WAITLIST ONLY – Israel & Rome 2023 | Christian Archaeological Pilgrimage | Pastor Bob Franquiz of Calvary Fellowship

Depart Miami at 8:50PM, you will fly nonstop on Delta partner, Alitalia. 3.5-Hour layover in Rome, then off to Israel!

Arrive Tel Aviv at 8:20PM. Drive along Mount Carmel Ridge and enter into the Galilee. Check into our hotel, the Ramot Resort on the Sea of Galilee.

Later start this morning. Today we drive toward the “Golan Heights”. One of Jesus’ most important moments was at a key site called Caesarea Philippi. This place was a site of great pagan worship, and it is the place where Peter first proclaimed, “You are The Christ!” Next, we have a lovely walk through Tel Dan, located at the base of Mount Hermon and at the headwaters of the Jordan River. In the book of 1 Kings 12, we learn that Jeroboam’s golden calf was kept here along with the stela that identified the King of Judah of the “House of David”. This documentation was an important Biblical find. There is also an incredible gate called the Gate of Abraham, as we walk through the beautiful Tel Dan Nature Reserve. We will have lunch prepared by the Druze people, who also have an interesting history. Drive up a hill to a beautiful viewpoint from Nimrod’s Fortress, while Nimrod did not live there, the fortress is positioned over important Bashan – which is another important geographical location for our study. Then, onward we go for a view of Damascus and a walk around the military site called Mount Bental.  Return to our lovely resort for the night.

Enjoy waking up this morning on the beautiful Sea of Galilee! Have breakfast and join your group for a very important day. Your first stop is Capernaum, known as the “Home of Jesus”, and it is here in the Northern Galilee where Jesus called 5 of his disciples, Matthew, James, John, Andrew, and of course Peter! Archaeologically, you will be able to place the Biblical passages firmly in your mind. Next, we visit the precious Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. We will take a rest with a fish lunch on the Galilee, and then visit the synagogue site of Chorazin and the ancient “Jesus” Boat, which is dated to Christ’s time and is well preserved in a small museum and boutique near the shore. Board our own Sea of Galilee cruise for a precious time of worship. Lastly, we will have a sunset from Mount Arbel – overlooking the various Biblical shores from on high. Dinner again at our resort. 

This morning we pass by Nazareth – Jesus’ boyhood home, and go to the place they call the “Jumping Spot”, it is here on this hill and viewpoint that Jesus disappeared into the Nazareth crowd as they threatened to throw him from the cliff. The viewpoint is quite beautiful and impacting. The Megiddo Plain and Armageddon can also be seen from here. We will stop at Megiddo – one of the key cities fortified or built by King Solomon. Afterward, we visit one of the newest recovered archaeological jewels of the Bible – Shiloh. You will have a tour of the discovery and will receive an explanation of where the Tabernacle sat for 369 years.   Drive through the Judean Hills and into the Judean Desert where we will overnight on the unique Dead Sea. You will have an opportunity to enjoy your hotel’s pools, or just take a float in this amazing natural mineral-rich salt sea. We will be one night at the David Resort hotel.

Enjoy some free time this morning around the resort. Our first stop today will be Masada. Masada sits atop a magnificent plateau where a palace and fortress were built by King Herod the Great for his summer residence. But what took place there has a significant history. We will have time to grab lunch while at Masada. The next stop will be Ein Gedi. We will walk a lovely trail up to a set of waterfalls. The significance of Ein Gedi is that this is one of the sites where David hid from Saul. It is also the location where David showed his faith by only cutting the tassels off King Saul’s robe. Also of material significance is the next site – Qumran. You will learn today how the Qumranites were able to live simply and righteously in the desert, and how they kept the precious Biblical scrolls for history to unfold. Continue our journey to the jewel of Israel. Oh Jerusalem, how much we have loved you! Check into our hotel for the next 5 nights. Your hotel is very unique, in that it is located inside the Old City Walls in the Jewish Quarter. The historic hotel is called the Sephardic House. It has a lovely scriptorium and access to the Cardo and the unique Jewish Quarter district.

Our morning will be spent seeing the most important archaeological proofs in Jerusalem. First, you will be able to see the precious Pool of Siloam. From here you will have the opportunity to walk thru Hezekiah’s Tunnel (if you wish – your feet can get wet and it is dark), and then continue under Jerusalem into the “City of David”. Magnificent teachings and vantage points from under the Old City, and then we are able to walk in the ancient tunnel of the Pilgrims’ Path. Break for lunch at the Christian quarter, with some lively time shopping along the Via Dolorosa and the important aspects of the Old City. Afterward, come out of the mount at the miraculous Pools of Bethesda, exiting with an opportunity to worship at St. Anne’s beautiful church.

