Tour Description

Your pilgrimage begins upon arrival in Rome as your luxury coach sets out through the gentle Tuscan hills for the charming town of Assisi that has welcomed pilgrims for centuries. Mass at the “Porziuncola” will capture your heart as you reflect on how this place enraptured the soul of St. Francis. From the simple and elegant atmosphere of Assisi you will drive to the “jewel of the Renaissance.” Experience the masterful wealth of every art form in Florence, crowned by the genius of Brunelleschi's Dome. Your journey to the Eternal City traces the development of sacred spaces from the humble “Little Portion” Chapel to the great Basilica of St. Peter's. Visit the tombs of Ss. Peter and Paul in Rome. The celebration of the Mass in such sacred spaces strengthens our sense of unity within the Communion of Saints. As you retrace the footsteps of St. Francis, St. Clare, Ss. Peter and Paul, ancient Romans and the Popes throughout history, reflect on the imprint this journey will leave upon your own heart.

Your Package Includes:

• Round-trip airfare from New York. (Please inquire about airfares from other cities in the U.S. or Canada)
• Eight (8) nights’ accommodations in tourist class hotels with private facilities.
• Hotel upgrades are available upon request.
• Breakfast daily plus five dinners, including a farewell dinner.
• Meeting and assistance upon arrival and departure.
• Transportation in private motor-coach including airport transfers.
• Sightseeing as per itinerary with a professional licensed English-speaking guide.
• Porterage at hotels.
• Entrance fees to all sites on itinerary.
• Services of a Passages Tour Manager from arrival to departure in Rome.
• Coordination of all Liturgies.
• Portfolio of travel documents, including a Passages Flight Packet.

One FREE package for group leader for every 25 participants (based on a minimum of 30 participants)

10-Day Pilgrimage priced from $2,495
	from New York, double occupancy + departure taxes/fuel surcharge November 15 - March 15, excluding holidays For other travel seasons, please inquire. Contact us today for your custom designed pilgrimage program and detailed proposal!

10-Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Tuesday | Depart for Rome

Day 2 | Wednesday | Arrive Rome | Assisi/Santa Maria degli Angeli

Upon arrival in Rome, you will board your motor coach and be on your way to the charming Umbrian town of Assisi, a major Catholic pilgrimage destination. Stop for lunch en route. Visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels with its famous Porziuncola and Capella Del Transito. Celebrate Mass at the “Porziuncola.”

Day 3 | Thursday | Assisi/Sites of St. Francis and St. Clare | Florence

Enjoy an early morning walk to the Basilica, to Celebrate Mass at the Tomb of St. Francis. After Mass, explore the Basilica complex. Pray in the shrine, inspired by Giotto’s frescoes of the life of St. Francis. Visit the Basilica of St. Clare, which enshrines her remains and the miraculous Crucifix. Independent lunch. Explore and visit places that mark significant sites in the young family life of St. Francis. Continue on to Florence through the hills of Tuscany.

Day 4 | Friday | Highlights of Florence; Academy of Fine Arts | Afternoon at Leisure

Highlights of Florence include the Accademia; Michelangelo’s “David;” Piazza Del Duomo; the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, crowned with its magnificent Dome by Brunelleschi; Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistry of St. John with the “Gates of Paradise.” Celebrate Mass at the Church of Santa Croce. Enjoy free time to find Florentine treasures for family and friends.

Day 5 | Saturday | Florence | Rome

Bid farewell to Florence and “saluti” to the Eternal City! After dinner enjoy a spectacular panoramic night tour of Rome. Famous sights include the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain.

Day 6 | Sunday | Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica | Tour of St. Paul’s Basilica and the Catacombs

Attend the High Latin Mass at the Altar of the Chair at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by the noon Papal Blessing in St. Peter's Square. Tour Rome and her outskirts: Tiberina Island, the Aventine Hill, the pyramid of Caius Cestius, and St. Paul's Gate, part of the Aurelian Wall. Visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul on the site of his tomb. Drive along the Old Appian Way on your way to the Catacombs.

Day 7 | Monday | Tour of Christian Rome | Optional Tour of the Scavi

Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, the Cathedral of St. John Lateran, and the Basilica of "Santa Croce in Gerusalemme." This afternoon, enjoy a tour of the Scavi (subject to confirmation by the Vatican), the underground excavation under St. Peter’s Basilica, where St. Peter is buried.

Day 8 | Tuesday | Tour of the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel | Afternoon at Leisure

View the vast art collections of the Vatican. See the famous “Pinacoteca,” housing religious works by the Masters. Marvel at Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and his renowned “Pieta,” enshrined at St. Peter’s Basilica. Celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica or the Church of St. Philip Neri. This afternoon, as you explore… you will adore the city and sites of Rome!

Day 9 | Wednesday | Papal Audience | Tour of Ancient Rome | Farewell Dinner

The highlight of your pilgrimage to Rome is the opportunity to receive a Blessing from the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Following the Papal Audience and an independent lunch, visit the Church of St. Peter in Chains, Roman Forum, Arch of Titus, the Arch of Constantine and the Trajan Column. Celebrate Mass at the Franciscan Basilica of the Apostles. Enjoy a charming and festive Roman atmosphere for your farewell dinner.

Day 10 | Thursday | Return to the USA