A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Italy

January 3, 2023 – Tuesday
ORLANDO / ITALY
Today we gather at St. Martin de Porres’ parish to board our motor coach for our drive to the airport. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

January 4, 2023 – Wednesday
ROME / ORVIETO / ASSISI
Upon our arrival in Rome, we meet our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour. From the airport we drive north through the Umbrian Hills to the town of Orvieto for a visit to its impressive Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, where the blood-stained linen corporal of the miracle of Bolsena is enshrined. Following Mass, we will visit the Chapel of San Brizio and admire its beautiful fresco paintings. Later in the afternoon we drive to Assisi, home of Saint Francis, the gentlest of saints, where we check into our hotel, followed by dinner. Overnight in Assisi.

January 5, 2023 – Thursday
ASSISI
This morning we awake in Assisi, where we will enjoy a full day visiting the important sites in the life of Saint Francis. We begin our day with a visit and celebration of Mass in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built to enclose the tiny Church of the Porziuncola, St. Francis’ first retreat and place of prayer, where he consecrated Clare as the Bride of Christ. In the afternoon we visit the Basilica of St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clare nuns, and see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis in San Damiano. We conclude our day of sightseeing with a visit to the Upper and Lower Basilicas of St. Francis, with its wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto. The remainder of our day is free for shopping and personal exploration. Late afternoon we gather for this evening’s dinner before returning to our hotel. Overnight in Assisi.

January 6, 2023 – Friday
ASSISI / SIENA
Following breakfast this morning, we drive to the Tuscany region of Italy and the quiet, medieval town of Siena, the hometown of Saint Catherine. Siena is second only to Florence in its contribution to the Renaissance. In Siena we will visit and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of San Domenico, followed by a visit the Church of the Crucifix to see the Cross from that Saint Catherine received the stigmata. Following free time for lunch in Piazza del Campo, we enjoy a guided tour of the historic center of Siena, including a visit to Siena’s magnificent dark-green and white striped Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mary of the Assumption. Late afternoon we return to Assisi where we gather for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Assisi.

January 7, 2023 – Saturday
ASSISI / CASCIA / ROME
Our day begins with a drive to Cascia, the hometown of Saint Rita, who received a particular kind of stigmata; a small wound that appeared on her forehead, as though a thorn from Christ’s crown of thorns had loosened itself and penetrated her flesh. In Cascia we visit the Sanctuary & Basilica of St. Rita, where we will visit the Chapel with St. Rita’s incorrupt body and the site of the Eucharistic Miracle. Here we will also see the miraculous vine of St. Rita and the crucifix that emanated the stigmata. Following Mass, we drive to Rome for check-in at our hotel. This evening we enjoy dinner near the world-famous Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna. Following dinner, we will experience a panoramic sightseeing tour of “illuminated Rome by night”, including a walk to see the impressive Trevi Fountain. Overnight in Rome.

January 8, 2023 – Sunday
ROME
Today we will enjoy our first full day in Rome, beginning with a drive by a section of the ancient Appian Way, the traditional pilgrims’ route followed by Peter and Paul, en route to the ancient Catacombs of St. Callixtus, where we enjoy a guided tour. We will next visit the first of Rome’s four major basilicas, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, where the Apostle is buried. Following Mass and time to explore the basilica’s beautiful grounds, we enjoy free time for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit another of Rome’s major basilicas; St. John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Sts. Peter and Paul remain under the main altar. Here we will see its impressive statues of each of the Apostles. From here we cross the street to visit the church of the Scala Santa. Here we see the Holy Staircase of 28 marble steps (now covered in wood) which is believed to be a staircase from Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem and brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4th century. Late afternoon we will visit the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, where we will see Caravaggio’s Crucifixion of St. Peter, followed by free time to explore Piazza del Popolo; the “People’s Square”. Following dinner at a local restaurant, we return to our hotel for overnight in Rome.

January 9, 2023 – Monday
ROME
This morning we will visit the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Church of the Holy Cross), which houses pieces of the True Cross. We will next visit beautiful Church of Santa Prassede, which houses a piece of The Column of the Flagellation, where Jesus was scourged before his crucifixion. From here we will make a short walk to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), the most important church in the world devoted to Our Lady and where Mass has been celebrated every day since the 5th century. Following Mass at St. Mary’s and free time for lunch, we will visit the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, which contains a glass reliquary displaying the chains of Saint Peter. The basilica also houses a mosaic of St. Sebastian and Michelangelo’s Moses. Our day concludes with a stop outside the world-famous Colosseum for free time for picture-taking before arriving at Capitoline Hill, where we will enjoy a view of the ancient Roman Forum and also see Constantine’s Arch, the Arch of Titus, the Circus Maximus and ancient Roman Aqueducts. Late afternoon we gather for dinner prior to returning to our hotel. Overnight in Rome.

January 10, 2023 – Tuesday
ROME
This morning we arrive at the Vatican for a celebration of Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Following Mass, we enjoy a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, where we see a young Michelangelo’s wonderful Pieta followed by a visit to the Tombs of the Popes in the Vatican Grottos. Following free time for lunch and shopping near St. Peter’s Square on the Via Ottaviano and Via Cola di Rienzo, we will visit one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. Our tour culminates with Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel, which was recently restored to its original splendor. Later in the afternoon, the Church of Our Lady of Victory, housing Bernini’s glorious statue The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. Following dinner at a local restaurant, we return to our hotel for overnight in Rome.

January 11, 2023 – Wednesday
ROME – Papal Audience
Today we will visit the Vatican and join the weekly Papal Audience with the Holy Father. Following our time with Pope Francis, we have free time for lunch and shopping in the vibrant Piazza Navona, followed by visits to the world-famous Pantheon and the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. The basilica houses the tombs of Saint Catherine of Siena and the great early Renaissance painter Fra Angelico. Our day concludes with a visit and celebration of Mass at the Church of the Gesu’, mother church of the Jesuit Order, which contains the remains of its founder Saint Ignatius of Loyola. This evening we enjoy our “farewell dinner” at Ristorante La Carovana. Overnight in Rome.

January 12, 2023 – Thursday
ROME / ORLANDO
Following breakfast, we transfer to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino for our return flight to the United States. Though our time of pilgrimage in Italy comes to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer to the Lord.