Concert Venues: St. Francis Basilica

The Diocese of Evansville Choir will sing and celebrate High Mass at St. Francis Basilica on Monday, September 27.

The Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, better known as the St. Francis Basilica, is the mother church of the Roman Order of Friars Minor, or the Franciscan Order. Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis, a Catholic deacon, preacher, and founder of the Franciscan Order. The Catholic Church also recognizes St. Francis as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and one of the two patron saints of Italy along with St. Catherine of Siena. Serving as the final resting place of St. Francis, the Basilica remains one of Italy’s most important destinations of Christian pilgrimage.

Founded in 1228, St. Francis Basilica is built into a hillside and comprises two separate churches known as the upper and lower basilicas and the crypt of the interred saint. The interior of the upper church exemplifies early Gothic architecture, and both churches flaunt intricate frescoes by late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools. Along with the accompanying friary, the basilica is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and valuable landmark in the Assisi community.

Visit Casal Pilozzo

Casal Pilozzo, a property of the Pulcini family located in the village of Monte Porzio Catone, sits atop a marvelous hill just nine and a half miles south of Rome offering beautiful views of the Eternal City.

Considered one of the oldest farms of the Castelli Romani area, the Casale was built on the ruins of an ancient dwelling place thought by many scholars to be the residence of the sister and nephew of Emperor Traiano. Throughout the modern age, it has served as residence to many famous personalities, from the likes of Orson Welles to the families of Filonardi Brandi e Bottai and Tyrone Power.

The subsoil of the Casale features ancient tufa soil grottoes, extending for hundreds of meters, where the wines are stored to mature in natural conditions of stable temperature and humidity. Hidden in the depths of the cellars stands an ancient altar carved in the tufa soil. Some historians believe the cellars to be remnants of a cave-dwelling “protostorico” village.

The Casale stands in the center of the property, surrounded by a magnificent park and 13 hectares of volcanic land now cultivated for vineyards and olive groves. The pride of Casal Pilozzo remains the strictly biological cultivation and selection of wine grapes. Varieties include Malvasia del Lazio, Grechetto Antico, Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlote, and Syrah.

The Vineyards and vinification, olive trees, and oil production are all personally controlled by the Pulcini family. This makes the Casal Pilozzo one of the few truly “family-run” operations, demonstrating in practice the very real possibility for creating high-quality products in coexistence with an environmentally friendly philosophy.

Home away from home: Hotel Casa Domitilla

Hotel Casa Domitilla was founded by the Congregation of the Brothers of Mercy of Mary Help of Trier, and is open to all guests, both pilgrims and those traveling for business or pleasure. Managed with care and style, the hotel specializes in offering hospitality and assistance to guests planning their stay in the Eternal City.
Enjoy the familiar comfort of Hotel Casa Domitilla. Located near the Appian Way, Hotel Casa Domitilla offers double and single rooms with all comforts to guarantee its guests a functional and pleasant stay. Common areas designed with cutting-edge taste and attention to detail, provide an elegant, reserved and relaxed atmosphere.
The rooms are distinguished by their original detail and the ability to offer guests a haven of relaxation and comfort. The ideal location makes it particularly suitable for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday for the whole family.
Guest rooms come equipped with satellite television, wireless internet access, hair dryers, air conditioning, and mini bar. The Hotel Casa Domitilla also offers 24-hour access to their private chapel, as well as a tranquil flower garden.
The hotel’s restaurant offers both international and traditional Italian cuisine.

Home away from home: Starhotel Tuscany

The Starhotel Tuscany is conveniently located in the modern business area in the north of Florence, near the airport and main highway. A free shuttle service connects the hotel to the very popular historical center. This recently renovated four star Florence hotel respects a classic Tuscan style with a modern accent. The rooms are wide and bright, with light toned furnishings evoking the traditional Tuscan home.
Guest rooms offer air conditioning, wireless internet access, cable television, and mini-bar. The hotel also provides adaptor plugs for foreign guests for the duration of their stay.
The Assaggi restaurant, located within the Starhotel, is illuminated by the natural light from five large picture windows overlooking illustrious greenery. Assaggi offers a wide variety of international cuisine, as well as daily local specialties accompanied by famous Tuscan wines.

photos provided by Starhotels

Home away from home: Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese

Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese, an ancient villa dated end '800, is located near the city of Venice in the beautiful countryside. The 4 star hotel was recently restored and offers 95 rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a historical restaurant up to 230 seats. The restaurant has a wide choice of meat and fish with national and typical local products and a card of selected wines. A park surrounds the entire hotel. The guest rooms are all provided with air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, safe, direct telephone line and modem. WI-FI is available throughout the hotel.

The Diocese of Evansville singers perform at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on September 28 at 6:45 PM

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, commonly known as St. Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world" and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom". In Catholic tradition, the basilica is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. Tradition and some historical evidence hold that Saint Peter's tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes have been interred at St Peter's since the Early Christian period. There has been a church on this site since the 4th century. Construction of the present basilica, over the old Constantinian basilica, began on April 18, 1506 and was completed on November 18, 1626. St. Peter's is famous as a place of pilgrimage, for its liturgical functions and for its historical associations. It is associated with the papacy, with the Counter-reformation and with numerous artists, most significantly Michelangelo. As a work of architecture, it is regarded as the greatest building of its age. Contrary to popular misconception, Saint Peter's is not a cathedral, as it is not the seat of a bishop. It is properly termed a papal basilica.

Flight Information - Updated

Dear travelers,
Below you will find the updated flight itinerary from Delta.

Departure from Nashville to Italy

September 21th, 2010
Depart from BNA (Nashville) at 10:45 am and arrive at ATL (Atlanta) at 12:52 am on Delta 1890.
Leave ATL (Atlanta) at 5:00 pm on Delta 180 and arrive next day, September 22nd in VCE (Venice) at 8:50 am.

Return from Italy to Nashville

September 30th, 2010
Depart from FCO (Rome Fiumicino) at 12:30 pm on Delta 241 and arrive same day in ATL (Atlanta) at 5:50 pm.
Leave ATL (Atlanta) on Delta flight 5244 at 8:43 pm and arrive back in BNA (Nashville) at 8:50 pm.