arly this morning we drive up the Mount of Olives for a very special viewpoint. Enjoy teaching with wonderful photo opportunities. You will also be able to see Palm Sunday Road below you and be surrounded by the precious Garden of Gethsemane. We then have a short drive to Bethlehem where we will stop for a time of private worship in a set of caves that are very similar to where our Savior was born.  Enjoy lunch overlooking the Shepherd’s Fields at a favorite Bedouin restaurant called the “Tent”. Next, arrive at Jericho – known as the oldest city on earth, and be able to see the layers of history with your own eyes. Ride a camel or have a famous orange drink. We will stop at the Jordan River for an opportunity to be baptized today, or sit and enjoy the beautiful site. The importance of the location is that we will be just a stone’s throw across the river from the place where John would have baptized Jesus. Return to Jerusalem overnight.

After breakfast, we enter the Temple Mount – one of the most Holy Sites of Judaism and Islam. From inside the Temple Mount, you will see the Prophetic Golden or “Mercy” Gate. It is here that Jesus Himself will reenter Jerusalem! Walk to Archaeological Park, which is adjacent to the Southern Steps, located inside the Old City walls of today. Stand on the corner and see where the prophetic Trumpeting Stone was found. Enjoy teaching on the Southern Steps – the very steps that Jesus himself would have put his feet. Return to the hotel to freshen up a bit. We will have a night tour this evening to enjoy the lights of Jerusalem and its political centers. Visit the Knesset, and pass the important squares of history.

Our first stop will be the Israeli Museum. Here you will be able to meander amongst the critical pieces of history within the museum. We will have a teaching together of the replica of the Temple, and then you will have free time to walk through the Shrine of the Book with its famous Isaiah scroll and those Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. Grab a sandwich on your own at one of its restaurants. Next, we visit somber Yad Vashem, the museum of the holocaust. This will be a time of personal reflection with an audio-guided script so that you can go at your own pace. Late this afternoon we end our Jerusalem day at Gordon’s Calvary, or the Place of the Skull. It is here we will share communion and worship at its precious Garden Tomb. Our farewell dinner tonight is at the top of the historic Notre Dame building that overlooks the Old City Walls.

Flight will depart for the USA at 4:30AM, changing in Rome and arriving Miami at 3:50PM.

Our flight will arrive Rome at 7:30AM. You will be met on arrival and taken to the Appian Way where we will stretch our legs on the ancient road of Paul. Next, we visit the somber Catacombs of Domitilla. This labyrinth of underground tombs and churches was the hiding place for the Early Church in the years following the Apostles and Christ’s death. You will have a few moments of worship in a precious underground chapel, and then be able to walk through the layers and layers of burial places. We have made a special request for you to be able to see the oldest painted picture of the Apostles Peter and John in a tomb. At times that section is closed to visitors. Next, you will drive about 20 minutes to an important cathedral called St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. The reason we will visit is that this is the cathedral where we know that the Apostle Paul’s body is buried in a vault that you will be able to visit. You will be able to grab a snack or coffee at the onsite coffee shop since it will be lunchtime. We will drive along the Appian Way where you will be able to see the Christ-era aqueducts along the way. We will enter Rome’s gates via the Appian Way as well. On arrival in Rome, you will check in to your lovely hotel near the magnificent Forum, the Kolbe Hotel. There will be time this afternoon to walk 15 minutes to the Via Del Corso – one of the best shopping streets in all of Rome. Join the group for a pizza tonight at a local restaurant.

This morning you will enter the Forum with Suzanna, your guide. She will take you through history, passing the famous statues and baths. You will have an important appointment today at the prison where Peter and Paul were imprisoned – in a cistern under the forum called the Mamertine. Afterward, you will have a set appointment time to go through the most important monument of Rome – the ancient Coliseum. Continue our day familiarizing yourself with Rome – Trevi Fountain, the Patheon, and the Spanish Steps! Dinner on your own this evening at one of the numerous fabulous Roman restaurants.

Board the bus for a drive across the river to arrive at the courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral. We will enter the church to see the important artwork, including the David of Michaelangelo. You will be provided time to go through the various stations and then we will rejoin and visit the Vatican. The courtyard is immense. From there, we will enter the Vatican Museums. The last artwork to be shown at the museum is the Sistine Chapel. Time for lunch! You will have a precious time at the Piazza de Fiori – the plaza of flowers. Essentially, there is a plethora of great restaurants, cut flower stands, and unique shops in this coveted square. You will reassemble after your break and walk into Trastevere – the ancient Jewish neighborhood of Rome. We have a special appointment this afternoon to visit the home church of the Apostle Paul! The site is called Regola. It is a special opportunity to visit this off-beat site with significant importance to the Early Church and Paul’s books. Dinner on your own again this evening.

Flight departs at 10:50AM, arrive Miami (nonstop) at 3:50PM.