Our pilgrimage begins as we depart on our overnight flight to Italy. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft.

Upon arrival in Florence, we are met at the airport by our tour manager, who will be with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. Pending our arrival time, we will celebrate Mass and then check-in at our hotel, our home for the next 2 nights. (D) Overnight Florence

We’ll enjoy a full city tour of this magnificent Renaissance city today. Stroll the same streets Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Botticelli walked. See the famous dome on Florence’s cathedral – Duomo di Firenze – that dominates the skyline, and walk along the Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge designed by a Dominican friar. Visit the Baptistry chapel, where thousands have received the Sacrament of Baptism, with its bronze Gates of Paradise showcasing fabulous castings of the Old Testament that seem to come to life. Continue onto the Piazza di San Firenze and the Baroque church of St. Philip Neri, built by Oratorians who settled here from Rome. Enter the Santa Croce Church with its 16 chapels of superb frescoes by Giotto and see where two of Italy’s most famous Italians are buried: Michelangelo and Galileo. (B, D) Overnight Florence

We will depart Tuscany today and travel to the region of Umbria, stopping in Siena, where we visit St. Dominic’s, St. Catherine of Siena’s parish church where she attended daily Mass and went into ecstasy. The people of Siena wanted St. Catherine to be buried in her home church, but they were only able to procure her head, which is preserved for veneration in a reliquary in St. Dominic’s. Adjacent to the church is her birthplace and childhood home, which has been renovated throughout the centuries into a museum, including several chapels and a cloister. Visit the cell where she fasted and prayed, then experience a highlight of our day in the Basilica of St. Francis: venerating the Eucharistic miracle of Siena. Explore the majestic Gothic Cathedral of Siena, also known as the Duomo di Siena, built in the 13th and 14th centuries, and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. This afternoon we continue to the peaceful village of Assisi, a town which welcomes you in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare into its peaceful interior, and our home for the next three nights. (B, D) Overnight Assisi

We begin our day in the heart of Assisi at the Basilica of St. Francis, where we venerate this saint’s burial place. Continue to the Shrine of Renunciation within St. Mary Major church. This shrine was built to commemorate the spot where St. Francis renounced his wealth and family and began his life of poverty and service to the Lord. It is now where the tomb of Bl. Carlo Acutis lies. Bl. Carlo – set to be canonized as the first Millennial Saint– dedicated part of his short life to cataloging Eucharistic Miracles from around the world. Afterwards is the Basilica of St. Clare, which holds the famous San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to St. Francis, and where the golden locks of St. Clare’s hair and St. Francis’ poor patched tunic are kept. This afternoon we witness where the power of the Eucharist turned away an army. The invading Saracen army was about to attack the Convent of San Damiano where St. Clare lived with her nuns in 1241. Even though bedridden, St. Clare got up and held the Blessed Sacrament in the air and saw the advancing army flee in terror, thus establishing “The Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi.” Afterwards, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Overnight Assisi

Today we will visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, the site of the beloved Porziuncola. This is the tiny chapel rebuilt by St. Francis and his fellow friars after Francis took the commandment from the Lord to “rebuild my church” literally. It is also where St. Clare began her life as a nun. Afterwards, return to Assisi where the balance of the day will be free for personal activities and dinner on our own. (B) Overnight Assisi

Depart this morning for the walled town of Orvieto. In the 13th century, in nearby Bolsena, a priest doubted the Eucharistic Presence during Mass and the host turned to real flesh and the wine to real blood during the consecration. The priest brought the blood-stained Corporal to Pope Urban in Orvieto, and it is now kept in a special reliquary for the faithful to view. It was also in Orvieto where Pope Urban IV called for a world-wide Feast of Corpus Christi. The Cathedral of Orvieto has striking similarities to the beautiful Duomo in Florence with its unique exterior. Inside is the Signorelli Chapel that holds some of the greatest artistic masterpieces in the world. There will be ample time for both prayer and adoration in these majestic surroundings before continuing to Rome to check into our hotel, our home for the next five nights. (B, D) Overnight Rome

Our first full day in Rome begins in Santa Croce in Gerusalemme where we get a little piece of Jerusalem thanks to Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, who brought relics of the True Cross and the inscription part of the cross that stated Jesus was King of the Jews. At one time, soil from Jerusalem covered the Basilica’s floor, so it truly was part of the Holy Land. After venerating these relics of Our Lord’s crucifixion, we climb the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), which our Lord climbed on His way to His condemnation, followed by the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Afterwards, we continue to St. Clement Basilica, which houses an original fresco depicting St. Clement celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, giving us a picture of Eucharistic worship at the end of the first century or the beginning of the second. Lastly, we’ll admire Michaelangelo’s magnificent statue of Moses inside St. Peter in Chains. Finally, we proceed to St. Mary Major where we venerate the crib of Christ, pray at the tomb of Pope Francis, view the famous icon attributed to St. Luke, and see inestimable artwork that makes Rome renowned throughout the world. (B, D) Overnight Rome

Our day today is filled with wonder and awe as we steep ourselves in the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica, which beckons us into its interior through the arms of Bernini’s Colonnade. Marvel at Michelangelo’s Pieta, the famous baldacchino, and other infamous works of art. Venerate the numerous saints buried in the side chapels and pray at the perpetual adoration chapel renovated by St. Pope John Paul II. Afterwards, enjoy a guided tour through the Vatican Museums which house artifacts from around the world as we prepare ourselves for the greatest masterpiece yet: The Sistine Chapel. Painted by Michelangelo, it is the most famous ceiling in the world under which popes are chosen to lead the faithful. Later this afternoon, enjoy a tour through the peaceful Vatican Gardens, followed by free time to relax or explore other sections of the city and enjoy dinner on your own at one of Rome’s many restaurants. (B) Overnight Rome

This morning, we will attend the weekly Papal Audience held by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV (pending the Holy Father’s schedule). This afternoon, we travel to the last of the four major basilicas of Rome – St. Paul Outside the Walls. Though it was destroyed by a fire in 1823, it was originally built by Constantine in the fourth century over the site of St. Paul’s tomb and was rebuilt in the 19th century exactly as it was before the fire. After some time for prayer here, we proceed to the Catacombs of St. Callistus and venerate the martyrs and early saints of the Church. (B, D) Overnight Rome

This morning, we enjoy a walking tour in the heart of Rome, beginning with a visit Santa Maria in Vallicella (also known as Chiesa Nuova), founded by St. Philip Neri in 1561. Here we can venerate his final resting place. Afterwards, journey through the Piazza Navona, and visit the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain – where a coin thrown over your shoulder will guarantee you another visit to Rome. You will then have the afternoon free to explore sections of the city not on our itinerary or perhaps revisit one of your favorite sites from earlier in the pilgrimage. This evening, we will enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the end of our Italian pilgrimage at a local restaurant. (B, D) Overnight Rome

Our time pondering the history and faith of Italy comes to a close. We transfer to the airport for our return flight home, cherishing all of the wonderful memories and graces of this pilgrimage. (B)