Cathedrals, Churches & Shrines of Italy
Highlights:
Spend time at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, the beloved saint’s hometown.
Two nights in San Giovanni Rotondo. Reflect at the Grotto of Michael the Archangel.
Discover the Cathedral of Salerno and the Abbey of Montecassino.
Explore underground Catacombs of Rome
Attend the weekly Papal audience and receive the blessing given by the Pope*
Vatican Museum St. Peter’s Basilica.
11 day package All Inclusive Double w/ Air $ TBA
Although we’re still finalizing the dates and prices, I am personally very excited about this pilgrimage and if you want to join me for an unforgettable experience, I’d love to keep you in the loop and make sure you’re the first to know once everything is ready. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and express your interest. This tour may have up to 32 people
Day 1 Overnight Flight – Rome
Your journey begins with an overnight flight. Buongiorno (Good Morning)
Get ready for an inspiring journey to some of the world’s most fascinating religious sites and relics in the charming setting of Italy.
Day 2 Rome – Tour Begins
Celebrate Mass before exploring the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and the famous Last Judgment. Finish your visit in St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. Feel the grace around you as you meander along the soaring marble columns and stand in awe before the Pietà, Michelangelo’s famous sculpture. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner to celebrate the end of an unforgettable pilgrimage to Italy.
We land in the afternoon, and if you feel up to it, I will take you for an afternoon stroll around Rome to whet your appetite for this evening’s special Welcome Dinner with our fellow travelers at a popular local restaurant featuring Roman delicacies and wine.
Day 3 Rome – Assisi
Have a hearty breakfast as we travel north through picturesque Umbria to Assisi, where St. Francis spent most of his life and is known for his devotion to a life of poverty. First we visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, built on the site of the founding of the Franciscan Order, where his monks built several small chapels and later a whole cathedral was built around the chapels. There we will hear about the legend of the winter rose bush and see the cave where St. Francis often prayed. Nest we spend time at the church of St. Clare, there we reflect at the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis. Next we join a local expert for a tour of Assisi, highlighting the 13th century Basilica, where you can see many of St. Francis’ possessions and an important series of frescoes. We will then celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. Francis this afternoon. We have free time in Assis, where I can recommend several lunch spots and of course many small shops with Franciscan souvenirs. Tonight we have a dinner planned for you with Tuscan favorites and the famous local wines.
DAY 4 Assisi – Optional Florence Excursion
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore historic Assisi on your own. Or join an optional full day excursion to Florence, the “City of the Renaissance,” where our local expert will provide a walking tour that includes Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio ($99). If you stay in Assis, you may want to visit the Basilica of St. Clare and also visit the Chapel of San Damiano, where St. Clare and the rest of the founding members of the Poor Clares lived and worked. The Cathedral of San Rufino is less well known, but it has been around longer than the others, since the 1100s. Both Clare and Francis are said to have been baptized here.
Day 5 Assisi – Loreto – San Giovanni Rotondo
Today we follow the pilgrimage of more than 200 saints and more than 50 popes as we travel across the Apennines to the Marian Sanctuary of Loreto. In addition to the beautiful city of Modona, there is the Shrine of the Holy House of Nazareth, which preserves the remains of the home where Jesus and Mary lived during their early life and where the young Mary had the Annunciation of her pregnancy. You are welcome to celebrate Mass before continuing your journey to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of Padre Pio.
Day 6 San Giovanni Rotondo – Monte Sant’ Angelo
Today we visit Monte Sant’Angelo and take in the breathtaking views of the Gargano Peninsula. Explore the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, where popes and saints have knelt and prayed for protection. We return to San Giovanni Rotondo and celebrate Mass in the Sanctuary of Padre Pio. We then visit Padre Pio’s tomb and sanctuary, visit the monastery and see the rooms where St. Pio lived his life, including the old church and the crucifix on which he received the stigmata in 1918. There are many stories of grace-filled encounters with Padre Pio and of his holy advice and spiritual guidance. Adjacent to the convent is a second, larger sanctuary designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano. You will marvel as we spend time in this modern new church.
