We depart Rome for the amazing medieval town of Orvieto with its Duomo (Cathedral), which has one of the world’s most famous facades. The feast of the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi) was first proclaimed here in 1263 following the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. We celebrate our final Mass in the chapel where the sacred cloth from that event is preserved and where the stained corporal bearing the spots of blood is still on display for our extraordinary viewing. A symbol of the city itself, the Orvieto Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in Italy.  

We continue today through scenic Umbrian countryside to the pilgrimage centre of Assisi, where St Francis tended the poor and sick and founded the Franciscan Order. 

 On arrival, we visit the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels down on the plains where St Francis spent most of his life. Here we will see the Portiuncula (meaning ‘small portion of land’) where St Francis returned for prayer, the thornless rose bush, and the chapel where he died in 1226. In this church, on Palm Sunday 1211, Francis received Clare of Assisi and dedicated her to the Lord. 

Assisi overnight (BD) 

This morning, we depart for the beautiful medieval city of Siena, nestled among the rolling hills of Tuscany. Upon arrival, we begin our day with a visit to the Basilica of St Francis of Siena, a place of deep spiritual significance and quiet reverence. Here we will spend time in prayer and reflection, venerating the Eucharistic Miracle of Siena, one of the Church’s most remarkable and enduring miracles. The atmosphere of the basilica offers a peaceful setting to pause, reflect, and deepen our faith.

Following our time of personal prayer, we will come together to celebrate Holy Mass, allowing us to fully enter into the spiritual heart of the day. 

Afterwards, we transition into discovering Siena’s rich history and artistic heritage with a guided walking tour of the historic centre. As we stroll through narrow cobblestone streets, our guide will bring to life the city’s medieval past, traditions, and culture. We will visit the iconic Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s most beautiful public squares, famous for its unique shell shape and as the setting of the historic Palio horse race. 

Our walk continues to the magnificent Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena), an architectural masterpiece of Italian Gothic design. Here we will admire its striking façade, intricate marble floors, and richly decorated interior, a testament to Siena’s artistic and spiritual legacy. 

Following our guided visit, there will be a short opportunity to enjoy the ambiance of the city before we depart. In the early afternoon, we leave Siena and return to Assisi, carrying with us the spiritual insights and cultural memories of a meaningful day. 

Assisi overnight (BD) 

Our day starts with a guided exploration of the buzzing Basilica of St Francis which occupies the entire western end of the upper town. Construction began in 1228, just two years after the death of Francis and was finally completed in 1250. The Upper Basilica houses the famous fresco cycle of the life of St Francis, historically attributed to Giotto. Wander through the marvels of the Upper Basilica before our tour descends to the crypt of the Lower Basilica where Francis was laid in 1230 and where we will take some time to seek the intercession of this spiritual legend. 

We will walk to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore – Sanctuary of the Spogliazione, where we are blessed with the opportunity to visit and pray at the tomb of St 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.

Onto the Church of San Damiano and the actual chapel where it all began when the voice of Christ spoke to Francis in the year 1205 (some may prefer to approach by foot down the hillside path in the spirit of St Francis). Adjacent to the chapel we find the first monastery of the Order of St Clare where Clare built her community in close friendship with Francis. Here too we remember the Eucharistic Miracle of St Clare, who turned away an army attack on the monastery by holding high the Monstrance after hearing the voice of the Lord say “I will protect you!”.

Our day concludes with a visit to the Hermitage (Eremo delle Carceri), an oasis of peace and tranquility in the woods built on the site of a simple cave where St Francis often withdrew to spend many hours in prayer. The cave and the Chapel of Our Lady are preserved in the Hermitage grounds.  

Assisi overnight (BD) 

After breakfast, we continue our journey through the scenic Umbrian countryside to the remote hilltop village of Cascia, a place of deep devotion and quiet beauty. Cascia is best known as the home of St Rita, the beloved patron saint of impossible and hopeless cases, whose life of faith, suffering, and perseverance continues to inspire pilgrims from around the world. 

Upon arrival, we will visit the magnificent Basilica of St Rita, a place of profound reverence. Here we will have the opportunity to venerate the incorrupt body of St Rita, preserved as a powerful sign of her holiness and God’s grace. Time will be provided for personal prayer and reflection, allowing pilgrims to entrust their own intentions to the intercession of this remarkable saint. 

We then walk through the ancient Monastery of St Rita, gaining insight into her religious life and spiritual journey. During our visit, we will see St Rita’s cell, where she lived in humility and obedience, and the crucifix from which she received the stigmata, marking a pivotal moment in her life of suffering united to Christ. 

Our time in Cascia also includes a visit to the lower chapel, where we will view the exposed Eucharistic Miracle of 1330. Displayed within a special Monstrance, the sacred relic consists of pages bearing bloodstains that remarkably form the perfect outline of Christ’s face, offering a powerful and moving testimony to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

This visit to Cascia provides a deeply spiritual encounter, inviting us to reflect on faith, perseverance, and trust in God even in the most difficult circumstances. 

Cascia overnight (BD) 

After breakfast we depart Cascia and journey south to Lanciano, scene of the Eucharistic miracle in the 8th century where, during Mass and moments after consecration, the Basilian monk (who doubted the real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist) found himself holding a host that had changed to flesh and the wine to blood. To this day the sacred relics have remained incorrupt while recent scientific examinations have confirmed that the “flesh is real flesh, the blood is real blood”. Here we will celebrate a special Mass. 

We will have some free time before we check into our hotel.  

Lanciano overnight (BD)

We leave Lanciano today and continue our pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo where St Padre Pio spent a lifetime of prayer, penance, self-denial. 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 out by coach 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)

Today we depart San Giovanni Rotondo and journey north toward Monte Cassino, one of the most important monastic sites in Christian history. Perched high above the Liri Valley, we arrive at the Abbey of Monte Cassino, founded in 529 AD by St Benedict, the father of Western monasticism and author of the Rule that shaped religious life throughout Europe. 

During our visit, we will explore this remarkable abbey, a place long associated with prayer, learning, and stability. Its history reflects both the endurance and fragility of human achievement: the monastery has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, most notably during the fierce fighting of World War II, when it was almost completely reduced to rubble. Faithfully reconstructed stone by stone, the abbey stands today as a powerful symbol of resilience, renewal, and the triumph of faith over destruction. 

Following our visit to Monte Cassino, we continue our journey onward to Rome, the Eternal City. We arrive in the late afternoon, settling in and preparing for the next chapter of our pilgrimage.

Rome overnight (BD)

After breakfast we make our way to St Peter’s Square and onto the 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 Pieta, the tomb of Pope St John Paul II, the great Confessional and the Crypt containing the tombs of several Popes.

We then visit the Basilica of St Pudenziana, one of the oldest churches in Rome and a Eucharistic Miracle highlight. According to a great number of historians, the Roman Senator Pudente gave hospitality to the Apostle Peter in his home, which stood exactly where the church’s foundation lies. The church is adorned by numerous Roman mosaics from the early Christian era and was constructed in 145 A.D. on the site where there stood the house of Senator Pudente. On the altar steps of the Caetani Chapel, constructed by the Caetani family, to this day there is the imprint and the stain of Blood left by a Host which fell from the hands of a priest while celebrating the Mass. The man was overtaken by doubts about the Real Presence of Jesus in consecrated Host, and immediately after the consecration, he inadvertently let the Host fall to the ground, where the imprinted mark is still visible today. We will celebrate Mass here.

Rome overnight (BD)