John Paul II Tourist & Cultural weeks

Based on official biographies and on the testimonies of his friends, as well as on some of his own writings, an itinerary has been put together that covers places that were part of Wojtyla’s life at the end of the 1940’s (where he lived and studied, the churches he visited, the catacombs and sanctuaries where he prayed) and some of the key places associated with his pontificate (from the great Basilicas of St. Peter’s and St. Mary Major, to places where he escaped to pray alone). Pilgrims will be brought into deeper contact with the spirituality and thought of John Paul II and be enabled to see and benefit from the spiritual and cultural riches of Rome through his eyes.

· An outstanding experience of culture and thought, recognized with an academic diploma by the very Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, where the young Karol Wojtyla obtained his Ph.D.

· A beautiful, deep and full visit to Rome

· Tour of 4 and 7 nights

In Rome with Karol Wojtyla

The city of Rome became the “home” of Karol Wojtyla with his election to the papal throne in October 1978. But before that, this city had already welcomed the Polish priest, first as student, and then as bishop in his missions to the Holy See. Between 1946 and 1948 the young Wojtyla studied at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas, the Angelicum, working on his doctorate and developing a bond with this city that was destined to become ever deeper.

Discovering the places and times of Karol Wojtyla in Rome is fascinating: from the political tensions of the post-war period - that pitted the communist movements against those of Christian inspiration - to relations with the Jewish and other religious communities; from the catacombs, the historical site linked to Christian martyrdom, to the majestic basilicas, symbol of a Christianity able to manifest itself to the world - the city of Rome contributed much to the cultural and spiritual formation of John Paul II.

To celebrate the figure of Pope John Paul, and to throw light on hitherto unexplored dimensions of his life, the Angelicum offers “John Paul II Tourist and Cultural Weeks”, including talks on major themes of his thought and visits to places important to him. These pilgrimages are aimed at those who see in John Paul II not only a great pastor of the Church but also an intellectual capable of facing up to the challenges of politics, science and morals with solid and profound insight.

In the tour programme, talks and lectures, given by specialists in the thought of John Paul II, are combined in interesting ways with visits to the various places associated with the figure of Wojtyla: the routes he took through Rome, the places where he studied, his excursions out of the city, his life in the Vatican in the years of his long pontificate. The pilgrimage, which will be of four or seven days duration, returns several times to the Angelicum, not only for the talks, but also to visit the building itself, including the library and other parts of the building most often visited by Wojtyla, and includes visits to the main monuments of the city and excursions to Umbria and Abruzzo regions.

Please note: two versions of the tour are available, one of 8 days/7 nights, and another one of 5 days/4 nights. You’ll find both the programmes down here. Rates include transportation (according to the programme, please see voice “rate includes”), but a discounted version is available for groups with their own bus.

TOUR OPERATOR, AGENCIES AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SPECIAL RATES AND CONDITIONS tour@semesterkw.org  tel (+39)3939426561

fax (+39)069597399

8 days/7 nights Programme

1st day - Thursday

Arrival in Rome by autonomous means, check-in at hotel. Afternoon at disposal.

Optional excursion “Rome by night”. Overnight stay.

2nd day - Friday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 09:30 am Meeting at the Angelicum (Largo Angelicum, 1 - tel. + 39 06 67021): presentation of the pilgrimage, tour of the university and of the library, welcome drink.

h. 11:00 am Presentation of the thesis of Karol Wojtyla, submitted in 1948; first lecture, on “The Political Vocation and the Common Good in John Paul II”.

h. 01:30 pm Dinner in a restaurant close by the Angelicum.

h. 03:00 pm Walking city tour, starting by the Angelicum: Coliseum, Roman Forum, Capitol, the Polish Church of St. Stanislaw, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps (approx. 3 hours).

Afternoon at disposal.

3rd day - Saturday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 9:00 am Guided excursion to the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, St. Peter Basilica. Holy Mass in St. Peter Basilica.

h. 01:30 pm Dinner in a restaurant close by St. Peter.

h. 03:00 pm Back to the Angelicum. Second lecture, on “The historical situation when Wojtyla was a student in Rome, including other relevant and interesting aspects of his Roman periods” (in cooperation with The Centre for the Study of John Paul II).

h. 04:30 pm Guided excursion “The daily route taken by the young Wojtyla”: the Angelicum and the Church of Sts. Dominic and Sixtus, the Quirinal Palace and the Montecavallo square, the Belgian College (situated in via del Quirinale nr. 26, at that time) , the Jesuit Church of St. Andrews at the Quirinal, where each morning the young Wojtyla stopped to pray, the Church of St. Charles at the Four Fountains, the Basilica of St. Mary Major (approx. 2,30 hours).

