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

Upon arrival, your escort will warmly greet you this morning and welcome you to Italy. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon for rest, relaxation, or exploration. Later in the day group will gather for Mass. Your tour escort can suggest sights or walks for you to enjoy.

This morning, we will wake up in the city of Turin, capital of the Piedmont region and home of the famous Shroud of Turin. This relic appears to bear the image of our crucified Lord. Years and years of research attest to its authenticity, and millions believe it to be the linen burial cloth on which Christ’s face was miraculously permanently imprinted. The shroud has a fascinating history and has sparked countless deep conversions throughout the world. (Shroud display is pending official Vatican confirmation). While visiting the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist we will venerate the buried body of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, which was found incorrupt when transferred to this cathedral in 1981. This young, fun-loving, athletic man died at the age of 24 leaving behind many people who loved him. He cared for the poor, hiked, laughed often, and prayed devoutly. Frassati was a strong catholic with a simple life for all of us to emulate. We will then move on to the Sanctuary of Maria Ausiliatrice, (the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians) completed in 1868. This church was originally part of a home for impoverished boys founded by Saint John Bosco. For this reason, the Saint is buried here along with the relics of St. Dominic Savio and other saints. Lastly, we will visit the Corpus Domini Basilica, the site of the 15th-century Eucharistic miracle. French soldiers looted the main church, and the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament was put in a bag and loaded on a mule. The mule stumbled as they were leaving and the monstrance with our Lord rose above the surrounding houses, arousing wonder in all the witnesses. The bishop, people, and clergy prayed “Stay with us, Lord.” The monstrance fell leaving the host free and shining, and the bishop lifted up a chalice into which the host came down and rested. A railing in the basilica sets off the place where this miraculous event took place in 1453. This afternoon you will have free time for some shopping before gathering at the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Breakfast, followed by a scenic drive through picturesque Italian countryside to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, you will notice immediately that it is the land for art lovers. Some of the most world-renowned artists are from Florence such as Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello, and many others. The tour starts at the Church of the Holy Cross, the Santa Croce, where many nobles are buried, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Continue to walk by Piazza Signorina, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore. This Cathedral is an iconic piece of architecture of the city of Florence. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 13th century. Next, a visit to L’Accademia, the well-known art gallery. At this gallery, you will have the opportunity to view the work of artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Pontormo, and the ever-famous sculpture by Michelangelo, David. Continue to Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis. Check-in to your hotel and enjoy delicious dinner and restful overnight.

As you visit the birthplace of St. Francis, you will become captivated as the atmosphere has not changed since St. Francis began his ministry, in the early 13th century. You will start your tour at the St. Francis Basilica, visit his tomb of St. Francis, and can view a series of frescoes depicting his life, along with a few of the saint’s possessions. The group will celebrate Mass at St. Francis tomb (pending confirmation). Following Mass will be a visit to the Santuario Della Spogliazione where Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb is placed. Carlo is the first millennial to be declared Blessed who loved the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. From there, you will continue with a walking tour through this picturesque town, including the birthplace of St. Francis, and the Bishop’s House. Enjoy some free time on your own – you may take this time for additional prayer or shop in the many gift shops. After lunch, you will board the bus, which will take you outside of the walls of Assisi, to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. This is where St. Francis spent most of his life. This Basilica is made up of two structures, both of which you will visit. The first structure is the “Porziuncola”, which is where St. Francis founded his order of the Friar Minor (Franciscans). The second, is the “Capella del Transito”, which is the place of St. Francis’ death. During your time here, you will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Rose Garden where St. Francis and other friars lived and pray. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Following breakfast visit Orvieto, where a Eucharistic Miracle is preserved in the Cathedral of Orvieto. In 1263, a Priest stopped to celebrate Mass at Saint Christina’s Church in Bolsena. Having doubts that the Eucharist was really the Body and Blood of Christ, the Priest was shocked when the host began to bleed right after the prayer of consecration. Unable to hide this fact, he interrupted the Mass and went to Orvieto where Pope Urban IV was in residence. The Pope ordered that the miraculous host and then linen altar cloth stained with blood be brought to Orvieto and placed on display, where is still rests today. The Cathedral also has some of the most magnificent frescoes to be found anywhere. The depicting visions of heaven and hell in the San Brizio Chapel rival those of the Sistine Chapel. After lunch, We’ll depart from Orvieto and travel onward to Bolsena, the ancient city that is the site of the Eucharistic Miracle that we venerated in Orvieto. After this prayerful and inspiring day, return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast group will leave for Marian shrine of Loreto to visit the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. Tradition holds that this is the house in which Mary first prayed the Magnificat, in which Jesus grew to manhood, and in which the Holy Family lived, before it was transported several times by angels, to its current location. After Loreto, group will head south along the scenic Adriatic Sea. The next stop will be Lanciano for private Mass at the Church of St. Longinus- the site of a Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. At the time of the miracle, there was a Basilian monk, who struggled with the belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. During the time of Mass, the monk, with doubt in his voice, said the words of consecration and the bread and wine transformed into physical flesh and blood. Then group will continue to San Giovanni Rotondo. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Today we will get to know St. Pio of Pietrelcina (1916-1968) who lived here for fifty years. Padre Pio is known for extraordinary gifts, such as bilocation, reading souls, and the stigmata. The visit will include the ancient friary and church, as well as the modern church where Padre Pio’s tomb is. In the afternoon, we will visit nearby Monte Sant’Angelo, where St. Michael the archangel appeared in the Middle Ages. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Today we will make our way to the eternal city of Rome. But first, we’ll stop in Pietrelcina to visit the birth city and “Houses of Padre Pio.” Next, we’ll continue to the famed Abbey of Montecassino, resting place of Sts. Benedict and Scholastica. Continue to Rome – our home for next 3 nights. Dinner and overnight in Rome. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to walk to St. Peter’s Square for the Rosary (optional).

This morning, we will attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square or at the Audience Hall. The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, Pope Francis (pending the papal schedule). Next Trevi Fountain area for some free time and lunch (on your own). This afternoon, visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome, the Archbasilica of St. John the Lateran, the cathedral church, and seat of the Bishop of Rome. Cross the street to the very steps that lead up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem which Jesus climbed on His way to trial during his Passion. Holy Mass will be celebrated by our priests at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. This Basilica contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus. Dinner and overnight.

Today we tour St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the site where St. Peter the Apostle was martyred. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to view Michelangelo’s Pieta sculpture, and pray at the tombs of Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II. Next, you will visit the Vatican Museum, where you can see the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, and Sistine Chapel. After lunch, continue down the Appian Way, one of the earliest roads built in ancient Rome to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and the Catacombs. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, your group will leave by motorcoach and transfer to the Rome Fiumicino airport for return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.