Day 1: Depart for Rome

Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2: Rome

The tour begins in Rome, the spiritual center of the Catholic faith during the Holy Year. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at your hotel, featuring regional delicacies and Italian wine. Dinner included.

Day 3: Rome

This morning, begin your pilgrimage of the Seven Jubilee Churches with a visit to Rome’s cathedral: the Basilica of St. John Lateran – the former residence of the popes. Continue to the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs which tradition believes are the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate. This afternoon, enter the Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major, where art and spirituality meet. Celebrate Mass before returning to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Or opt to enhance your Roman sojourn with a half-board dinner supplement at your hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Rome

Today, venture beyond ancient Rome’s city limits, though still within the modern city center. Visit the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, built over the shrine of Saint Lawrence, one of the earliest martyrs of the Catholic Church. Continue to St. Paul Outside the Walls and pause in reverence at the tomb of the Apostle. This afternoon, celebrate Mass at the church of St. Sebastian Outside the Walls. Then, follow the steps down to the catacombs underneath the basilica, for a touching visit to the tombs of early Christians, martyrs, and saints. Breakfast included.

Day 5: Papal Blessing & Prayer

This morning, celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. Afterward, walk on to St. Peter’s Square to await the Papal Blessing.** Every Sunday when in residence, His Holiness pronounces a brief reflection on the Gospel of the day before reciting the Angelus prayer from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. This afternoon, visit the Shrine of our Lady of Divine Love, added to the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome by Saint John Paul II during the Jubilee of AD 2000. Breakfast included.

Day 6: Assisi - Rome

Early this morning, travel north to Assisi, where St. Francis spent most of his life. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, built on the founding site of the Franciscan Order. Pause at the Chapel of the Porziuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the Saint prayed. After an included lunch, join a local expert on a tour of the 13th-century basilica of St. Francis, where you can see many of St. Francis’ possessions and a series of frescoes. Celebrate Mass in the basilica before returning to Rome in the evening for a late dinner at your hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 7: Vatican City - Rome

This morning explore the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel where the Pope is elected and where Michelangelo’s famous Last Judgment mural is located. End your visit of the Vatican City in St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church. Feel the grace around you as you meander along towering marble columns and stand in awe before La Pietà, Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture. This afternoon, visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, another of the seven pilgrimage churches of the Jubilee and where you celebrate Mass. Breakfast included.

Day 8: Papal Audience

Early this morning attend the weekly Papal audience*** at the Vatican City to receive the blessing given by His Holiness the Pope. The afternoon is yours to do as you wish. You may choose to cross the Holy Door of St. Peter’s to seek jubilar absolution if you have not done so yet. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant celebrating the end of a memorable pilgrimage to Italy. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 9: Rome

Tour Ends. Your spiritual journey to Rome and Assisi comes to a close. Return home with renewed faith as a Pilgrim of Hope. Breakfast included.

Extend your vacation with optional 3 days / 2 nights in Venice & St. Anthony of Padua

Day 9: Rome - Padua - Mestre

Start your morning with a transfer to Padua and spend time in the Basilica of Saint Anthony. A sprawling church of iconic domes, this Franciscan sanctuary is visited by millions of pilgrims each year. You will have the option of celebrating Mass here. End your day in the city of Mestre, nestled along the coast of mainland Venice. Settle in for a 2-night stay, your gateway to the Venetian lagoon. This evening, experience the flavors of the region with a relaxing dinner at your hotel. Dinner included.

Day 10: Murano Island - Venice - Mestre

Enjoy a full day tour of Venice. Start your day with a boat trip* to Murano Island for a glass-blowing demonstration. After getting a glimpse into the local culture, make your way to St. Mark’s Square and join a local expert for a walking tour. You’ll explore this famous square and the St. Mark’s Basilica, which enshrines the body of Saint Mark the Evangelist under the high altar. Although Saint Mark was originally buried in Egypt, legend claims that two Venetian merchants stole the saint’s body from Alexandria and relocated him to Venice in the early 1800s. You will have the option of celebrating Mass here. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the canals on your own before returning to your hotel on the mainland. Breakfast included.
Your visit to Murano Island may be substituted with a visit to a local glass factory in Venice in the event of inclement weather.

Day 11: Mestre - Tour Ends

Say goodbye to Italy as your tour comes to a close today. Breakfast included.

Please Note: The overall activity level of this extension is a level 3. This means walking and standing for longer periods of time (2-3 hours) isn’t a big deal for you. You can navigate hills and uneven ground, climb into various modes of transportation (tuk-tuk, cable car, zodiac, etc.), and could possibly anticipate changes in elevation. Walking four miles over the course of a day is very doable as is climbing 3 flights of stairs. You can handle altitudes between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. You can expect some longer days balanced with free time. This level is not a fit for travelers that require mobility assistance devices.

Fully-guided extensions are perfect for travelers who want the complete experience of a new destination and local experiences. Travelers will have a dedicated guide throughout this entire extension. If you require any special assistance while on tour, please make us aware at time of reservation so the necessary request form can be sent to your attention.

If you are traveling in a group without a priest, we cannot guarantee daily Mass. However, you'll be able to attend Mass on most days, but the Masses will be in public churches and presented in Italian.

The space on this extension is limited. Extension space may be increased to accommodate large groups, but it is not guaranteed. We reserve the right to cancel this extension if a minimum of 6 passengers is not met to operate.