Day 7 Tomb of Matthew the Apostle in Salerno-Campania
Today we journey through the picturesque landscapes of Puglia on our way to Campania and visit the Cathedral of Salerno, which guards the relics of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist. founded in 1081. The crypt was inaugurated and in July 1084 the church was consecrated in person by Pope Gregory VII. You will have the opportunity to celebrate Mass here in Salerno. This afternoon you may choose to relax at our hotel or visit the historic ruins of Pompeii during an optional tour of this vast archaeological site.
Day 8 Abbey of Montecassino – The Catacombs – Rome
Now we travel to Montecassino, the famous abbey founded in 529. Saint Benedict chose this mountain to build a monastery to house him and the monks who followed him, and today it houses the relics of this saint and his sister, Saint Scholastica. You will admire its beautiful architectural splendor and its history, both historical and modern, as Montecassino also became famous during the Second World War when the Abbey was bombed and almost destroyed. You’ll have the opportunity to celebrate Mass here before continuing on to Rome to visit the catacombs where early Christians hid and buried their dead. This evening, let me help you make reservations at one of Rome’s many fantastic restaurants.
Day 9 Rome – Papal Audience – Christian Rome City Tour
Certainly one of the highlights of any trip to Rome is the opportunity to attend the weekly public Papal Audience* on most Wednesdays of each month. We skip the lines and try to get close to the center aisle, as this is where the Pope usually goes after the audience to bless everyone. Next we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Cathedral of Rome: The mosaics found in Santa Maria Maggiore are among the oldest representations of the Virgin Mary in Christian antiquity. Next we visit St. John in Lateran – the former residence of the Popes. Founded in the 300’s in honor of St. John the Baptist, it is considered the mother church of the Roman Catholic faithful. We conclude our day with a visit to the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, brought to Rome from Jerusalem by Saint Helena in the 4th century. These are the steps that Christ climbed on his way to the courtroom when he appeared before Pontius Pilate (or the events known as the Passion of Christ). Many pilgrims honor the Passion of Christ by kneeling on each step that Christ walked and reciting the rosary. Pilgrims climb the well-worn steps on their knees in devotion and penance, meditating on the Passion of Christ as the climbers’ knees find the well-worn grooves. Whether you climb the steps yourself or not, it is a moving experience to witness the pilgrims reaffirming their devotion to Christ.
Day 10 Rome – Vatican Museum – St. Peter’s Basilica
Celebrate Mass before exploring the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and the famous Last Judgment. Finish your visit in St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. Feel the grace around you as you meander along the soaring marble columns and stand in awe before the Pietà, Michelangelo’s famous sculpture. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner to celebrate the end of an unforgettable pilgrimage to Italy.
Day 11 Rome – USA or optional extensions
Perhaps get an early start in Rome, there is a tremendous amount of sites, sounds and foods within the eternal city. Or a post tour 3 Days 2-Night Venice & St. Anthony of Padua Extension $899 pp. where you’ll have the chance to explore the breathtaking Basilica of Saint Anthony. With its iconic domes and rich history, this sprawling Franciscan sanctuary draws millions of pilgrims each year. A boat trip* to Murano Island for a glass-blowing demonstration. St. Mark’s Square to join a local expert for a walking tour. You’ll explore this famous square and the St. Mark’s Basilica, which enshrines the body of Saint Mark the Evangelist. You will have the option of celebrating Mass here. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the canals on your own before returning to your hotel on the mainland. This evening, experience the flavors of the region with a relaxing dinner at your hotel.
It’s fun to travel with a friend and family so send our web-page to other enjoyable people. I will be glad to talk to them personally.
Our tours sell out fast, a small 100% refundable deposit holds your spot.
If you have more questions, please email or call during regular business hours.
email: Chuck@cocositalianmarket.com
