Pilgrimage to Italy 2024: Venice, Assisi, Padua, Florence, Rome

CHICAGO- VENICE

We will begin our pilgrimage to Italy with the meeting of the group at ORD airport in Chicago. After passport and baggage check-in, we will fly to Venice, Italy.

VENICE

Day of arrival. A day to rest after a long trip

VENICE

Breakfast at the hotel.  A full day of touring Venice and Murano Island awaits. Murano Island is famous for its glassmaking.  Enjoy a walk along the old streets, with visits to the Church of Saint Peter the Martyr, the Church of Saint Mary and San Donato, and Campo Santo Stefano. We will have the opportunity to observe the glassmaking process, purchase souvenirs or jewelry adorned with glass elements. In the early afternoon, we will return to Venice. The exploration of the city will include visits to the Basilica of Saint Mark, the Doge’s Palace, Church of Santa Maria della Salute, and the Bridge of Sighs. The day will conclude with a return to the hotel for a group dinner.

PADUA

After breakfast at the hotel, the group will tour Padua. During an all-day outing, there will be a visit to the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. In the afternoon, the group will explore the Old Town, including Piazza delle Erbe and Prato della Valle. The day will end with some free time to enjoy the sunset, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in Padua.

FLORENCE

After breakfast, we will travel to Florence, where we will see: the Basilica of Santa Croce with the tombs of Dante, Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its famous red-domed structure dominating the rooftops of Florence, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni with the Gates of Paradise (named by Michelangelo). We will stroll through Piazza della Signoria, the main square of the city, where we will see Palazzo Publico. Finally, we will visit the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence. Transfer to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

ASSISI / LORETO

On the sixth day of our Italian adventure, we will explore Assisi. The city tour will include a visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, marking his birthplace. Additional stops will encompass the Basilica of Saint Clare, the Church of San Damiano, and the San Damiano Cross. We will also visit the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels with Porziuncola – Cappella del Transito, the place of Saint Francis’s death, and the Rose Garden. After a lunch break, there will be a short stop in Loreto. While in the city, the group will visit the Basilica della Santa Casa with the Shrine of the Holy House. There will be time for prayer.

LANCIANO / MANOPPELLO

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterward, the tour bus will transport the group to Lanciano, where we will visit the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle, where the bread and wine changed into flesh and blood (a miracle that occurred in the 8th century), containing the relics of the “true flesh” and the “true blood.” Following this, we’ll check in at the hotel, have dinner, and enjoy some free time.On that day, the group will also visit Manoppello, with a short stop at the Sanctuary of the Holy Face featuring the relics of the miraculous image. After an eventful day, the group will check into the hotel, have dinner, and enjoy some relaxation during free time.

SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO

Today, we will visit San Giovanni Rotondo to explore the Sanctuary of Padre Pio, which includes the Church of Our Lady of Grace, Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church, the cell, the confessional, the crucifix, the Way of the Cross, and the Home for the Relief of Suffering. Finally, we will check into the hotel near Naples, followed by dinner and free time.

POMPEI

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and a journey to Pompeii for a tour of the ancient city devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The present-day ruins will provide us with a glimpse into the daily life of the city’s former inhabitants and capture its atmosphere from centuries ago. In the evening, check-in at a hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

SORRENTO/ CAPRI

After breakfast, we’ll embark on a scenic journey to Sorrento, situated on a cliff 50 meters above sea level, one of the most beautiful cities in southern Italy. We’ll also explore Piazza Tasso, the Valley of the Mills, the pedestrian Corso Italia, and the 10th-century Cathedral of St. Philip and St. James. We’ll enjoy a boat tour around the island of Capri. Return to the hotel in Sorrento, followed by dinner and overnight stay.

ROME

Eleventh and twelfth  day of our pilgrimage will be dedicated to exploring the most significant tourist attractions in Rome. These include the Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine commemorating the victory of Constantine the Great, Palatine Hill, Piazza Navona with the Fountain of the Four Rivers, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps at Piazza di Spagna, Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Trastevere district with the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Piazza Venezia with its main features, the Mausoleum of Hadrian, also known as Castel Sant’Angelo, and the Holy Stairs.

ROME

Rome – second day of exploring one of the most beautiful European cities

VATICAN

This day will be dedicated to participating in the General Audience with the Pope at the Vatican. This will include exploring the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter and the Saint Sebastian Chapel with the Tomb of John Paul II. After lunch, visits to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Gardens will take place. In the evening, the group will return to the hotel for dinner.

ROME-CHICAGO

It is a final day of our trip to Italy. Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and drive to the airport for departure.

THE PROGRAM IS A FRAMEWORK. THE ORDER OF IMPLEMENTATION OF INDIVIDUAL POINTS OF THE PROGRAM MAY CHANGE. HOLY MASS (IF POSSIBLE IN SELECTED SANCTUARIES). PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PASSPORT MUST BE VALID MINIMUM  6 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF RETURN AND CONTAIN 2 BLANK PAGES FOR ENTRY/EXIT STAMPS.

See also:

• Japan – In the Land of the Cherry Blossoms and of the Rising Sun
• Pilgrimago to Peru