St. Richard’s Parish Pilgrimage to Padua. September 2016.
 

On Monday the 12th September 2016 at 4.30am our cheerful group boarded the coach to Manchester Airport for our pilgrimage to Padua. We arrived at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport in bright warm sunshine and a coach met us to transfer us to our Hotel in Padua. We were dropped off right outside the Wonderful Basilica to St. Anthony with a short walk to our Hotel. Next day, a walking tour was arranged for us around the very interesting town with all it’s arcades and market places. Wednesday we set off for our day in Venice, a wonderful experience even though it was so crowded but we still found time to have Mass in the St. Mark’s basilica. The water bus ride was very exciting, seeing how people lived with water for roads. Thursday we set off for Verona where we were met by our guide who took us around all the sights including Romeo and Juliette’s houses with tongue in cheek explanations. Friday, after Mass in the St. Anthony basilica we had a free day to explore Padua which we did and really enjoyed as we found some of the most interesting chapels and churches  including the Cappella degli Scrovegni , with fine paintings and sculptures by renowned artists. Saturday we had Mass in the basilica again then spent the last few hours around Padua before leaving in the afternoon. Another wonderful Pilgrimage concluded when we arrived in Leeds that evening where a coach was waiting to take us home to Skelmersdale.