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

Upon arrival at the airport in Venice, we are met by our tour manager who will be with us for the duration of our pilgrimage in Italy. Venice is a city built upon 118 islands crisscrossed by 160 canals and linked by 400 footbridges. There are no roads, only canals, no traffic, only water taxis and gondolas. Proceed to our hotel, our home for the next 2 nights. (D) Overnight Venice

We journey to the spectacular epicenter of Venice – St. Mark’s Square – around which Venetian life revolves. Called the “drawing room of Europe,” by Napoleon, the square gets its name from St. Mark’s Basilica, the stunning church where the body of St. Mark the Evangelist is buried. We have ample time to visit and pray in this intricately designed cathedral of 85,000 square feet, five domes, and beautiful golden mosaics. The famous Doges Palace awaits us next. Pure Venetian and built for the rulers of Venice, we wander its opulent halls before crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs. Dinner tonight will be on our own in one of the charming restaurants around the city. (B, Mass) Overnight Venice

Depart Venice this morning and journey to Siena, where we visit St. Dominic’s, St. Catherine of Siena’s parish church where she attended daily Mass and went into ecstasy. The townspeople 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, also known as the Duomo di Siena, built in the 13th and 14th centuries, and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary before checking in at our hotel for overnight. Tonight, we wander the medieval streets of Siena, stopping on our own for dinner. (B, Mass) Overnight Siena

This morning we will depart Siena and journey south, to 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. After venerating the sacred Eucharistic miracle, we will continue to Assisi, home of Sts Francis and Clare. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Assisi

We begin our day in the heart of Assisi in 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 – the first millennial saint – dedicated part of his short life to cataloging Eucharistic Miracles from around the world. After venerating his resting place, journey to the Basilica of St. Francis to venerate this saint’s burial place. 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 bed-ridden, St. Clare got up and held the Blessed Sacrament in the air and saw the advancing army flee in terror establishing “The Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi.” Also in the convent, we will visit the chapel where Jesus spoke to St. Francis from the crucifix, then proceed to the valley below. Here we will visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, site of the Porziuncola, the tiny church in the woods where St. Francis began his ministry and where St. Clare began her religious life. Dinner tonight will be on our own. (B, Mass) Overnight Assisi

Journey to Cascia to visit the Shrine of St. Rita and venerate the Eucharistic Miracle of Cascia. In 1330, a priest binging the Eucharist to a sick man, placed a consecrated Host in a prayer book. When he opened the book, he saw the Host was transformed into a blood clot and the pages of the book were stained with blood. Continue east, stopping in Loreto, to visit the Shrine of the Holy House, said to be the same house in which the Virgin Mary was born and raised in Nazareth. This is where she received the visitation of the angel announcing that she was the mother of Jesus and according to tradition the home was transported by four angels from Nazareth to its present resting place in Loreto. Afterwards, we will continue our journey along the Adriatic to Lanciano, site of the oldest miracle of the Eucharist, still preserved after twelve centuries. Check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Lanciano

This morning we’ll visit the sanctuary of the 8th century Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano. There will be time for adoration as well as a tour of the museum detailing the history of the miracle. After time for prayer and reflection, we will then drive along the coast to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of St Padre Pio. Visit his tomb and tour the sanctuary of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where this famous Saint said Mass. After visiting this mystical Saint’s cell and the parlor where he greeted the faithful, we proceed to our hotel for the night. (B, D, Mass) Overnight San Giovanni Rotondo

Depart San Giovanni early this morning and drive up to Monte Sant’ Angelo for a breathtaking view of the Gargano Peninsula and a visit to the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. Afterwards, stop in Manoppello and visit the church housing the Holy Veil of Manoppello, traditionally believed to be the Veil of Veronica. Venerate this sacred icon and continue to Rome, checking into the hotel which will be our home for the next three nights. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

This day 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 and pray at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel renovated by St. John Paul II. Afterwards, we walk through the Vatican Museums which house artifacts from around the world and Eucharistic art to 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. This afternoon, we visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, originally built by Constantine in the fourth century over the site of St. Paul’s tomb. After some time for prayer, we proceed to the Catacombs of St. Callistus and venerate the martyrs and early saints of the Church. Dinner tonight will be on our own. (B, Mass) Overnight Rome

The Scala Santa, or Holy Stairs, are prayed this day by going up them on your knees because they are so sacred. Christ walked on these 28 marble stairs at the home of Pontius Pilate before he was condemned to death. Our prayerful experience continues with a visit to St. John Lateran, the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic faithful and the oldest basilica in Europe followed by a stop at St. Clement’s Basilica, built in honor of the fourth pope. An original fresco inside this basilica depicts St. Clement celebrating Mass, giving us a visible history of Eucharistic worship at the end of the first century. Afterwards, journey to the church of Santa Pudenziana, site of the only Eucharistic Miracle in Rome. Nearby is St. Mary Major, where we venerate the crib of Christ, view the famous icon attributed to St. Luke, and see inestimable artwork that makes Rome renowned throughout the world. End our Italian pilgrimage with a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Today we say “Ciao” to Italia and transfer to the airport for our return flight home, cherishing all the wonderful memories and graces of this pilgrimage. (B)