Afternoon at disposal.

4th day - Sunday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 9:00 am Departure from the meeting point, to visit the underground of St. Peter Basilica, and the tomb of John Paul II. Holy Mass inside the Basilica of St. Peter. Angelus with His Holiness Benedict XVI.

h. 12:45 pm Dinner in a restaurant close by St. Peter.

h. 02:15 pm Visit to the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, and to the Christian Catacombs, that Wojtyla considered one of the foundational places of Christianity, and where he often went as a student.

h. 06:00 pm Back to the Angelicum. Third lecture on “John Paul II, Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue”. Ceremony of diplomas, and taking leave of participants who won’t follow the second part of the week.

Afternoon at disposal.

5th day - Monday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 9:00 am “John Paul II and the Mountain” excursion. Visit to relevant and beautiful monuments and historical views of the region where he went to pray alone when he was Pope. Dinner in a typical Abruzzese restaurant. Back to Rome at early night.

Afternoon at disposal.

6th day  - Tuesday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 9:00 am “Assisi: sites associated with St Francis and with the Universal Prayer for Peace” excursion, by following John Paul II’s steps, who visited several times the “seraphic city”. Dinner in a typical Umbrian restaurant. Back to Rome at early night.

Afternoon at disposal.

7th day - Wednesday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 9:00 am Meeting at the Vatican, for the Papal Audience.

h. 12:30 pm Excursion to the “Castelli Romani”: Frascati, Grottaferrata and visit to the Abbey of St. Nilus; Marino and Castelgandolfo, summer residence of the Pope, with its beautiful view over the lake.

Dinner with degustation of typical local food and wines.

Back to the Angelicum, Rome, at early night. Ceremony of diplomas, and taking leave of participants.

8th day - Thursday

Breakfast at the hotel, and individual leave by autonomous means to go back home.

End of services

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM JANUARY 7TH 2010 TO MARCH 11TH 2010

7 nights

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 843,00

€ 783,00

€ 731,00

€ 695,00

€ 682,00

€ 659,00

€ 641,00

Single room

€ 1039,00

€ 979,00

€ 927,00

€ 890,00

€ 878,00

€ 855,00

€ 837,00

Triple room

€ 794,00

€ 734,00

€ 682,00

€ 645,00

€ 633,00

€ 610,00

€ 592,00

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM MARCH 11TH 2010 TO JULY 01ST 2010

7 notti

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 1284,00

€ 1224,00

€ 1172,00

€ 1135,00

€ 1123,00

€ 1100,00

€ 1082,00

Single room

€ 1592,00

€ 1532,00

€ 1480,00

€ 1444,00

€ 1431,00

€ 1409,00

€ 1390,00

Triple room

€ 1235,00

€ 1168,00

€ 1123,00

€ 1086,00

€ 1074,00

€ 1051,00

€ 1033,00

Rate includes: Overnight stay in a 3 star or 3 star superior hotel with private bathroom and air conditioning; Welcome drink; Breakfast; Half board: touristic lunch inclusive of beverage (1/4 liter of wine + 1/2 liter of water); Conferences at the Angelicum, inclusive of simultaneous language translation, if needed; Liturgies, according to the programme; Papal Audience (for free); information and academic notes; A recognized diploma of participation; Assistance during the tour, by our tour-leader; Excursion with official guides, according to the programme, and simultaneous language translation if needed; Radio whispers into the Basilica of Assisi; Reservation of entry to Vatican Museums; Transportation, according to the programme, with de luxe coaches (Gran Turismo); Bus entry authorizations, highway fares, parking; V.A.T. (10%).

Rate doesn’t include: Entry tickets to museums and monuments; Arrival, departure and to programme’s meeting points transfers; Porterage; Tips; All extras; Incidental taxes of staying (not expected at the moment); Everything not expressly quoted after the voice “Rate includes”.

