Treasures of Italy – Catholic Pilgrimage

This morning, we visit the impressive St Mary Major Basilica and the Basilica of St John in Lateran, First Papal residence. Adjacent to the Basilica we view the Holy Stairs, brought from Jerusalem to Rome in 326AD by St Helena.

We also 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.

Rome overnight (BD)

We make our way to St Peter’s Square this morning for a memorable General Audience with the Holy Father, as we join with pilgrims from around the world. (Subject to the Pope’s presence in Rome.)

We then proceed onto 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.

After lunch we continue on 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.

Remainder of the day at leisure.

Rome overnight (BD)

Journey this morning 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 along the ancient Appian Way, the oldest road from Roman times to the ancient Catacombs for a memorable guided tour to marvel at these underground burial tunnels for Christians and Hebrews. On the way, drive by Domine Quo Vadis – the chapel that stands at the site where, according to tradition, St Peter met Christ when he fled from Rome to escape martyrdom.

After lunch we travel onto the most visited attraction in Rome – the Colosseum. In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared the Colosseum a sacred site, as it was a place where early Christians had been martyred.

Set out after dinner to view Rome by night as we discover the city’s renowned monuments from inside our comfortable coach. See the Colosseum alight, the Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Piazza Della Republica, St Peter’s Basilica and Capitol Hill. Disembark to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain before strolling to the Piazza Navona to soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

Rome overnight (BD)

Today we depart for San Giovanni Rotondo. Enroute we stop at 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.

Arrive into San Giovanni Rotondo for dinner.

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)

This morning we travel by coach to Lanciano, scene of the Eucharistic miracle in the 8^th 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”. The holy miracle resides in the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic miracle and is exposed daily.

We continue on to the holy town of Loreto. Following the ancient tradition, the sanctuary of Loreto preserves the Nazarene House of the Virgin Mary in which the Holy Spirit made the marvellous announcement of the Incarnation. We are invited here as pilgrims to meditate upon the mystery of the Annunciation of Mary, her astonishment upon hearing the words of the Angel, and her complete adherence to the will of God. Before dinner we will celebrate mass together at the shrine.

Loreto 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.

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

Assisi overnight (BD)

Awake to the sound of chapel bells, cobblestone footsteps and the tangible spirit of St Francis preserved within the medieval walls of this holy town.

Our day begins with Mass and 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.

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)

This morning we continue through some of the town’s highlights including: 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.

We then visit to the Basilica of St Clare where we will proceed to the side chapel and pray before the relocated Holy Crucifix from which God spoke to Francis “Go and repair my Church which as you see is in ruins”. Here too we can also take the stairway down to the crypt where the body of Clare is on display.

An (optional) opportunity also presents itself before dinner to attend Vespers in the Basilica of St Clare and listen to the angelic voices of the Poor Clare nuns.

Assisi overnight (BD)

Departing Assisi,  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 have Mass and 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. On Palm Sunday 1211, Francis received in this church Clare of Assisi and dedicated her to the Lord.

We then travel south on to the amazing medieval town of Orvieto. This is the home of the famous Eucharistic Miracle of 1263 which led to the establishment of the Feast of the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi). Here we will have time for prayer in the presence of the Eucharistic miracle.

Continue onto Rome for our final night of pilgrimage.

Rome Airport vicinity overnight (BD)

Our pilgrimage concludes this morning after breakfast. (B)