UNDER CONSTRUCTION – THIS TOUR WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

SACRED ITALY
FLORENCE & ASSISI

Hosted by Kathleen McGowan
July 1 to 9, 2020

Our journey takes us to Tuscany where we are based in the legendary, luxurious Antica Torre (Ancient Tower) hotel with its exceptional roof deck (the best views in Florence!) where Maureen stays in The Poet Prince. The associations with the Medici family, the artists they supported and their deep connections to the first century heresies are highlighted as Kathleen spins her storytelling magic and brings them to life. A special day trip to Lucca is a highlight, where we learn about the associations with the first century Order of the Holy Sepulchre, founded by Nicodemus and St Luke to protect the Holy Family. We will view the Volto Santo, “The Holy Face,” the carved, life-sized crucifix which legend says was carved by Nicodemus himself as a true likeness of Jesus.

Then to the mystical hilltop paradise of Assisi, where Kathleen will share the stories of Saints Francis and Clare, and their extraordinary mission in emulation of Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

Your Host on the Journey

Kathleen McGowan is a record-breaking bestselling author whose work has been translated into 50 languages. Her visionary fiction series is based on two decades of research into the contributions of women to history and spirituality, and includes the instant New York Times bestseller, The Expected One, and its bestselling sequels, The Book of Love and The Poet Prince. Kathleen is known internationally for her dynamic television and public appearances.

Your Tour Includes

• 5 nights in Florence at the hotel Antica Torre, the setting for The Poet Prince
• 3 nights accommodations in Assisi
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Daily breakfast
• 5 lunches
• 6 dinners with wine
• Guided sightseeing including entrance fees
• Transportation throughout Italy
• Plus protection by BMSJ’s $1,000,000 per traveler Errors & Omissions coverage

Tour Highlights:

• Accommodations in Florence at the Antica Torre hotel, the setting of The Poet Prince
• A Welcome Prosecco drink on the hotel rooftop terrace as Kathleen tells stories of the Medici
• A sightseeing tour of Florence
• Visit to Lucca a setting in The Book of Love and features a sculpture of Matilda of Canossa
• A stop at the Ponte della Maddalena, the bridge built by Matilda of Canossa in honor of Mary Magdalene,
• Excursion to Arezzo and San Sepulchro  cities with rich Magdalene associations
• Visit to the Uffizi Museum
• Basilica di San Francesco an impressive basilica built over the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi
• Visit to the Convento di San Damiano, a little convent of San Damiano, founded by St. Francis
• Visit the Rocca Maggiore

ITINERARY

1st Day: Wednesday, July 1 – To Florence (D)
Arrival in Florence on your own and proceed to your reserved accommodations at the Hotel Antica Torre to meet Kathleen for your welcome dinner. Overnight in Florence.

2nd  Day: Thursday, July 2 – In Florence (B/L)
After breakfast, it’s a drive up the romantic Viale dei Colli a breathtaking panorama of the city atop Piazzale, a strategic viewpoint that offers open views across the splendid skyline of Florence to the hills beyond. Then it’s a drive back down the hill and into the historic city center for a walking tour to the majestic Duomo built in 1296, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery with its renowned “Gates of Paradise” doors. We continue along the medieval streets to the most striking square in Florence, Piazza della Signoria and an external view of Santa Croce Church, Michelangelo’s final resting place. Then a special visit to the Galleria dell’ Accademia where we will bypass the queues and head straight in to view Michelangelo’s famous David. After lunch, we will go to the Medici Palace before ending the day at the Santa Trinta Church next to our hotel. Dinner on our own to try one of the wonderful small restaurants along the Arno river.