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM JANUARY 7TH 2010 TO MARCH 11TH 2010

GROUPS WITH THEIR OWN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

7 nights

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 692,00

€ 657,00

€ 627,00

€ 605,00

€ 590,00

€ 577,00

€ 567,00

Single room

€ 888,00

€ 853,00

€ 823,00

€ 801,00

€ 786,00

€ 773,00

€ 763,00

Triple room

€ 643,00

€ 608,00

€ 578,00

€ 556,00

€ 548,00

€528,00

€ 518,00

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM MARCH 11TH 2010 TO JULY 01ST 2010

GROUPS WITH THEIR OWN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

7 nights

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 1.133,00

€ 1.098,00

€ 1.068,00

€ 1.046,00

€ 1.031,00

€ 1.018,00

€ 1.008,00

Single room

€ 1.427,00

€ 1.427,00

€ 1.362,00

€ 1.340,00

€ 1.325,00

€ 1.312,00

€ 1.302,00

Triple room

€ 1.084,00

€ 1.049,00

€1.019,00

€ 997,00

€ 982,00

€ 969,00

€ 959,00

Rate includes: Overnight stay in a 3 star or 3 star superior hotel with private bathroom and air conditioning; Welcome drink; Breakfast; Half board: touristic lunch inclusive of beverage (1/4 liter of wine + 1/2 liter of water); Conferences at the Angelicum, inclusive of simultaneous language translation, if needed; Liturgies, according to the programme; Papal Audience (for free); information and academic notes; A recognized diploma of participation; Assistance during the tour, by our tour-leader; Excursion with official guides, according to the programme, and simultaneous language translation if needed; Radio whispers into the Basilica of Assisi; Reservation of entry to Vatican Museums; V.A.T. (10%).

Rate doesn’t include: Transportation; Bus entry authorizations, highway fares, parking; Entry tickets to museums and monuments; Arrival, departure and to programme’s meeting points transfers; Porterage; Tips; All extras; Incidental taxes of staying (not expected at the moment); Everything not expressly quoted after the voice “Rate includes”.

5 days/4 nights Programme

1st day - Thursday

Arrival in Rome by autonomous means, check-in at hotel. Afternoon at disposal.

Optional excursion “Rome by night”. Overnight stay.

2nd day - Friday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 09:30 am Meeting at the Angelicum (Largo Angelicum, 1 - tel. + 39 06 67021): presentation of the pilgrimage, tour of the university and of the library, welcome drink.

h. 11:00 am Presentation of the thesis of Karol Wojtyla, submitted in 1948; first lecture, on “The Political Vocation and the Common Good in John Paul II”.

h. 01:30 pm Dinner in a restaurant close by the Angelicum.

h. 03:00 pm Walking city tour, starting by the Angelicum: Coliseum, Roman Forum, Capitol, the Polish Church of St. Stanislaw, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps (approx. 3 hours).

Afternoon at disposal.

3rd day - Saturday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 9:00 am Guided excursion to the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, St. Peter Basilica. Holy Mass in St. Peter Basilica.

h. 01:30 pm Dinner in a restaurant close by St. Peter.

h. 03:00 pm Back to the Angelicum. Second lecture, on “The historical situation when Wojtyla was a student in Rome, including other relevant and interesting aspects of his Roman periods” (in cooperation with The Centre for the Study of John Paul II).

h. 04:30 pm Guided excursion “The daily route taken by the young Wojtyla”: the Angelicum and the Church of Sts. Dominic and Sixtus, the Quirinal Palace and the Montecavallo square, the Belgian College (situated in via del Quirinale nr. 26, at that time) , the Jesuit Church of St. Andrews at the Quirinal, where each morning the young Wojtyla stopped to pray, the Church of St. Charles at the Four Fountains, the Basilica of St. Mary Major (approx. 2,30 hours).

Afternoon at disposal.

4th day - Sunday

Breakfast at the hotel.

h. 9:00 am Departure from the meeting point, to visit the underground of St. Peter Basilica, and the tomb of John Paul II. Holy Mass inside the Basilica of St. Peter. Angelus with His Holiness Benedict XVI.

h. 12:45 pm Dinner in a restaurant close by St. Peter.

h. 02:15 pm Visit to the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, and to the Christian Catacombs, that Wojtyla considered one of the foundational places of Christianity, and where he often went as a student.

h. 06:00 pm Back to the Angelicum. Third lecture on “John Paul II, Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue”. Ceremony of diplomas, and taking leave of participants.

Afternoon at disposal.

5th day - Monday

Breakfast at the hotel and individual leave by autonomous means to go back home.

