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

Welcome to Rome, also known as, "The Eternal City." Upon arrival at Rome airport, collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the arrival's hall, where you will be greeted by a tour escort and/or driver. You will make your way to the bus and transfer to your hotel. Following check-in, you will have free time to unpack and relax, or explore Rome on your own. Your tour escort may suggest places to visit. Later in the afternoon, your group will meet in the hotel lobby for a "Meet and Greet" with your fellow pilgrims and depart for Mass. Following Mass, you will attend a welcome dinner. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to walk to St. Peter's Square as a group, for the Rosary.

After breakfast today, we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the major sites around the Eternal City. After lunch on your own, enjoy a free afternoon before dinner.

This morning you will enjoy an early breakfast before making your way to the the Vatican Museums. At the world-renowned museum, you will see the most impressive of edifices, galleries, and awe-inspiring relics. Additionally, you will observe the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and Michelangelo's Masterpiece, the restored mural of the Last Judgment. The final stop on your Vatican tour is at the tomb of Saint John Paul II. Continue to proceed to the largest Church in Christendom, St. Peter's Basilica. This Basilica was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. It is here that you will view Michelangelo's Pieta. This stunning marble sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion, death, and removal off the cross before being placed in the tomb.

After a nice breakfast at your hotel, your tour begins with a 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 is installed as Bishop of Rome, and where he officiates as the Bishop of Rome. Next, we will cross the street to visit the Holy Staircase. Tradition states that this staircase is from Pontius Pilate's palace of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. It is also said that this Staircase was brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4th century. If time and restoration schedule permit, you may climb the steps on your knees, in memory of Christ's agonizing Passion. To conclude your day, we will proceed to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. This Basilica contains a relic from the Manger of the Infant Jesus. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we will make our way to Piazza Navona where at the center: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi "Fountain of the Four Rivers. We continue to visit the famous Pantheon. In 609 AD Pope Boniface IV converted this massive pagan structure into a Christian Church and consecrated it to St. Mary and the Martyrs. Its impressive ocululus has been housed for 2000 years in what is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before dinner and overnight.

This morning, we will visit the largest public park in Rome, the Villa Borghese Park, known for the Piazza di Siena, Temple of Aesculapius, Villa Giulia, Galleria Borghese and many other acres of gardens, statues, and fountains Later visit to the largest fountain in Rome, Trevi Fountain; built in the 15th Century to mark the ending destination of the Aqua Virgo - a man made channel erected in 19 B.C. We then make our way over Spanish Steps, the widest staircase in Europe consisting of 138 steps to the Piazza de Popolo.

A free day for shopping or touring. Meet for dinner before our last overnight

Saint Monica is one of the most admired saints. Married to a man who was a drunkard and abusive, she is an inspiration to many who pray for their wayward family members. Through her prayers and her example, she converted her son from his pagan lifestyle to become a saint: Saint Augustine of Hippo. The Church of Sant' Agostino, where her relics are preserved, is not far from Piazza Navona and aptly named after her son, Saint Augustine. Despite the rather plain exterior, the interior of the Church is magnificent with several great works of art by artists such as Rafael and Caravaggio. One of the features of the Church is in a niche by the entrance-the Madonna del Prato, (the Madonna of Childbirth ) depicting a pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary, carved by Jacopo Sansovino in 1521. This is considered one of his greatest works. Many women offer their prayers here in hopes of ensuring a safe childbirth. Following the visit, we will head north through the Roman countryside of vineyards and villas (approximately two and a half hours). Throughout this bus ride, your tour escort will share very interesting information regarding the spiritual, historical, and cultural aspects of Italy. You will arrive in Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis. You will check-in to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.