3rd  Day: Friday, July 3 – In Florence – Excursion to Lucca (B/L)
Today we are off to Lucca, one of Tuscany’s most charming cities with its wide ancient city walls that are remarkably still intact and is a living testimony to past times, kingdoms and dominions with its almost perfectly preserved jewel of medieval architecture and buildings. Here we will immerse ourselves in The Book of Love. Highlights will include the Cathedral of San Martino to see the exterior labyrinth and to visit the Volto Santo, believed to have been carved by Nicodemus as one of the few pieces of art created by someone who knew Jesus. It’s now a museum with ruins from the first century. It is a setting in The Book of Love and features a sculpture of Matilda of Canossa Then it’s onto another spectacular church called San Frediano which we will see after lunch at a local restaurant. On the way back to Florence, we will stop right outside of Lucca at the Ponte della Maddalena, the bridge built by Matilda of Canossa in honor of Mary Magdalene, This evening, dinner is on our own in Florence.

4th  Day: Saturday, July 4 – In Florence. Excursion to Arezzo and San Sepulchro (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we will experience two great Tuscan cities. The first is Arezzo whose ancient origins are verified by the stone tools and the so-called Man of the Elm discovered here and found to date back to the Paleolithic era. We will visit the Church of San Francesco is probably the most famous in Arezzo, with the incredible Early Renaissance fresco cycle by Piero della Francesca depicting the Legend of the True Cross. Then on to the Medicean Fortress to visit the Cathedral dedicated to San Donato. Continue back down to the Roman Amphitheater and the Church of San Domenico with the wooden Crucifix by Cimabue. Time for lunch before we depart for San Sepulchro. The origins of Sansepolcro are shrouded in mystery: according to a legend, two pilgrim saints, Arcano and Egidio, on their return from the Holy Land stopped in this valley and, as thanks to a sign from God, they decided to stay and build a small chapel to house the holy relics they’d brought from Jerusalem. Highlights of out visit will be the Sansepolcro Cathedral founded 1000 years ago as a Benedictine abbey along the pilgrimage routes (and the tradition attributes its foundation to the saints pilgrims Egidio and Arcano mentioned above). The earliest information about the church dates to 1012 and it’s where Saint Francis of Assisi preached in that period. Also on our visit will be Eremo di Montecasale (the Hermitage of Montecasale) built in 1192. Donated to St. Francis in 1213, the Hermitage is a place of prime importance for the saint of Assisi and his spirituality to be in the site in which Saint Francis slept, prayed and lived his life in solitude, surrounded by nature, silence and spirituality. Return to Florence for dinner and our overnight.

5th  Day: Sunday, July 5: In Florence (B/D)
After breakfast, we skip the lines and go to the world renowned Uffizi Museum and the Botticelli room. After our visit the balance of the day is free for independent exploration and shopping. Maybe go to the small stores around Via della Spada that lure shoppers away from the luxury labels on Via de’ Tornabuoni. Visit the tiny Antica Officina del Farmacista that is filled with jewel-like bottles of home fragrance scented with tuberose and pomegranate Near the Palazzo Pitti, pause for a glass of Sangiovese at Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina, an elegant little wine bar with a handful of marble-topped tables and tall . Return to the hotel on your own. In the evening, we will have our Farewell to Florence dinner.

6th Day: Monday, July 6:  To Assisi (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we board our coach for a delightful ride through the Italian countryside into magical Umbria, once the Italian capital of Catharism. Soon we are in splendid and mystical hill town of Assisi. The next two days will be spent in Assisi on our Spiritual Retreat as you breathe, eat and sleep in the perfect peace of the land which gave us the saints of love and compassion, Francis and Clare.  Before heading up the hill, we will stop at the grand church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which houses the tiny Portiuncula church built by Francis and visit the chapel marking the site where he passed away.  Kathleen will tell you how the challenges of daily life will be seen differently and how to look inside to the inner garden, to feel and care for the life of your soul, finding the path with the most heart. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