End of Services

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM JANUARY 7TH 2010 TO MARCH 8TH 2010

4 nights

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 430,00

€ 403,00

€ 380,00

€ 363,00

€ 350,00

€ 340,00

€ 332,00

Single room

€ 545,00

€ 515,00

€ 492,00

€ 475,00

€ 462,00

€ 452,00

€ 445,00

Triple room

€ 405,00

€ 375,00

€ 352,00

€ 335,00

€ 322,00

€ 312,00

€ 304,00

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM MARCH 11TH 2010 TO JUNE 28TH 2010

4 nights

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 683,00

€ 655,00

€  632,00

€ 615,00

€ 602,00

€ 592,00

€ 584,00

Single room

€ 851,00

€ 823,00

€  800,00

€ 727,00

€ 714,00

€ 760,00

€ 696,00

Triple room

€ 655,00

€ 627,00

€  604,00

€ 573,00

€ 574,00

€ 564,00

€ 556,00

Rate includes: Overnight stay in a 3 star or 3 star superior hotel with private bathroom and air conditioning; Welcome drink; Breakfast; Half board: touristic lunch inclusive of beverage (1/4 liter of wine + 1/2 liter of water); Conferences at the Angelicum, inclusive of simultaneous language translation, if needed; Liturgies, according to the programme; Papal Audience (for free); information and academic notes; A recognized diploma of participation; Assistance during the tour, by our tour-leader; Excursion with official guides, according to the programme, and simultaneous language translation if needed; Radio whispers into the Basilica of Assisi; Reservation of entry to Vatican Museums; Transportation, according to the programme, with de luxe coaches (Gran Turismo); Bus entry authorizations, highway fares, parking; V.A.T. (10%).

Rate doesn’t include: Entry tickets to museums and monuments; Arrival, departure and to programme’s meeting points transfers; Porterage; Tips; All extras; Incidental taxes of staying (not expected at the moment); Everything not expressly quoted after the voice “Rate includes”.

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM JANUARY 7TH 2010 TO MARCH 8TH 2010

GROUPS WITH THEIR OWN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

4 nights

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 414,00

€ 390,00

€ 368,00

€ 353,00

€ 341,00

€ 332,00

€ 325,00

Single room

€ 529,00

€ 502,00

€ 481,00

€ 465,00

€ 453,00

€ 444,00

€ 438,00

Triple room

€ 389,00

€ 362,00

€ 341,00

€ 325,00

€ 313,00

€ 304,00

€ 297,00

INDIVIDUAL RATE FROM MARCH 11TH 2010 TO JUNE 28TH 2010

GROUPS WITH THEIR OWN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

4 nights

Min. 20

participants

Min. 25

participants

Min. 30

participants

Min. 35

participants

Min. 40

participants

Min. 45

participants

Min. 50

participants

Double room

€ 667,00

€ 642,00

€  621,00

€ 605,00

€ 593,00

€ 584,00

€ 576,00

Single room

€ 835,00

€ 810,00

€  789,00

€ 717,00

€ 705,00

€ 752,00

€ 691,00

Triple room

€ 639,00

€ 614,00

€  593,00

€ 563,00

€ 565,00

€ 556,00

€ 548,00

Rate includes: Overnight stay in a 3 star or 3 star superior hotel with private bathroom and air conditioning; Welcome drink; Breakfast; Half board: touristic lunch inclusive of beverage (1/4 liter of wine + 1/2 liter of water); Conferences at the Angelicum, inclusive of simultaneous language translation, if needed; Liturgies, according to the programme; Papal Audience (for free); information and academic notes; A recognized diploma of participation; Assistance during the tour, by our tour-leader; Excursion with official guides, according to the programme, and simultaneous language translation if needed; Radio whispers into the Basilica of Assisi; Reservation of entry to Vatican Museums; V.A.T. (10%).

Rate doesn’t include: Transportation; Bus entry authorizations, highway fares, parking; Entry tickets to museums and monuments; Arrival, departure and to programme’s meeting points transfers; Porterage; Tips; All extras; Incidental taxes of staying (not expected at the moment); Everything not expressly quoted after the voice “Rate includes”.

01 - How to book

By fax to the number (+39)069597399 or by e-mail to tour@semesterkw.org. Reservation is confirmed after our written confirmation only.
02 - Payment

A deposit will be paid immediately after a reservation. If deposit will be not paid before the deadline term as indicated in our reconfirmation, we can cancel the booking.
03 - Participants for free

One person free of charge every 25 paying persons.
04 - Reductions

Children 0/3 years old free of charge in parents’ room.

