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

Welcome to Italy and the beginning of what is to be the most memorable pilgrimage of your life. Upon arriving in Milan or Turin airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival hall, where you will be greeted by your guide and driver, who will transfer you to your hotel. Meet your fellow pilgrims, participate in the celebration of Holy Mass. Conclude with dinner and a restful overnight.

Today we explore the best of what Milan has to offer to a Catholic traveler. We begin at the Portinari Chapel in the Basilicia of Sant’ Eustorgio to visit the tomb of St. Peter Martyr. This great Dominican preacher, who received the habit from St. Dominic himself, labored continuously for the propagation and defense of the faith until he was martyred by heretics in 1252. Our visit continues to the magnificent Duomo Cathedral of Milan. This cathedral is the largest in Italy and is a symbol of faith and art which spans over six centuries. Buried here is St. Charles Borromeo. During the time when the Protestant Refomation was spreading through northern Europe, St. Charles staunchly defended the Catholic faith by eradicating corruption and educating the clergy until his death in 1584. We will visit the Sant’Ambrogio Basilica; one of Milan’s oldest churches. It was built by St. Ambrose, the great confessor and Doctor of the Church, who was appointed as Bishop of Milan from 374-397. St. Ambrose is buried in the Basilica along with Saints Gervase and Protase (early Christian martyrs). Return to Turin for farewell dinner and overnight.

Begin the day with breakfast and then proceed to enjoy a day of exploration throughout the city of Turin, visiting some of the sites most significant in the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio. First, we will visit the parish church – Our Lady of Grace (nicknamed “La Crocetta”) – attended by the Frassati family. The church is located across the street from the home where Pier Giorgio died. Inside, a mosaic on the upper left side of the church features St. John Bosco and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati – both Turin natives who became known for their service to the city’s poor. Downstairs, both a youth area and small chapel are named in his honor. On the front right wall, a bronze relief of Pier Giorgio marks the area where he often sat for Mass when he wasn’t serving on the altar. Next, we will stand in the same spot where Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati took his vows as a Dominican tertiary at the 13th century church San Domenico. From there, we will visit the Basilica of the Consolata – Pier Giorgio’s “headquarters” for his charitable missions. Meet me at six o’clock,” he would say, “under the Consolata clock.” This stunning Baroque basilica is a Marian sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Consolation. Be captivated by the opulent interior, a dazzling display of colored marble, biblical-looking columns, and a dome decorated by Giovanni Battista Crosato. Soon to be canonized Saint Giuseppe Allamano is buried here. After time for lunch, our tour will continue to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist: the resting place of Blessed Frassati and the home of the world’s most famous relic, the Shroud of Turin. 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). Following his beatification in 1990, the incorrupt mortal remains of Pier Giorgio Frassati were transferred from the family crypt in Pollone to their present location in the Cathedral. Here we will participate in the celebration of Holy Mass, & take time for prayer and reflection, asking for this holy man’s intercession throughout our pilgrimage. We will then move on to the Sanctuary of Maria Ausiliatrice, (the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians) completed in 1868. This church was originally part of a home for impoverished boys founded by Saint John Bosco. For this reason the Saint is buried here along with the relics of St. Dominic Savio and other saints. Conclude this memorable day with dinner and a restful overnight at your hotel.

Enjoy breakfast, followed by a scenic drive through the picturesque Italian countryside to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, you will notice immediately that it is the land for art lovers. Some of the most world-renowned artists are from Florence such as Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello, and many others. The tour starts at the Church of the Holy Cross, the Santa Croce, where many nobles are buried, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Continue to walk by Piazza Signorina, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore. This Cathedral is an iconic piece of architecture in the city of Florence. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 13th century. Next, visit to L’Accademia, the wellknown 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.  Visit “Basilica of Santissima Annunziata,” this is the home of the Servites which started with an apparition of Mary: Seven men of Florentine nobility were in the brotherhood of “Laude” to venerate the Holy Virgin Mary. On the Feast of the Assumption, the Blessed Virgin appeared to urge them to make their lives even more holy and perfect so they left the business world and retired to a life of prayer. On Good Friday, in 1239 Holy Mary appeared again and showed them a black cassock that in the future they should wear, with what would motivate them to establish a new religious order. The Order would spread especially the veneration of the Sorrows that the Blessed Virgin bore with the Cross. Thus arose the Servite order, or the Friars of the Hail Mary, who found rapid and wide dissemination. “The Seven Holy Founders” of the Order were canonized. Continue to Rome. Late arrival in Rome, check in to your hotel, dinner and restful overnight.

Your day in Rome will start with a visit of the oldest one of major Basilicas in Rome, the Basilica of St. John the Lateran. This Basilica is where Pope Francis was installed as Bishop of Rome and is home to the relics of Saints Peter and Paul. Next, you will cross the street to visit the Holy Stairs. These Holy Stairs are believed to be 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. Ascend these stairs on your knees, in memory of Christ’s agonizing Passion. Contine to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. We will tour St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the site where St. Peter the Apostle was martyred. Here, you will 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 Museum, where you can see the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, and Sistine Chapel. Proceed to Hotel for check in and dinner. After dinner you have to opportunity to join in a Vigil Mass at St. Peter’s Square (pending confirmation).

Witness history on the momentous day Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is declared a Saint! Known for his joyful spirit, Frassati was called “the Man of the Eight Beatitudes” by Pope John Paul II. He had a great love for the Blessed Mother and the Holy Eucharist. An avid lover of the outdoors, his favorite pastime was mountain climbing. He greatly enjoyed the theater, opera, literature, and the arts. He was pure, happy, and enthusiastic about everything true, good, and beautiful. He was a true model for all Christian young men. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati died of polio, which he contracted from the poor and sick whom he visited in Turin’s slums. He was only 24 years old. Despite his short life, he left a lasting impact by living his faith with passion and serving others with a generous heart. We will make our way today to St. Peters Square to secure our spot for the canonization ceremony. Witness the grandeur, music, and moving speeches as Bl. Frassati is elevated to Sainthood. In the afternoon visit the Basilica of Santa Croce, one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches which is believed to hold relics of the True Cross. We conclude our day with a visit of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. This Church, dedicated to Our Blessed Mother, is the only Basilica that has kept its original structure and is an authentic jewel in the crown of Roman Churches. This Basilica contains a relic from the Manger of the Infant Jesus. Enjoy dinner and a restful overnight.

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

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