Shrines of Italy

What's Included

• Welcome Dinner

  Join your fellow travelers for a special welcome dinner at a popular local restaurant featuring regional delicacies and Italian wine.

• Tour of Assisi

  Join a local expert for a fascinating tour of Assisi, highlighting the 13th-century basilica where you can see many of St. Francis’ possessions and a series of frescoes.

• Visit to the Holy House of Nazareth

  Discover the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto where more than 50 popes have made a pilgrimage.

• Visit to Monte Sant’Angelo

  Explore the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, where popes and saints have knelt and prayed for protection.

• Visit to the Cathedral of Salerno

  Visit the Cathedral of Salerno, which guards the relics of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist.

• Visit to the Abbey of Montecassino

  Discover the renowned abbey founded by St. Benedict in the 6th century A.D., housing the relics of the saint and his sister, St. Scholastica.

• Papal Audience

  Attend the weekly Papal audience in the Vatican City to receive the blessing given by the Holy Father.

• Visit to the Vatican Museums

  Explore the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and the famous Last Judgment mural.

• Farewell Dinner

  Join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of a memorable pilgrimage to Italy.

What's Not Included

• Optional Florence Excursion

  The optional full-day excursion to Florence is not included in the main tour package and requires additional payment.
  
  

• Optional Pompeii Tour

  The optional tour to visit the historic ruins of Pompeii is not included in the main tour package and requires additional payment.
  
  

• Lunch during Florence Excursion

  Time for lunch will be allotted during the optional Florence excursion, but lunch is not included.
  
  

Experiences

Attend the weekly Papal audience in the Vatican City.Spend time at the renowned Abbey of Montecassino, founded by St. Benedict.Visit the Holy Stairs, believed to be the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate.

Options

Florence: Day Trip to Florence The beautiful city of Florence is a gem in the crown of the renowned region of Tuscany, and its capital city should not be missed. Enjoy a full day of sightseeing as a local expert highlights such treasures as the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria and Piazza del Duomo. Here, stand before the massive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its imposing dome and the gilded “Gates of Paradise,” the bronze doors adorning the neighboring Baptistery. Before your return to Assisi, take some time at leisure to savor the local flavors of this region and shop in the wonderful boutiques and acclaimed handicraft shops that Florence offers. Duration approximately 12 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Time for lunch will be allotted, but lunch is not included. The driving distance from Assisi to Florence is 2.5 hours. You must be prepared to walk approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) to complete the sightseeing.
The optional tour to Florence requires a long drive of approximately 2.5 hours each way. Due to tight limitations to motor coach circulation in the city, you must be prepared to walk approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) to complete the sightseeing. The walking tour takes place over cobblestoned streets with narrow sidewalks which are often crowded.

Pompeii: Visit the Historic Ruins of Pompeii Experience the eerie pull of history as you walk through Pompeii, the excavated ruins of a Roman city at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Discover what was buried under more than 60 feet of ash and pumice, sealing history away until it was discovered in the mid-1700s. The walking tour begins at Porta Marina, the city gate leading to the Sea. Ascend to the Forum, which was once the core of daily life in the city, as well as Pompeii’s main places of citizen worship. Along the way see the theatres, bath complex, and plaster casts while a local expert guides you through Pompeian life and history. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.


Please note that walking in Pompeii can be difficult for some. The streets are uneven, with steps up or down everywhere. Opportunities for sitting and rest could be far between. There is little to no shade available during the walking tour. Travelers need to be able to walk and stand for at least 90 minutes consecutively.

Culinaries

Must See

Venture underground to the catacombs of Rome, where early Christians hid and buried their dead.Discover the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto.Join a local expert for a fascinating tour of Assisi.

Choice Highlights

Rome Rome is the capital of modern Italy and the historical home of one of the great civilizations in history, the Roman Empire. The historical city was founded in 753 BC and has grown to a size of over 3 million inhabitants today. The city is home to major monuments like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and many more. The city was built on the seven ancient hills along the Tiber River. Today it is a collection of neighborhoods with vibrant shops, restaurants and museums just waiting to be explored.

Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy. The unique church dedicated to this beloved saint is located in the small town of Assisi. The Basilica of St. Francis houses the relics of the saint and a world renowned fresco cycle by Giotto. Giotto's frescos depict the life story of St Francis, including several of his miracles.

Holy House of Nazareth of Loreto Take a sojourn to the Holy House of Nazareth, a beloved shrine in Loreto. Join fellow worshippers when you visit this monument, which is believed to be the place that the Holy Family lived.

San Giovanni Rotondo San Giovanni Rotondo is a community on the east coast of Italy that is famous as a Catholic pilgrimage site because it is the home of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. A church dedicated to the saint was completed in 2004, and his remains are on display. The area is also near the important Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel at Monte Gargano. Together the two sites draw in millions of pilgrims each year.

Tomb of Padre Pio Padre Pio was a Capuchin friar who lived in San Giovanni Rotondo. During his life he became popular with parishioners and pilgrims for his devout piety and willingness to hear confessions and offer counsel. He also received the stigmata or wounds of Christ which he bore for fifty years. After his death he was canonized by John Paul II in 2002. His remains were put on display for the 40th anniversary of his death, but his popularity proved to be great, and his remains are now permanently displayed in the church bearing his name in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Tomb of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Salerno Visit the Tomb of Saint Matthew the Apostle, an awe-inspiring holy site revered by churchgoers all around the globe. Gaze upon the dazzling architecture of this sanctuary as you pay your respects to this renowned disciple.

Abbey of Montecassino Tour the Abbey of Montecassino, a vast monastery located atop lush scenery. Destroyed during World War II, this illustrious Abbey stands the test of time and after renovation remains a prominent holy site for worshippers.

Catacombs Dive into the depths of Rome when you explore the Catacombs, a collection of underground burial sites for early Christians. Wander among the numerous pathways and discover the hidden passages of this ancient relic.

Papal Audience The Papal Audience is a weekly gathering of pilgrims held in St. Peter's Square every Wednesday when the Pope is present. Each audience consists of teachings or readings in multiple languages and greetings from the Pope and finishes with the Apostolic Blessing from the Pope. The Pope arrives in the square by Popemobile and passes around the square before taking his seat on stage. Pilgrims can bring items like rosaries to be blessed at the end.

Christian Rome City Tour Rome has been the home to the Catholic church since the beginning and been intertwined with the story of Christianity. Numerous Saints have walked the cobblestone streets and left their mark on the city. Early Christians like Emperor Constantine built the early churches that later grew into the monuments of the major Basilicas of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, St. John in Lateran and St Peter's. Other early Christian monuments like the catacombs have become important to understanding the history of the early followers. Touring these sites today should be part of any pilgrimage to the city.

Vatican City The Vatican City is the smallest independent state with an area of 110 acres (44 hectares). Inside the Vatican walls are the Papal Palace, St. Peter's Basilica, the curia of the Vatican state, extensive gardens and the Vatican Museums. More than half of that territory is dedicated to the Vatican Gardens. The Vatican City and Pope are guarded by the Swiss Guard, who wear uniforms that can be traced back to Michelangelo.

St. Peter’s Basilica St. Peter's Basilica is an example of late Renaissance architecture and was designed by great architects like Raphael, Michelangelo and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Completed over the course of 120 years, St. Peter's is one of the largest churches in the world, and an important holy site for Catholics. The church is built over the burial site of Saint Peter and contains the tombs of numerous popes. The church is known for its mosaic decorations and grand dome.

Mode of Transport

Travel across Italy with included transportation, featuring scenic drives through the Apennine Mountains and optional excursions to Florence and Pompeii, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience.

Accommodation

Stay at the Cardinal Hotel St. Peter in Rome, Hotel Cenacolo in Assisi, and Hotel Parco delle Rose, offering comfortable accommodations throughout your journey in Italy.