Shrines of Italy

Your tour opens in Rome, the spiritual center of the Catholic faith. As arrival times will vary, there is no scheduled sightseeing today. Spend the day as you wish, exploring the city independently. This evening, savor regional flavors as you join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. (D) Stay: Cardinal Hotel St. Peter (2 Nights)

Today, venture beyond ancient Rome's city limits for a visit to St. Sebastian Outside the Walls, where you have the possibility of celebrating Mass. Then, follow the steps down to the catacombs underneath the basilica for a touching visit to the tombs of early Christians, martyrs, and saints. Continue to the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, which are said to be the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate. Conclude your day at the Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major, where art and spirituality meet. (B)

Travel north to the region of Umbria, known as “the green heart of Italy” and where St. Francis spent most of his life. Pause for lunch at a family-owned winery nestled in the countryside.

This afternoon, visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, where you explore the Porziuncola - the small chapel that is the founding site of the Franciscan Order. Stroll through the rose garden, where tradition holds that the miracle of the thorny bush took place. Then pause for a moment of reflection at the Chapel of the Transitus, where St. Francis of Assisi passed away. You'll have the opportunity to celebrate Mass at the basilica before checking into your hotel in the early evening. Settle in for a four-night stay before spending an evening at leisure. (B/L) Stay: Hotel Cenacolo, Santa Mario degli Angeli (4 Nights)

This morning, journey across the Apennine Mountains to the Marian shrine of Loreto, a site so sacred that more than fifty Popes have made a pilgrimage here. Pause for a moment of devotion at the statue of the Madonna di Loreto, especially venerated as the universal patroness of air travelers. Then, visit the shrine of the Holy House of Nazareth, which is believed to have been miraculously transported by angels from the Holy Land in 1294. The Holy House is revered as the place where the Virgin Mary was born, lived, and received the Annunciation. You have the opportunity of celebrating Mass at the basilica before returning to Assisi in time for dinner at your hotel. (B/D)

Guided by a local expert, set out on a morning-long walking tour of the medieval hilltop town of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis. Spend time at the church of St. Clare, pausing for a moment of reflection at the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to Francis. Visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation that now enshrines the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint who used his skills in website design to document and share Eucharistic miracles. Then, explore the 13th-century basilica of St. Francis, where you can see many of his possessions and a series of famous frescoes depicting his life. You can celebrate Mass at the basilica before an afternoon at leisure to spend in prayer and meditation or exploring more of this charming hilltop town on your own. (B)

Take a full day at leisure to independently explore historic Assisi. Or, join a full-day optional excursion to Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” A local expert provides a walking tour featuring views of the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo. See the massive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its imposing dome and the gilded “Gates of Paradise,” the bronze doors that adorn the neighboring baptistery. Your walking tour takes you by other famous sights such as the Signoria Square before returning to your hotel in Assisi in the late evening. (B/D)

This morning, say ciao to Assisi and travel to Cascia. Upon arrival, visit the hamlet of Roccaporena, the birthplace of St. Rita. Explore the humble house where the patron saint of impossible causes was born, and the small church of San Montano where she got married. You have the opportunity to celebrate Mass in Roccaporena before continuing your journey to Rome.

Upon arrival, check into your hotel and settle in for a three-night stay before an evening at leisure. (B) Stay: Cardinal Hotel St. Peter (3 Nights)

This morning explore the Vatican Museum, including the Sistine Chapel where the Pope is elected and where Michelangelo's famous Last Judgment mural is located. End your visit in St. Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church. Feel the grace around you as you meander along towering marble columns and stand in awe before the Pietà, Michelangelo's renowned sculpture of the Christ and the Virgin Mary. The afternoon is yours to explore more of the Eternal City. You may celebrate Mass at a local church before an evening at leisure. (B)

Early this morning, attend the weekly Papal Audience in the Vatican City to receive the blessing given by the Holy Father. The afternoon is yours to do as you wish. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, celebrating the end of a memorable pilgrimage to Italy. (B/D)

Your tour comes to a close in Rome. (B)