2024 Italy Pilgrimage

TFollowing breakfast, we depart by boat to Venice for a two-hour walking tour, private Mass, and a visit to the spectacular San Marco Cathedral. The afternoon is at leisure so you may explore the city on your own. Plan what you wish to see in advance by getting information about the city online. Perhaps a gondola ride and lunch sampling some Venetian specialties. In the pilgrimage handbook you will receive, Dr. Italy will provide suggestions of sites and typical foods of the city. Return to our hotel in Padua in the afternoon for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel. We’ll stop at Padua’s ancient cathedral and then see fabulous frescos by Giotto in Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel. Next we drive about 90 minutes while we hear about why Bologna, our next stop, is one of Italy’s culinary capitals. Following Mass and a visit to the tomb of St. Dominic, we’ll have time to shop and explore the local food scene on our own with suggestions provided for a typical Bolognese lunch menu. Then we’ll drive to the historic Byzantine city of Ravenna on the Adriatic coast for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)

Following breakfast, we’ll check out of the hotel and drive to the Umbrian hilltop town of Gubbio, one of the best preserved medieval gems in Italy, where we will have our Mass. You will learn about the famous story of St. Francis and the wolf of Gubbio as we visit the Piazza Grande and the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo. Gubbio is also known for its ceramics and olive oil, so this will be a good place to do some shopping. After departure, we arrive at the 5- star spa and wine resort nestled in the countryside which will be our home for next three nights. (B.D.)

Leaving Assisi, we drive to Siena to celebrate Mass and venerate the relics of St. Catherine of Siena at the Basilica of St. Dominic. We’ll have time to explore Siena on our own before driving to a nearby winery for a wine tasting and a lesson in Tuscan wine production. Arriving in Florence later in the afternoon, we settle into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)

The culmination of our pilgrimage will be a visit to the magnificent Renaissance city of Florence. We see the iconic Duomo, with the famous dome by Brunelleschi, bell tower by Giotto and baptistry with the Doors of Paradise by Giotto (outside views). We visit the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s statue of David, the Convent of St. Marco with its frescos by Fra Angelico, and the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Novella. We also see the Signoria Square, and the Church of the Holy Cross where Michelangelo worshipped and Galileo worshipped. Mass will be celebrated. We also visit the stunning cast iron structure housing San Lorenzo market where we can pick up lunch and explore the amazing local food products. Dinner is at leisure with an opportunity to explore the Tuscan food scene on your own, with menu suggestions from Dr. Italy. Overnight Florence. (B.)

Transfer to Florence airport for our return flight home (B)

We visit St. Peter’s Basilica this morning and have lunch together in a local restaurant. Next, we visit the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, the Holy Stairs, and the church of Sancta Croce in Jerusalem, where we see relics of the passion brought by Constantine’s mother, Helena, back from her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the 4th century. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Mass will be celebrated. (B.L.D)

Today is your day to explore as you wish. You may want to embark on a walking tour with Dr. D’Ambrosio and attend Sunday Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, then perhaps take a cab over to the Vatican Square for the noon Angelus by the Holy Father, visit the Vatican Museum (be sure to purchase tickets online well in advance), toss a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain, or just meander through Rome’s beautiful piazzas. At night we’ll meet for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome. (B. Special dinner)

We are transferred to Rome airport this morning, where we will board our flights home. (B)