Children 4/12 years old in parents’ room, 10% off of individual rate (on a double room basis).
05 - Additional charges

Rates may change during Holidays, Events, Fares, Special Days. Exact quotations on request.
06 - Caution money

Some hotels may require some caution money at check-in, to guarantee incidental damages (including material damages, anticipated departure of clients, etc.). Such a caution money will be given back at check-out if no problem has occurred.

OUR ORGANIZATION CANNOT BE CLAIMED FOR PARTICIPATING OR BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES.

07 - Documents

Clients must control and verify their own Identity and Travel documents validity (Passport, Visa, Identity Card, etc.). Documents are needed  for registering at the hotels, and, id conditions occur, for entering Museums and Monuments with a reduction. Clients needing to apply for visa, can ask our organization to provide assistance (service for free).
08 - Insurance

Travelers can apply to a travel insurance, covering personal assistance, medical cares, luggage. Prices and information on request.

GENERAL CONDITIONS


01 - Enforceble laws / Liability

Travel contracts are enforced by Italian Law Nr. 1084 dated back to December 27th 1977, as instantiation of the International Travel Contract Convention (CCV), signed in Bruxelles on April 23rd 1970; and by the Italian Code of Consumer, approved with the Legislative Act Nr. 206 dated back to September 06th 2005. The laws quoted upon rule our liability as Travel organizers for travelers and their properties; terms and limits indicated by those laws about our liability, cannot be exceeded anyway.
02 - Reservations and payments

Reservations are accepted until places are available. They are confirmed if after our confirmation a deposit payment will follow immediately. Terms of payment will be indicated in our confirmation letter. No payment of requested sum before deadline, is risolutive condition for intermediate Agency and/or organizator to cancel the booking.
03 - Receding / Interruption of staying

In case of receding from travel contract, we will apply the following penalties, plus burden and expenses due for cancelling services:

  • 30% of total amount, if receding is communicated to the organizing agency until 45 days before use of booked services.
  • 50% of total amount, if receding is communicated to the organizing agency until 20 days before use of booked services.
  • After that term, in case of “no show”, or in case of anticipated departure, penalty is 100% of total amount.
  • Booking deposit will be not refunded anyway.

04 - Claims

Fails during contract execution must be claimed by traveler without delay, so that our organization or a local representative can immediately take care and solve them. In case of written claim, it must be sent by registered letter with confirmation postcard (”raccomandata a.r.”), within 10 working days since traveler gets back home. No claim will be accepted later than that time, nor if sent in another form than that indicated here.
05 - Travelers’ duties

Participants must be provided with a valid Identification document to be registered in hotel, and, if needed, to enter, stay and travel in Italy (staying and transit visa, medical insurance, and so on). They must conform to normal caution and care standards, to indications of our organization, to rules and administrative and civil laws related with the travel. Participants will be held responsible for all incidental damages caused to the organization by their own not fulfilling. Traveler must pass on to the organization every document, information and data that can help organization to apply for his right of subrogation established by law with regard to a third responsible of damage. Traveler is responsible with regard to the organization, for jeopardizing the right of subrogation. Consumer will communicate to the organization, in writing, while booking, incidental specific personal requests that can be part of a special accordance about travel conditions, if possible. Consumer must also communicate in writing, at least 7 days before travel begins, food intolerances and/or heavy allergies, and the need for handicapped-accessible structures.

06 - Selling of single services

Contracts about selling single services (such as lodging, transportation, etc.) and not touristic packages, are ruled by CCV art. 1, n.3 and n.6; art. from 17 to 23; art. from 24 to 31, with exclusion of what deals with a travel organization contract. General conditions upon rule anyway, without determining any kind of touristic package.
07 - Luggage

Agency and or Organization cannot be held responsible for incidental loss or damage of luggage. Luggages’ travel risks  belong to traveler.
08 - Rates

All rates are inclusive of V.A.T. and service percentage. In case of V.A.T. augmentation, rates must be proportionate. Rates doesn’t include extras, tips, entries.
09 - Court of justice

In case of dispute or legal controversy, the court of justice of Rome, Italy, will be competent exclusively and compulsory.
10 - Information according to Italian Law 196/03, art. 13

According to the Italian Law about Privacy, our organization answers for maximum privacy of provided data. Handling of data in accordance with art. 11 of D.Lgs. 196/03.
11 - Deferment

Everything not expressly considered in this General Conditions document, is ruled by Laws quoted in point 1.

TOUR OPERATOR, AGENCIES AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SPECIAL RATES AND CONDITIONS tour@semesterkw.org  tel (+39)3939426561  fax (+39)069597399