Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Meals will be served on board.

Welcome to Rome, also known as, “The Eternal City.” Upon arrival at Rome airport, you will collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the arrivals hall, where you will be greeted by a tour escort. Make your way to the bus and depart for Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis. Stop to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. This Basilica is made up of two structures, both of which you will visit. The first structure is the “Porziuncola” and the second is the “Capella del Transito” which is the place where St. Francis died. Check in to your hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner and restful overnight.

Tour of the Basilica of St. Francis, where you will see the tomb of St. Francis, and have the opportunity to view a series of frescoes depicting his life, along with a few of the saint’s possessions. Next, you will visit the Santuario Della Spogliazione where Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb is, the first millennial to be declared Blessed. Continue the tour by walking through this picturesque town, where St. Francis and St. Clare both followed God’s call to rebuild his church. Enjoy some free time for additional prayer, shopping, and lunch. Dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast enjoy free day to explore Assisi at leisure or take a train to Florence for self-guided tour. Meet for Evening Vespers. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we leave for Assisi and depart for San Giovanni Rotondo, where St. Pio of Pietrelcina (St. Padre Pio) lived for many decades and where thousands of people have flocked to be closer to this great saint and Our Lord. On arrival visit the Old Church of Our Lady of Grace, and see the confessional from where St. Pio spent an innumerable number of hours listening to confessions. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo. *Candlelight Procession – attend the candlelight procession at the Sanctuary of St. Pio after dinner, at 9:00 pm.

After breakfast participate in Feast activities and visit English office to receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by Padre Pio. Continue to the eternal city of Rome. Afterwards you will board the bus and travel along the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel. Here you will celeate Mass. Continue to Rome. Dinner and overnight. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to walk to St. Peter’s Square for the Rosary (optional).

This morning we attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square or at the Audience Hall. Time for lunch on own. This afternoon, visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome, the Archbasilica of St. John the Lateran, the cathedral church and seat of the Bishop of Rome. Cross the street to the very steps that lead up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem which Jesus climbed on His way to trial during his Passion. Holy Mass will be celebrated by our priest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. Visiting at least one of the four Major Papal Basilicas the Jubilee Indulgence is granted by the Holy Father and there might be an opportunity to see and go through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to the Catacombs of Priscilla to celebrete Mass and enjoy a guided visit. Continue to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. After lunch on own enjoy a guided walking tour of Rome including the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, etc. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Today we tour St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the site where St. Peter the Apostle was martyred. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to view Michelangelo’s Pieta sculpture and pray at the tombs of Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II. Next, you will visit the Vatican Museums, where you can see the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, and Sistine Chapel. Afternoon at leisure for individual visits like Scavi Tour, Colosseum, etc. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Following breakfast group will meet for Mass at St Peter’s (pending confirmation). Following Mass enjoy free day in Rome for personal devotion, prayer and reflection or perhaps some last minute shopping. Later this evening group will meet for farewell dinner at local restaurant in Trastevere. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

After breakfast transfer to Rome airport for your return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.