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

Upon arrival your escort will warmly greet you this morning and welcome you to Italy. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon for rest, relaxation, or exploration. Later in the day group will gather for Mass. Your tour escort can suggest sights or walks for you to enjoy.

Begin the day with breakfast and then proceed to enjoy a day of exploration throughout the city of Turin. Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region and home of the world’s most famous relic: the Shroud of Turin. Housed within the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Shroud is a piece of herringbone twilled linen cloth measuring 14.5 by 3.9 feet. It is believed to be that in which Christ’s body was wrapped after his crucifixion. The cloth still bears the faint imprint of Jesus, and the apparent signs of wound marks that correspond to those Christ sustained during crucifixion. It is expected that the Shroud will be on public display sometime during the 2025 Jubilee Year (pending confirmation). Within the same Cathedral lies the tomb of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. When Bl. Pier Giorgio’s mortal remains were found incorrupt in 1981, they were transferred from the family tomb in Pollone to the Cathedral in Turin. Take time for prayer and reflection, asking for this holy man’s intercession throughout your pilgrimage. After time for lunch, our tour will continue to the Sanctuary of Maria Ausiliatrice, the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians. Originally part of a home for poor boys founded by Saint John Bosco, the Basilica contains St. John Bosco’s remains along with the relics of other saints, including St. Dominic Savio. The Church was built after St. John Bosco had a vision of Our Lady in which she revealed to him the site of the martyrdom of the Turinese Saints Solutor, Adventor, and Octavius and requested that a Church be constructed there. The three martyrs were Roman soldiers who were killed for their faith in the early 4th century. Conclude this memorable day with dinner and a restful overnight at your hotel.

Following a delicious breakfast, we will journey through the beautiful Italian countryside as we make our way to Florence. This city is the land for art lovers and was home to some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance including Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello, and others. We will visit the magnificent Franciscan Church of the Holy Cross or Santa Croce where many nobles are buried including Michelangelo, Galileo,and Machiavelli. Dinner and overnight.

Enjoy breakfast and then depart for the Convent of San Marco, which was the home of the Dominican Friar Girolamo Savonarola. This holy man was a great preacher and reformer during the Renaissance in Florence, who stood against the corruption of his time until his martyrdom in 1498. Bl. Pier Giorgio was so inspired by this man’s heroic life that he chose the name “Girolamo” (Jerome) when he became a lay Dominican in 1922. Bl. Frassati once wrote to a friend, “I am a fervent admirer of this friar (Savonarola), who died as a Saint at the stake.” The Convent of San Marco itself is truly splendid and features the beautiful artwork of Fra Angelico, including his famous fresco of the Annunciation. We will then return to the heart of Florence for a walking tour through Piazza Signorina, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore. This Cathedral is an iconic piece of architecture of the city of Florence. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 13th century. If time permits, we will also visit L’Accademia, the well-known art gallery. At this gallery, you will have the opportunity to view the work of artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Pontormo, and the ever-famous sculpture by Michelangelo: David. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will head to Siena. This medieval city is the birthplace of St. Catherine (Doctor of the Church) and St. Bernardine (known as the “Apostle of Italy”) who worked to revive the Catholic faith in the 15th century. The writings of St. Catherine of Siena greatly inspired Bl. Frassati and influenced his decision to become a Third Order Dominican. We will stroll through the Piazza Del Campo, one of Italy’s finest squares. We will visit the Cathedral (Duomo di Siena) and the Basilica of St. Francis, which contains 223 consecrated hosts that have miraculously remained intact and fresh since 1730. After Siena, we depart for Assisi, hometown of St. Francis and St. Clare, with dinner and overnight at your hotel.

As you visit the birthplace of St. Francis, you will become captivated as the atmosphere has not changed since St. Francis began his ministry, in the early 13th-century. You will start your tour at the St. Francis Basilica, visit his 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. Group will celebrate Mass at St Francis tomb (pending confirmation). Following Mass will be a visit to the Santuario Della Spogliazione where Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb is placed. Carlo is the first millennial to be declared Blessed who loved the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. From there, you will continue with a walking tour through this picturesque town, including the birthplace of St. Francis, and the Bishop’s House. Enjoy some free time on your own – you may take this time for additional prayer or shop in the many gift shops. After lunch, you will board the bus, which will take you outside of the walls of Assisi, to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. This is where St. Francis spent most of his life. This Basilica is made up of two structures, both of which you will visit. The first structure is the “Porziuncola”, which is where St. Francis founded his order of the Friar Minor (Franciscans). The second, is the “Capella del Transito”, which is the place of St. Francis’ death. During your time here, you will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Rose Garden where St. Francis and other friars lived and pray. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

This morning, drive through the beautiful Umbrian mountains to Orvieto. Here we visit one of the most beautiful and most renowned Cathedrals in Italy. Because of its strategic location, it’s Christian history officially started in 1004, but Orvieto was built over preexisting Etruscan era cave tunnels dating back 2,500 years, which some historians believe Christians used to celebrate Mass when Christianity was forbidden. Next, continue to Rome for dinner and overnight. After dinner you have to opportunity to join in a walk to St. Peter’s Square for the Rosary (optional).

We will start with an early morning breakfast and then visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome, and the home to the relics of Peter and Paul, the Basilica of St. John the Lateran. This Basilica is where Pope Francis was installed as Bishop of Rome. Next, you will cross the street to visit the Holy Stairs. These Holy Stairs are the very steps leading up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus stepped on his way to trial during his Passion. The Stairs were brought to Rome by Saint Helena in the fourth century. Ascending these stairs on your knees, in memory of Christ’s agonizing Passion. Conclude the day, with a visit to Santa Croce and Santa Prassede. Dinner and an overnight.

We begin with the Papal Audience and Blessing of Newlyweds in St. Peter’s Square! The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, Pope Francis (pending the papal schedule). After the audience, we will visit St. Philip Neri at Chiesa Nuova, St. Agnes in Piazza Navona and Sant’Agostino where Mass will be celebrated at the tomb of St. Monica. Then we’ll visit the Pantheon, St. Catherine of Siena in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Sts. Ignatius and Francis Xavier in the Gesu Church, Sta. Maria in Via Lata, Casa, Gregorian University, Trevi Fountain, delle Fratte, Spanish Steps, Angelicum University, then proceed to the Church of the Twelve Holy Apostles, which contains the sarcophagus of the Holy Apostles Philip and James. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

This morning, you will enjoy an early breakfast before making your way to the largest Christendom Church, St. Peter’s Basilica. This Basilica was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. It is here that you will view Michelangelo’s Pieta. This stunning marble sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion, death, and removal off the cross before being placed in the tomb. Continue to proceed to the Vatican Museums. At the world-renowned museum, you will see the most impressive of edifices, galleries, and awe-inspiring relics. Additionally, you will observe the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and Michelangelo’s Masterpiece, the restored mural of the Last Judgment. The final stop on your Vatican tour is at the tomb of Saint John Paul II. After Free time for lunch we will continue on your short journey down the Appian Way, the earliest road of Ancient Rome. This road leads to the Domino Quo Vadis Chapel, the Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of Drusus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and the catacombs of St. Callixtus. The day concludes with a visit the Basilica of St. Paul, Outside the Walls, followed by Mass. Originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century, this Basilica is the burial place of Saint Paul the Apostle. Next, make your way to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner. Following dinner, feel free to explore the streets of Rome, or return to the hotel for an overnight.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, transfer to Rome airport for 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.