Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

You will arrive at the Rome airport and meet your driver in the Arrivals’ Hall, from which you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. After Mass, enjoy a social with drinks where you can meet your fellow pilgrims. Then, enjoy a welcome dinner before overnight in your hotel.

We begin with the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square! The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, The Pope (pending the papal schedule). Following the Audience, we will visit the Trevi Fountain, where you may enjoy some free time on your own for lunch. This afternoon, visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome, and the home to the relics of Peter and Paul, the Basilica of St. John the Lateran. This Basilica is where The Pope was installed as Bishop of Rome. Next, you will cross the street to visit the Holy Stairs. These Holy Stairs are the very steps leading up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus stepped on his way to trial during his Passion. The Stairs were brought to Rome by Saint Helena in the fourth century. Ascending these stairs on your knees, in memory of Christ’s agonizing Passion. We conclude our day, with a Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Church dedicated to Our Blessed Mother, St. Mary Major reigns as the only Basilica that has kept its original structure and is an authentic jewel in the crown of Roman Churches. This Basilica contains a relic from the Manger of the Infant Jesus. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will depart for Alatri to visit the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1228. After lunch, we will travel to Veroli and visit St. Erasmus Church, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1570, and the Gothic Abbey of Casamari. We will return to Rome for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will depart for Scala to visit the Duomo and the Monastery of the Most Holy Redeemer, where a Eucharistic Miracle occurred in 1732. After lunch, we will travel to Caba dei Tirreni and visit the summit of Monte Castello, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1656. Afterward, we will depart for Salerno and check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will travel to San Giovanni Rotondo. Today we will get to know St. Pio of Pietrelcina (1916-1968) who lived here for fifty years. Padre Pio is known for extraordinary gifts, such as bilocation, reading souls, and the stigmata. The visit will include the ancient friary and church, as well as the modern church where Padre Pio’s tomb is. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

After breakfast, our stop will be Lanciano for private Mass at the Church of St. Longinus- the site of a Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. At the time of the miracle, there was a Basilian monk, who struggled with the belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. During the time of Mass, the monk, with doubt in his voice, said the words of consecration and the bread and wine transformed into physical flesh and blood. We will continue on to Assisi where we will tour the Basilica of St. Francis, where you will see the tomb of St. Francis, and have the opportunity to view a series of frescoes depicting his life, along with a few of the saint’s possessions. Next you will visit the Santuario Della Spogliazione where Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb is, the first millennial to be declared Blessed. Finally, we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast visit Orvieto, where a Eucharistic Miracle is preserved in the Cathedral of Orvieto. In 1263, a Priest stopped to celebrate Mass at Saint Christina’s Church in Bolsena. Having doubts that the Eucharist was really the Body and Blood of Christ, the Priest was shocked when the host began to bleed right after the prayer of consecration. Unable to hide this fact, he interrupted the Mass and went to Orvieto where Pope Urban IV was in residence. The Pope ordered that the miraculous host and then linen altar cloth stained with blood be brought to Orvieto and placed on display, where is still rests today. The Cathedral also has some of the most magnificent frescoes to be found anywhere. The depicting visions of heaven and hell in the San Brizio Chapel rival those of the Sistine Chapel. After lunch, We’ll depart from Orvieto and travel onward to Bolsena, the ancient city that is the site of the Eucharistic Miracle that we venerated in Orvieto. After this prayerful and inspiring day, return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will depart for Cascia to visit the Basilica of St. Rita, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1330. After lunch, we will continue on to Offida to visit the Church of St. Augustine, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1273, as well as the Monastery of San Marco. We will return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will depart for Morrovalle to visit the Church of St. Francis, the site of a Eucharistic miracle in 1560. After lunch, we will travel to Macerata to visit the Church of St. Catherine, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1356, as well as Macerata Cathedral. We will return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast, followed by a scenic drive to the Tuscan city of Siena. This medieval city is the birthplace of St. Catherine “Doctor of the Church”, and the Apostle of Italy, St. Bernardine. Visit of the Basilica of St. Catherine (which is also known as the Basilica of St. Domenico). St. Catherine passed a large part of her life inside the walls of this Basilica. It is here you will also view the incorrupt head of St. Catherine. Afterward, we will continue on to Volterra and its beautiful Cathedral, the site of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1472. Finally, upon arrival in Florence, we will visit the Basilica of St. Ambrose, the site of two Eucharistic Miracles in 1230 and 1595, respectively. Afterwards, we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

In Florence, your day begins with breakfast, followed by a guided tour. The tour starts at the Church of the Holy Cross, the Santa Croce, where many nobles are buried, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Continue to walk by Piazza Signorina, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore. This Cathedral is an iconic piece of architecture of the city of Florence. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 13th century. Next, visit L’Accademia, the well-known art gallery. At this gallery, you will have the opportunity to view the work from artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Pontormo and the ever famous sculpture by Michelangelo, David. This afternoon you will have time to explore Florence on your own. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will depart for the Florence Airport for your trip back to the USA.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of places to be visited. Occasionally local religious holidays, national days, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of visits or the missing of certain visits.