Arrive Rome | St. Paul Outside the Walls | Welcome Mass | Welcome Dinner

Once we have arrived in Rome, our group will pass through customs to be met by our Tour Escort. Departing the airport, we soon arrive at the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Here, we enjoy a tour followed by a special Welcome Mass. Later, we transfer to our hotel where we will check into our rooms and then gather for a Welcome Dinner to celebrate our arrival in Rome.

Overnight: Rome (Dinner*) 

St. John Lateran | Colosseum

We begin our first full day in Italy with a visit to Rome’s oldest public church, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Here, our group will enjoy a tour and celebrate Mass before attending the nearby Holy Stairs to end our morning activities. This afternoon we walk just a short distance up the road to tour two of ancient Rome’s most famous monuments – the Colosseum and Forum.

Overnight: Rome (Breakfast, Dinner)

Vatican Museum | Free Afternoon (option to visit NAC with Father) 

After breakfast, we proceed to the Vatican for a tour of the famous Vatican Museum. The immense collection contained within has been amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries and includes several of the most well-known Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world. To exit the Museum, visitors enter St. Peter’s Basilica and are given the chance to view Michelangelo’s masterpieces, the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgement. Our tour complete, we enjoy the rest of the afternoon to explore the Vatican and central Rome to our own individual tastes. Those who wish may accompany Fr. Barlett on a visit to the nearby Pontifical North American College.  

Overnight: Rome (Breakfast, Dinner)

St. Mary Major | Pantheon | Walking Tour of Renaissance Rome

Our group begins the day with a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one the most important shrines in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here, we enjoy a tour and celebrate Mass before beginning transferring to the nearby Pantheon. The Pantheon is over two thousand years old and was originally built to honor the gods of ancient Rome as well as Rome’s first “emperor” Octavian Augustus. Since the 6th century, however, it has served Rome’s Catholic population as the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs. After our tour, we continue to the Piazza Navona to enjoy free time for lunch before closing the day with a walking tour of some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks including the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. 

Overnight: Rome (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Rome | Arrive Assisi | Santa Maria della Grazie | Basilica of St. Francis

After breakfast and check out procedures are complete, we board our bus and head for Assisi. Upon our arrival, we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels followed by some time for lunch. We then proceed to our hotel located in Assisi proper to check in. In the late afternoon, we will visit the Basilica of St. Francis for a tour with some time added to observe Holy Hour included. Afterwards, we return to our hotel for a group dinner to close the day.

Overnight: Assisi (Breakfast, Dinner)

Basilica of St. Clare | Convent of San Damiano | Free Afternoon

After breakfast, we begin our day with Mass at the Basilica of Santa Chiara followed by a group tour. We then transfer for a tour of the nearby Convent of San Damiano, where St. Francis received his call to rebuild the Church and where St. Clare lived and died. We are then given the balance of the day to explore Assisi to our own individual tastes. 

Overnight: Assisi (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Assisi | Visit Orvieto | Arrive Rome 

After a leisurely breakfast, we depart Assisi and make our way back to Rome. Along the way, we stop in the town of Orvieto where we visit the Gothic Cathedral built to house the holy relics of the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto. It was this miracle that occasioned the proclamation of the Feast of Corpus Christi and inspired St. Thomas Aquinas to write the famous hymn "Tantum Ergo." Here we celebrate Mass. We enjoy lunch in a local restaurant with tasting of the Orvieto and Orvieto Classico wine that this region is famous for. Afterwards, we board our bus and return to our hotel in Rome for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Rome (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

General Audience | St. Peter’s Basilica | Farewell Dinner

Today, we will share in the truly unique experience of attending a Papal Audience. An early morning start ensures the best possible view of the Holy Father as he personally greets and addresses the faithful. In the afternoon, we experience a comprehensive tour of St. Peter’s Basilica before transferring to our hotel. With some time to freshen up, we set out for a local restaurant to celebrate the end of our pilgrimage with a farewell dinner! 

Overnight: Rome (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart for USA

Our hearts and minds fortified by faith and fellowship, we now begin the long journey home.

Overnight: N/A (Breakfast*)