Holy Land and Jordan (9 days)

Coach to Madaba and visit to the Church of St. George. The city is famous for the numerous churches with splendid mosaics. One of the most important Byzantine mosaics dates back to the 6th century and is in the Church of St. George: it is a rectangular form of 25 x 5 m. and shows a long itinerary with the main focus on the holy city of Jerusalem in Palestine. It continues with the ascent of Mount Nebo, where biblical tradition indicates the place of Moses’ death. Panoramic view of the Promised Land. Arrival in the evening in Petra.  Hotel check-in and overnight stay.

Transfer to Mount Tabor and visit to the Sanctuary of the Transfiguration. Stop at Cana and renewal of wedding vows. In the afternoon, a visit to the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph. Return to hotel in Nazareth and overnight stay.

Morning departure for Jerash and visit to the city’s Greco-Roman ruins. Jerash is considered one of the most important and best preserved Roman sites in the Near East. Border-crossing and entry into Israel. Onward travel to Lake Tiberias; visits to Tabgha (place of the Primacy of Peter and the multiplication of the loaves) and Capernaum (synagogue and home of Peter). Onward travel to Nazareth. Hotel check-in and overnight stay.

Departure for the Dead Sea, the deepest geological depression on the planet, through the Valley of Jordan. Renewal of baptismal vows at Qasr el Yahud. Transfer to Qumran, where in 1947 the famous manuscripts of the Essene community were found. Arrival in the evening in Bethlehem, the town where Jesus was born. Hotel check-in and overnight stay.

Coach transfer to Jerusalem. Visit to the Mount of Olives: Gethsemane, the Basilica of the Agony, the Dominus Flevit. In the afternoon, Via Crucis through the streets of the old town and entry to the Holy Sepulchre. Return to hotel in Bethlehem and overnight stay.

Visita di Santa Rafqa, del Beato Nemtallah Hardini e del beato Stefano Nehmé. Proseguimento per la visita al Santuario di Nostra Signora di Nourieh, che domina la baia e da cui la vista è incantevole: qui nel IV secolo apparve la Madonna che salvò alcuni naviganti da un naufragio. Salita al moderno Ssantuario di Nostra Signora del Libano dl Harissa, da cui si gode un ampio panorama della città e del golfo.

Coach to Jerusalem and visit to Mount Sion: the Cenaculum, the Church of the Dormition of Mary, the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu. Stop at the Wailing Wall. Return to Bethlehem. In the afternoon, visit to the Basilica of the Nativity and the Field of the Shepherds. Return to hotel in Bethlehem