Price: $2,800 (plus air)
Included: Accommodations for seven nights, six restaurant meals with unlimited wine, all tips for meals and local guides.
This pilgrimage is land only. You are responsible for booking your own flights. You should arrive in Rome no later than June 27 and plan to depart no earlier than July 4. Often people like to arrive early or stay late to spend more time in Rome or to explore other parts of Italy. I’m available to help with any pre or post trip planning.
Itinerary
June 27
Our hotel is steps away from the Vatican. Nearby are amazing restaurants, great cafes, and excellent gelato shops. We meet this afternoon to explore the heart of historic Rome. We’ll see the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. Along the way we will visit the site of a Marian Apparition, the tombs of Saints Catherine and Monica, and a few other amazing churches. We’ll have Mass at Sant’Andrea della Valle before dinner.
June 28
We’ll spend today in another country. This morning we celebrate Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica. Confession is available in English. You may want to climb the dome, there is a cafe on the roof, and a lovely view of Rome. We will attend the noon Angelus with the Holy Father. Later this afternoon we’ll dig into Ancient Rome with a visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. We’ll have dinner together this evening.
June 29
This morning we’ll drive to the Umbrian hill town of Assisi where we will spend the next three nights. We’ll celebrate Mass at Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Tonight we’ll have a lovely dinner at one of the restaurants that started the Slow Food movement in Italy. We are staying at Hotel Umbra, just off the main piazza.
June 30
We begin today with Mass at the tomb of Saint Francis. After Mass we will meet up with our local guide who will lead us through the basilica of San Francesco. We’ll continue our Assisi tour as we take private minivans to the sanctuaries of Santa Maria degli Angeli, San Damiano, and the Hermitage. You’ll have the afternoon free to pray, explore, relax, and shop before we share a huge Umbrian feast this evening.
July 1
This morning we’ll have Mass in the Basilica of Saint Clare below the San Damiano Cross. We’ll visit the tomb of Saint Clare and the home of Saint Francis. This afternoon we head across the Umbrian Valley to Montefalco where we will tour a winery, sample their wines, and enjoy an excellent lunch at an all organic farm. You’ll have the rest of the day free to relax.
July 2
This morning we head back to Rome. On the way, we’ll stop in Orvieto to celebrate Mass at the stunning Cathedral in the chapel of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. We’ll stop by my favorite Roman church, Saint Paul at Saint Paul Outside the Walls, as we arrive in Rome.You’ll have the evening free to enjoy Rome on your own.
July 3
This morning we’ll explore the relics from the Life of Christ, including part of Christ’s manger, part of the True Cross, the Crown of Thorns, and a piece of the table used at the Last Supper. We’ll be visiting Saint Mary Major, where we’ll celebrate Mass, Saint John Lateran, Scala Santa, and Santa Croce. We’ll have a huge lunch before ending our pilgrimage with an evening visit to the Vatican Museums.
July 4
Our pilgrimage is over after breakfast. It’s a quick and easy transfer to the FCO airport, or Termini train station if you decide to extend your stay.
Price
$2,800 per person
$1,000 deposit secures your spot. Tour deposit is fully refundable for 14 days from the time you make your deposit.
Final payment of $1,800 is due May 10th, 2020. Final payment is nonrefundable.
This cost is for double occupancy. Traveling alone? No problem! You’ll have a chance to ‘meet’ the other solo travelers before the trip and pick a roommate. This usually works out well. If you really prefer to have your own single room, there is a single supplement of $700.
Included in the price
Accommodations for 7 nights
Rome: Hotel Conciliazione
Assisi: Hotel Umbra
Breakfast daily plus 6 additional meals
Drinks, including unlimited wine, is included in all our meals.
All group ground transportation
We’ll be traveling in a private motor coach.
Full time service of a tour director
Visiting new countries can be intimidating! That’s why you will have an experienced Catholic American tour director (me!) with you at all times.
Local guide
We will have local experts with us for some of our tours.
No hidden costs
If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price! You are responsible only for the meals you have on your own, souvenirs you wish to buy, and anything you want to do in your free time. Tips, air taxes, drinks with meals? Already included!
Guaranteed price
Once I receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up!
All tips for group meals, guides, and drivers
Would you believe that many tour companies require you to tip as you go? Not only does that add to the advertised sticker price of a tour, it’s also a huge hassle to you! No need to worry about that here. Tips are already included and we take care of that behind the scenes.
Entry fees and tours
All entry fees and tours to our included group activities.
Social planning
Plan your trip with your traveling companions before you leave! We set up private Facebook groups for each tour to give you a chance to meet before you meet!
You time
We have a lot planned, but time on your own is important. We take our time in churches to give you the opportunity for prayer and reflection. We also include free time for you to explore, shop and relax on your own.
Is this trip for you?
You should be in good physical shape.
We will do a lot of walking, much of it outside, and much of it on uneven ground. We average around 5 miles per day. Please do consider this before signing up.
You need to be able to carry your own luggage.
You are responsible for your luggage and getting it from the plane to the bus and the bus to your hotel rooms. I will provide a thorough packing list to help you pack lightly and efficiently.
You must be flexible.
This is Italy, things may close without notice, a protest could spring up without warning. But, it’s not all negative, great things come up unexpectedly as well. Being flexible is the key for happy travels!
Sign up
Use the form below to sign up for this pilgrimage. If you have any questions, you can email or call 404.330.9913.
Optional Trip Insurance
If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. A Cancel for Any Reason plan will let you, well, cancel for ‘most’ any reason. Most plans should allow for at least a 75% refund should you need to cancel at any time before departure. Please review all your options to be sure the plan you pick is best for you.
Terms and Conditions
What you are getting by signing up, how much walking you will be doing, what happens if something changes in the itinerary, making your final payment, how we can send you home if you misbehave… and more!
Click here to read the Terms and Conditions for this pilgrimage.
Deposit Info
You’ll be able to pay by credit card or check. Payment info will be emailed to you once you sign up.