7th  Day: Tuesday, July 7 – In Assisi (B/L/D)
Our morning excursion starts with a visit to Basilica di San Francesco an impressive basilica built over the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century is one of Italy’s – and the world’s – most important pilgrimage destinations. Pope Gregory IX laid the first stone the day after St. Francis was canonized, on July 17, 1228. It is really two churches, the lower one with heavy Late Romanesque vaulting and the upper one with the same floor plan, but soaring vertical Gothic lines. Completed in 1253, it is the oldest Gothic church in Italy. Then to the Convento di San Damiano, a little convent of San Damiano, founded by St. Francis. St. Clare was the first abbess, and died here in 1253; she was canonized two years later. San Damiano is where St. Francis is believed to have received the message from God to “go forth and rebuild my house,” a command he took literally by rebuilding the little church with his own hands. We break for lunch and in the afternoon, we visit the Rocca Maggiore. The old Via Santa Maria delle Rose ascends to the Rocca Maggiore, a picture-perfect castle high above the town. Originally one of several fortresses built along the town walls, it was re-built by Cardinal Albornoz in 1365. Emperor Frederick II sometimes stayed here when he was young. Along with its panoramic views, the walls surround a large green that once held gardens to supply the castle in case of siege. Inside, figures are dressed in costumes showing clothing typical of 14th-century nobility. Later return to our hotel for dinner and our overnight.

8th Day: Wednesday, July 8 – In Assisi (B/D)
A full day for independent exploring and reflection. As the birthplace of St. Francis, and the center of much of his life’s work, it is entwined with the Franciscan order, which he established. His life and work inspired great artists – Giotto, Cimabue, Andrea da Bologna, and Simone Martini among them – and their works in the basilica dedicated to him have told his life story to the faithful for eight centuries. But amid the treasury of art that Assisi holds, don’t overlook its atmospheric medieval streets and the outstanding castle atop this Umbrian hill town. This evening we have our farewell to Italy dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Assisi

9th  Day: Thursday, July 9 – In Assisi. Our tour ends after breakfast (B)
Our tour ends after breakfast as we board our coach to Florence. Arrival will be about 10am, so book your outbound flight after 1pm.

Please Read the Terms and Conditions for this Tour.

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. These discounted prices are noted in red.

Special No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months Plan Now Available!
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PRICING

ALL INCLUSIVE PRICES FOR FLORENCE & ASSISI July 1-9 (LAND ONLY)

Price Per Person
Per Person Double Occupancy: $3,699 by check or money order, $3,899 by credit card
Per Person Single Occupancy:  $4,499 by check or money order, $4,739 by credit card

Special Discounts

ALUMNI DISCOUNT (For Previous Sacred France Passengers)
Per Person Double Occupancy: $3,599 by check or money order, $3,799 by credit card
Per Person Single Occupancy:  $4,399 by check or money order, $4,629 by credit card

FAMILY OR COUPLE DISCOUNT Price Per Family of Two
Note that this refers to a couple or parent and child in twin beds
Per Family Double Occupancy: $7,198 by check or money order, $7,579 by credit card

ALUMNI FAMILY OR COUPLE DISCOUNT Price Per Family of Two
Note that this refers to a couple or parent and child in twin beds
Per Family Double Occupancy: $7,098 by check or money order, $7,469 by credit card

Payment Schedule

FIRST NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENT (Due as soon as possible to ensure a place on the tour)
Per Person Double or Single Occupancy: $1,000 by check or money order, $1,050 by credit card 

FINAL PAYMENT

BALANCE is due in full on or before May 1, 2020 as per your invoice

There is a limited number of rooms and configurations available. If you are willing to share a room, please let us know and we will do our best to match you up with a roommate with advanced introductions.

After you register online you will automatically be re-directed for payment by mail-in check or securely online by credit, debit card or PayPal.

If you have already registered online and require access to the PayPal payment page, click here.

Travel Insurance

As travel professionals, Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends travel insurance. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can arise. A sudden emergency just before or during your trip could spoil your vacation and deplete your resources.

We have recently seen some of our valued travelers lose not only their non-refundable deposits, but also their entire tour payments because they hoped they would not need trip cancellation insurance.

You should protect your trip investment and yourself in regards to health, property and trip payments. That is why we provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

BMSJ will be sending you additional details and a brochure with your confirmation on trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

*No Payments + No Interest if paid in full in 6 months. Click here for details.

Photo credits:

Florence Ponte Veccio © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

Assisi by Roberto Ferrari under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Duomo di sansepolcro by sailko under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

Santa Maria degli Angeli by Radomil under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Assisi street by Dennis Jarvis under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.