In the steps of Charles Borromeo - For group leaders

Introduction

This tour is available for parish groups of between 20-40 participants. Please enquire for futher details.

Basic Itinerary

DAY ONE

London - Malpensa - Stresa

Scheduled flight from Heathrow to Milan. On arrival, transfer (approx. 1 hour) by coach to Stresa, situated on Lake Maggiore, where we check into our lakeside hotel, the Astoria (4 stars). Dinner will be in our hotel on each night of our stay.

DAY TWO

Arona & Lake Maggiore

After breakfast we will drive to the lakeside town of Arona, where St. Charles Borromeo was born and where in the church of San Carlo can be seen reconstruction of the room where St. Charles was born. The town is dominated by the huge statue of the saint, erected by the inhabitants and the fortress owned by the Borromeo family. After a break for lunch there will be the opportunity for a boat trip on the lake to visit one of the Borromean islands (approx. cost £6 per person). Mass will be celebrated during the morning.

DAY THREE

Milan

After an early breakfast, drive to Milan by coach for a tour of the Cathedral and surrounding area. Milan Cathedral is the third largest in the world and one of the most flamboyant in style, where Charles Borromeo is buried in the crypt. Evidence of St. Charles’ dynamic time as Archbishop is noticeable in the Cathedral, in several aspects of its interior design, and near the Cathedral is the Jesuit church of San Fedele that he commissioned in his bid to inspire greater devotion in members of his diocese. Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral.

In the afternoon we travel across the city to the church of St. Ambrose, which was founded by the great saint of the early church, who is also the patron saint of the city. Vestiges of the basilica that Anselm had built remain but most of the present building dates from the 8th Century and is a wonderful example of the Italian Romanesque style. St. Ambrose’s remains are housed in a 9th century golden altar. Return to Stresa by coach in the late afternoon.

DAY FOUR

Lake Orta

Depart by coach mid-morning to the smaller lake Orta. What it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. After a leisurely stroll through the pretty town of Orta San Giulio, there will be time for lunch. In the afternoon we take a very short boat trip to the tiny island of San Giulio to visit the beautiful basilica, that is attached to an enclosed convent. We spend some time on the island before the return trip by boat and coach to Stresa

DAY FIVE

Varallo and the Sacro Monte

After breakfast we will travel to the town of Varallo, where we go up to the sanctuary by cable car. The sanctuary of Varallo is one of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont, which are a form of religious devotion unique to this area of Europe and they consist of life size scenes, depicting events from the Bible of the life of a saint. Varallo was built at the end of the 15th century by a Franciscan friar who had visited the Holy Land and wanted everyone to be able to experience what he had. The Sacri Monti became an expression of Counter-reformation devotion and inspiration for the Catholic communities who lived adjacent to the Protestant regions across the Alps. Charles Borromeo had a great personal devotion for Varallo and came here several times, including a last pilgrimage that he made here just before his death. Mass will be celebrated in the sanctuary. There will be an optional lunch (£12 per person) at the Albergo di Sacro Monte, where Pope John Paul II stayed on his visit to Varallo in 1985, to mark the 400th Anniversary of the death of St. Charles Borromeo. Afterwards there will be some time at leisure in the pretty town of Varallo, before we return to Stresa in mid-afternoon.

DAY SIX

Stresa - London

Morning at leisure in Stresa, before a late morning transfer to Milan for our return flight to London Heathrow.

Six days

Terms of Payment:

THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

Return scheduled flights: Heathrow – Milan Malpensa. U.K. and Italy airport taxes. 5-nights accommodation in shared twin-bedded rooms with private facilities at the four star Hotel Astoria, Stresa (www.hotelstresa.info), or similar. Meal plan: 5 buffet breakfasts and 5 dinners. All touring and transfers by air-conditioned coach as per the itinerary. Guided tours by fully-licensed English-speaking guides as per the itinerary. Entrance fees as per the itinerary. Pax Travel Italian-speaking tour escort to accompany the group. Daily Mass arranged.

EXTRAS:

Travel insurance. Single room supplement for 5 nights (limited availability). Optional lunch at Varallo. Optional boat trip on Lake Maggiore. Lunches, drinks and souvenirs.