$3,500 (plus air)
Advent in Italy is beautiful.
Churches have their nativities on display. Neighborhoods are all lit up in anticipation for Christmas.
Is this pilgrimage trip for you?
You need to be flexible.
This pilgrimage is not for grumpy people or those unable to be joyfully flexible. Italy is getting back to normal, but the world is still a bit uncertain. While everything is going well so far, we have be able to adjust our plans if needed.
That said, all my pilgrimages since Italy has reopened have been great.
So if you are easy-going and excited to travel, even with some uncertainties mixed in, this could be the trip for you!
If this pilgrimage doesn’t work for you, no worries, I’ve been doing this for nearly 17 years and plan to do many, many more.
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. We don’t not have porters and the two story hotel we use in Rome does not have an elevator. I will provide a thorough packing list to help you pack lightly and efficiently.
Itinerary
We will have four nights in in Rome. We will visit Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Saint John Lateran, Santa Croce, Scala Santa, and some rarely visited churches. We will tour the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, and Ancient Rome, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
We have three nights in Florence. We will visit Michelangelo at the Accademia, watch the sunset from the Ponte Vecchio, and visit some of Italy’s most impressive churches. You’ll have time on your own to explore the city, shop, or visit the Uffizi. We will also do a day trip into the
We have three nights in Assisi. We will visit the tombs of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. We will visit the hermitage and the shrines of San Damiano and the Porziuncola. We will spend an afternoon at a nearby winery and have lunch from their organic farm.
Price
$3,500 per person – ground only.
$1,000 deposit secures your spot.
Final payment of $2,500 is due December 1st, 2021.
The cost is per person, in double occupancy, meaning two people to a room.
Traveling alone?
I match singles with other traveling singles (of the same sex) and that always works out great. If you are uncomfortable sharing a room with a stranger, you can request a single room for an additional $700. Single rooms are limited.
Included in the price
Accommodations for 10 nights
We are staying at Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti in Florence.
We are staying at Hotel Umbra in Assisi.
We are staying at Hotel Bramante in Rome located in the Borgo neighborhood.
Breakfast daily plus 6 additional meals in some of my favorite restaurants, never hotels!
Drinks, including unlimited wine, is included in all our lunches and dinners.
Coffee and pastry breakfast at my favorite cafe, Sant’Eustachio
Traditional aperitivi one evening
Airport transfers
Airport transfers both ways between FCO and our Rome hotel. Send me your flight info and my driver will pick you up. Easy.
All group ground transportation
We’ll be traveling in a private motor coach.
Full time service of a tour director
I’ll be with you at all times.
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.
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.
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! I’ll 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.
Not Included
Your flights
You should arrive in Rome no later than December 7th, we will begin at 3 PM on December 7th.
You should depart no earlier than December 17th, our last group activity will be dinner on the December 17th.
Most airlines are offering free changes should anything happen to the trip. Most airlines are not offering refunds, but rather a credit.
If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, if the situation in Italy changes and we need to cancel or postpone the trip, it’s your responsibility to work with your airline to cancel, reschedule, or request refunds.
Cancellations
I want you to feel comfortable signing up for one of the first post-pandemic pilgrimages to Italy, so I am offering you 100% refunds for any reason you may wish to cancel.
I offered 100% refunds for all my cancelled/postponed pilgrimages for 2020 and 2021, and I’m offering that here as well. It’s the right thing to do.
If for any reason I need to cancel or postpone the trip, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.
If Italy changes their requirements for entry, and you decide that doesn’t work for you, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.
If you need to cancel for any reason up to 30 days before the start of the trip (that’s November 8th), you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.
If you need to cancel for any reason after November 8th, you’ll get everything back minus $500.
Trip insurance is a wise investment in case something comes up while you are in Italy. I can recommend places for that, if you are interested.
Entry & Exit Requirements
Currently Italy allows anyone with a negative COVID test (rapid or PCR) taken within 72 hours before arrival to enter the country. You are responsible for getting tested according to your airline’s instructions. I recommend you make an appointment well in advance.
I will keep you updated on Italy’s requirements to make this as easy as possible for you.
Should anything change, remember, I am allowing you to cancel for any reason with a 100% refund up 30 days before departure.
To go home: The US requires everyone, regardless of vaccination status, returning from Europe to pass a COVID test within 48 hours before departure. You are responsible for getting tested. I will include time for testing and we have a few testing locations near the hotel. The test is around €19 and takes 10 – 20 minutes, no appointment needed.
Green Pass
As of this writing, a Green Pass is required to dine inside restaurants and to visit museums.
For non-Europeans, a Green Pass is simply:
- proof of vaccination (such as a paper CDC card),
- or proof of a negative test (valid for 48 hours),
- or a letter of recovery within the last six months from your doctor.
Admittedly, Italy is currently easier for those vaccinated. But for those who are not, testing is quick and easy in Rome. The cost is about €19 and takes 10 – 20 minutes. No appointments are necessary. Most of our meals are outside – no Green Pass required.
Vaccinations
Since Italy is allowing anyone passing a negative test, know that we could have people who are vaccinated on the trip and some who are not.
Keep in mind that some of the Italians we interact with here will not be vaccinated.
If you are uncomfortable around those who are not vaccinated, or those who are vaccinated, this is not the trip for you.
Masks
As of this writing, masks are only required inside public places, with a few outdoor museums also requiring them. No exceptions are made for vaccinated people. No exceptions are made for those who are unable to wear masks for medical or personal reasons. We are all visitors to a foreign country, so we must be willing to follow their laws.
We will follow the local laws and the request of our bus driver. That means if masks are required while outside and/or on buses, we will comply. But it also means that if masks are not required outside and/or on buses, then it will be up to the individual to wear a mask or not.
If you are uncomfortable around those who do wear masks, or those who do not wear masks when not required by law, this is not the trip for you.
Openings and Closings
Currently, everything in Italy is open, including churches, museums, restaurants, cafes, and bars. But keep in mind that things can change. Again, we need to be flexible. If something unexpectedly closes, we will look for a good alternative.
Sign up
Use the form below to sign up for this pilgrimage. If you have any questions, email me at mtn@thecatholictraveler.com
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. I have a friend who specializes in trip insurance, you can contact him directly, but you are under no obligation to use him and I don’t get any sort of kick backs, so shop around and find what is best for you.
Deposit Info
You’ll be able to pay by credit card or check. Payment info will be emailed to you once you sign up.