Italy

Your pilgrimage begins today, boarding your flight to Rome. Sit back and relax as you cross the Atlantic, anticipating the extraordinary spiritual journey ahead.

DAY 2 – ARRIVE IN ROME

Upon arrival in Rome, you will meet your Nativity Tour Manager and transfer to your hotel. After checking in, feel free to relax and unwind before gathering for a welcome dinner with the group.

DAY 3 – THE VATICAN

We’ll leave the hotel early to secure a good spot for the Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square! Afterward, we’ll tour St. Peter’s Basilica, the heart of the Catholic faith, and explore the Vatican Museums, home to treasures like Michelangelo’s “Pieta” and the Sistine Chapel. We’ll also stop for prayer at the Tomb of Saint John Paul II. After an exciting day, we’ll return to the hotel to relax before dinner.

DAY 4 – ROME’S MAJOR BASILICAS

After breakfast, we’ll explore Rome’s major basilicas, starting with St. Mary Major, where you will see a relic from the manger of Jesus. Next is the Basilica of St. John Lateran, followed by the Holy Stairs. Our tour continues along the Appian Way, where we will see the Church of Domine Quo Vadis, the Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of Drusus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and the St. Callixtus Catacombs. We’ll finish at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the burial place of Saint Paul, before heading back to the hotel for dinner and a relaxing evening.

DAY 5 – SIENA & FLORENCE

This morning, we head to Siena in Tuscany to explore the Gothic cathedral completed in 1380. We’ll visit the Sanctuary of St. Catherine of Siena to see the Miraculous Crucifix and stroll through Piazza del Campo to admire the Palazzo Pubblico and Torre Del Mangia. Our tour concludes at the Basilica of St. Dominic to view St. Catherine’s incorrupt relics, then we head to Florence for the evening, check into our hotel, and have dinner.

DAY 6 – FLORENCE

Today, we’ll tour the Basilica of Santa Croce, the burial site of notable figures like Michelangelo and Galileo. We’ll explore the Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, and Piazza della Repubblica. We’ll finish at the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Accademia Gallery to see works by Botticelli and Michelangelo’s “David.” We’ll conclude the day with dinner and a relaxing evening at our hotel.

DAY 7 – ASSISI

We will travel to Assisi, the home of Saint Francis. Our tour begins at the Basilica of St. Francis, where you can kneel before the crucifix. We’ll visit the chapel where he spent much time, the Church of St. Clare, and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, home of the Porziuncola. After some free time to explore the medieval streets and enjoy lunch, we will visit the tomb of Saint Carlo Acutis at the Santuario Della Spogliazione before returning to our hotel for dinner.

DAY 8 – LANCIANO & SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO

In the morning, we will travel to Lanciano in the province of Chieti on the Adriatic coast. Upon arrival, we’ll celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Longinus, where the Eucharistic Miracle occurred in the eighth century. After Mass, you’ll have some free time to explore the city before we head to San Giovanni Rotondo for the evening.

DAY 9 – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO & MONTE SANT’ANGELO

This morning, after enjoying breakfast, you’ll head over to the Old Church. Following Mass, you will have the opportunity to explore the sanctuary and see the crucifix where St. Pio received the stigmata, as well as the confessional where he spent countless hours listening to confessions. Afterward, we’ll hop on the bus to visit the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, a truly remarkable Catholic shrine. Once our tour wraps up, we’ll return to San Giovanni Rotondo for a delightful dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 10 – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO & POMPEII

Today, we’ll explore the significant sites linked to Padre Pio, including his tomb, his private cell, and the historic church where he received the stigmata. We’ll also visit his confessional and the new church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie, where we’ll celebrate Mass together. In the afternoon, we’ll set off for Pompeii. After dinner, we’ll settle into our hotel accommodations.

DAY 11 – POMPEII

Join us to explore the ancient city buried by Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Discover well-preserved streets and homes, then visit the Shrine of the Rosary of Pompei, home to the beautiful painting of ‘Our Lady of the Rosary’ and important relics, including a thorn from the Crown of Thorns. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Pompeii.

DAY 12 – AMALFI COAST & SALERNO

After breakfast, we’ll travel to Salerno to catch a boat to the stunning Amalfi Coast. We’ll stop briefly for panoramic views of Positano before heading to Amalfi, where you can admire the beautiful Amalfi Cathedral dedicated to Saint Andrew. After our visit, we’ll return to Salerno by boat and then head back to Pompeii for dinner and a relaxing evening at our hotel.

DAY 13 – MONTECASSINO TO ROME

This morning, we will set off for Rome with a stop at Montecassino, the renowned monastery of the Benedictine Order, founded by Saint Benedict around 530 A.D. After exploring this historic site, we’ll continue our journey to Rome. In the evening, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and return to our hotel.

DAY 14 – RETURN HOME

We will transfer to the airport this morning to board our return flight home.