by Anabaptist “City of Hope” or “Refuge of the Righteous”. This is where John Calvin wrote his books on systematic theology and where Martin Bucer, another Reformation leader from Strasbourg is buried in St. Thomas’s Church, which is a principle Protestant Church since 1549. Tour of the Cathedral of Strasbourg, St. Thomas’s Church, the Statue of the Reformers, the University, the Astronomical clock and the historic “La Petite France” quarter. Tour will be followed by some free time in the Old Towne Square. Overnight in Strasbourg.
Day 6
Strasbourg - Basel (139 km/1h30min) - Bern (98 km /1h) - Geneva (157 km /1h30min)
City tour of Basel and a visit to the Cathedral of Basel. Crossing of the Switzerland border to Bern. Walking tour in the Swiss Capital including a visit to the Bear Pits. Story about how Bern followed Zurich’s lead in breaking away from Catholicism and in cracking down the Anabaptists. Some free time and departure to the city of Calvin. Overnight in Geneva
Day 7
Geneva
Visit to the Reformation Wall, followed by the Reformation Museum. The museum captures the Reformation from its origins to the present day. Guided tour of St. Peter’s, including the croft below the church and a free afternoon. Overnight in Geneva.
Day 8
Geneva – Venice (582 km/6h30min)
The day is spent travelling on land from Geneva to Venice via Milan which is the capital of the region of the Lombardy and of the province of Milan. Milan is one of Europe’s main transportation and industrial hubs, the city is also recognized as a world fashion and design capital, with a major global influence in commerce, industry, music, sport, literature, art, media etc. Overnight in Venice.
Day 9
Venice
The day is started with a city tour visiting the St. Mark’s Square famous for its bell tower and St. Marks’s Basilica, which are probably the most recognizable symbols of the city. Doges Palace, which is a beautiful gothic palace, which was the residence of the Doge Of Venice, then the Bridge of Sighs, a glass blowing factory and much more. Overnight in Venice.
Day 10
Venice - Florence (262 km/3h30min)
Departure direction Florence via Bologna, which is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. Arrival in Florence, walking tour to see the Campanile(bell tower) of Florence, San Giovanni Baptistery which is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, protector of Florence, Duomo Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Mary Nascent, it also is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan followed by Piazza della Signoria, which maintains the reputation of the political hub of the city. Overnight in Florence.
Day 11
Florence - Rome (284 km/3h)
Departure Florence direction Rome with a visit to Orvieto which is a city and commune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff. The site of the city is among the most dramatic in Europe, rising above the almost-vertical faces of tuff cliffs that are completed by defensive walls built of the same stone. Arrival and overnight in Rome.
Day 12
Rome
Visit of the St. Peter’s Basilica, which is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Visit Piazza Venezia, the Forum Of Rome, which is a small open rectangle surrounded by ruins of ancient government buildings, followed by The Colosseum and Circus Maximus, which were the venues where ancient people performed and enjoyed their entertainment. Rest of the day is free for leisure. Overnight in Rome.
Day 13
Rome
Transfer to the airport for final departure.
