Great Saints of Italy – Catholic Pilgrimage

Commence our pilgrimage with a spectacular Mass at St Peter’s Basilica before coming to the nearby Vatican Museums. Wander the spectacular chambers leading to the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s masterpieces, including the magnificent fresco of the Last Judgment. Continue through to the awe-inspiring St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world for an informative exploration. Our guided tour will feature among other highlights Michelangelo’s stunning Pietà, the tomb of Pope St John Paul II, the great Confessional and the Crypt containing the tombs of several Popes.

In the afternoon, visit the Basilica of St John Lateran, the first Papal residence, before continuing to the magnificent Basilica of St Mary Major, where we will pause to pray before the tomb of Pope Francis.

Rome overnight (BD)

PAPAL EVENT: We will return to St Peter’s Square this morning for a memorable Angelus with Pope Leo XIV as we join with pilgrims from around the world. (Subject to the Pope’s presence in Rome)

Journey this afternoon out to the majestic Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. Originally consecrated in 324, the saint’s tomb is visible now under the Papal Altar. We will celebrate a wonderful Mass here as a special tribute to the Church’s greatest evangelist.

Continue then to the ancient Catacombs for a memorable guided tour to marvel at these underground burial tunnels for Christians and Hebrews. This evening, we will celebrate our final night in Rome at a local trattoria.

Rome overnight (BD)

Today we bid farewell to the Eternal City as we commence our day’s journey towards the great shrine dedicated to Padre Pio.

We journey south to Cassino where we wind our way up the mountain, enjoying the view of the spectacular Abbey of Montecassino, founded by St Benedict in 529, patron saint of Europe and the founder of western monasticism.

It was here in Montecassino that Benedict wrote his ‘Rule of St Benedict’ (Regula Benedicti) and where he died. The Abbey was carefully rebuilt after the epic battle of 1944 and still dominates the surrounding countryside from its mountaintop setting.

Enjoy a guided visit visiting the museum displaying examples of medieval monastic art while the Basilica is richly decorated with mosaics. We come too as pilgrims to pray before the relics of St Benedict and his sister, St Scholastica.

Continue on to San Giovanni Rotondo where St Padre Pio spent a lifetime of prayer, penance, self-denial and intense pain caused by the five wounds of Our Lord’s passion. His list of supernatural gifts is overwhelming – reading of souls, prophecy, miraculous healings, spiritual direction, etc. while spending extraordinarily long hours in the confessional and often sleeping very little. Throughout his life he received visits from Jesus and Mary and had regular communication with his guardian angel.

San Giovanni Rotondo overnight (BD)

This morning we take a tour of the shrine including: Tomb and cell of St Padre Pio; his Confessional; and the Crucifix from which he received the stigmata. We visit the English-speaking office for an inspirational talk by one of the friars and to view a special rare film showing highlights of St Padre Pio’s daily life in the Monastery.

Travel by coach in the afternoon to Monte Sant’ Angelo to visit the hilltop Sanctuary of St Michael the Archangel and celebrate Mass in the Grotto Cave. The Archangel is said to have made four separate appearances here mostly during the 5th century, making the sanctuary here one of the earliest Christian sites in Europe and visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. St Francis also visited the sanctuary but feeling unworthy to enter the grotto, stopped in prayer at the entrance, kissed a stone and carved on it the sign of the Tau cross.

San Giovanni Rotondo overnight (BD)

Travel north to Lanciano, scene of the Eucharistic miracle in the 8th century. To this day the sacred relics have remained incorrupt. Celebrate a special Mass here. Continue through the Umbrian countryside to Assisi, where St Francis tended the poor and sick and founded the Franciscan Order.

Assisi overnight (BD)

Encounter the tangible spirit of St Francis preserved in this holy town. Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St Francis and pray at the tomb of St Francis.

Visit the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis – a young Catholic from Italy with a passionate devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and an aptitude for computer programming. From the ages of 12 to 14, he designed a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles that have occurred around the world, which he launched in 2005. He died of leukemia a year later at the age of 15, offering his suffering for the pope and for the Church.

Visit the Church of San Damiano and the actual chapel where the voice of Christ spoke to Francis in the year 1205, the first monastery of the Order of St Clare, and the Hermitage, an oasis of peace and tranquility in the woods where St Francis often withdrew to spend many hours in prayer. Also see the Basilica of St Clare where we will proceed to the side chapel to pray before the Holy Crucifix from which God spoke to Francis.

Assisi overnight (BD)

Visit the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels and the Portiuncula, the small chapel that Francis rebuilt after hearing a call from the Lord, before departing Assisi for the lovely medieval city of Siena.

Visit St Dominic’s Basilica for Mass and view the incorrupt head of St Catherine; the Basilica of St Francis where we will view the Eucharistic miracle; and stroll the Piazza del Campo, one of Italy’s finest squares, before journeying north to Florence, the art capital of the world.

Florence overnight (BD)

Begin with Mass at the Church of Santa Croce then visit the Academy of Fine Arts containing many treasures, including Michelangelo’s statue of David. Visit the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, and the celebrated Baptistery. Enjoy free time to rest or shop in the streetside bazaars.

Florence overnight (BD)

We farewell Florence this morning and journey north to Padua, the city of St Anthony, the beloved patron saint of lost articles. Originally from Lisbon, St Anthony became one of the Church’s most powerful preachers, drawing thousands to the faith across Italy.

On arrival, we enjoy a guided tour and Mass at the Basilica of St Anthony, where we visit the Chapel of the Reliquaries and venerate the saint’s tomb. We take time to admire the beauty of this sacred place and reflect on the life and miracles of this great Franciscan saint.

We then continue our walking exploration of Padua with a visit to the Prato della Valle, one of the largest and most beautiful squares in Europe. Nearby stands the majestic Basilica of Santa Giustina, which houses the claimed relics of St Luke the Evangelist—an important site of devotion for pilgrims.

Before departing the city, we visit the renowned Scrovegni Chapel, home to Giotto’s masterful fresco cycle depicting the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. These 14th-century paintings are considered a turning point in Western art, bridging the gap between medieval and Renaissance styles.

Following this inspiring visit, we continue on to the stunning city of Venice, where we settle in for our two-night stay.

Venice overnight (BD)

Venice comprises a dense network of waterways with 117 islands and more than 400 bridges over its 150 canals. Instead of main streets, you’ll find main canals – and instead of cars, you’ll find gondolas!

This morning we begin our discovery of this unique floating city.

Our pilgrimage begins with Mass at St Mark’s Basilica, the opulent cathedral built to house the relics of the Evangelist, brought to Venice from Alexandria. This is followed by a guided walking tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Along the way, admire the grand canals, marble churches, elegant piazzas, and artistic treasures that reveal Venice’s glorious past.

Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the artisan shops, sip coffee in one of the square’s historic cafés, or perhaps take a peaceful gondola ride through the city’s meandering canals.

Venice overnight (BD)

Our pilgrimage today finishes after breakfast.

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