12 Days
Specific Tour
35 people
English
Download Brochure and Application
DAY 1: Monday, Departure
Depart for your overnight flight to Italy. Meals will be served on board.
DAY 2: Tuesday, Arrival / Padova, City of St. Anthony
Early morning arrival at Venice’s airport. We will meet our tour manager after the baggage claim area and continue to Padova, where we will explore the Basilica of St. Anthony and celebrate Mass. Then transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)
DAY 3: Wednesday, Venice, La Serenissima
We enjoy the entire day in Venice. An incredible sight awaits us as we approach this romantic city by private boat. In the morning, we visit the Basilica of St. Mark, including the incredible Pala d’Oro, and walk through the city to see its most famous bridges: Rialto and the Bridge of Sighs. Break for lunch. The afternoon is at our leisure for optional tours (Murano and Burano Islands to visit a glass factory) or a gondola ride. Return to the dock by boat and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 4: Thursday, Venice / Pisa / Florence
Depart Venice after breakfast for Pisa (approx. 4-hour drive). Meet the guide to visit the monuments: the Duomo and the Baptistery. Time at leisure for lunch and an optional visit to the Leaning Tower (313 steps to reach the top). Continue to Florence, check in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 5: Friday, Florence, The Cradle of the Renaissance
After breakfast at the hotel, we meet our local guide and begin exploring why Florence is the undisputed cradle of the Renaissance. Here one breathes art and culture in its medieval streets, craftsmen’s workshops, Renaissance palaces, and world-renowned museums. Memories of the Medici family merge with the works of illustrious artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli. The highlight of today’s tour is our visit to the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s incredible marble statue, David. We visit the lively San Lorenzo Market in the heart of the city—a gourmet’s paradise filled with artisan breads, fresh produce, cheeses, and cured meats. This is followed by a Florentine wine-and-cheese tasting experience. A visit to Piazzale Michelangelo offers stunning panoramic views of Florence, showcasing the city’s iconic skyline, the Arno River, and the Duomo. We also visit the Ponte Vecchio, lined with goldsmiths’ shops featuring handcrafted Florentine jewelry. Later, we enjoy an exclusive food-lover’s experience guided by a distinguished sommelier, who pairs four traditional wines with locally sourced artisan cheeses, figs, truffle honey, strawberry preserves, aged balsamic vinegars, and fresh breads. In the afternoon, we continue the walking tour to see the exterior of the Baptistry of St. John with its famous “Gates of Paradise,” the Piazza della Signoria, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. Then return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 6: Saturday, Florence / Siena / Assisi
After breakfast, we check out and drive to Siena, where we explore the birthplace of St. Catherine (1347–1380), patron saint of Italy and Europe. This ancient city is known for its cuisine and the warm red tones of its medieval cityscape. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We meet the guide to see the city’s major treasures, including the magnificent marble Gothic Duomo, the Piazza del Campo, and the Eucharistic Miracle of 1760 at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, which offers a profound spiritual experience. Continue to Assisi. Check in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 7: Sunday, Assisi
This morning, we enjoy a guided tour of this charming and historic city, birthplace of St. Francis. We visit the Church of Santa Chiara and proceed to the site where Francis was born. We reach the heart of the town, the Piazza del Comune, with its Roman and medieval buildings, and then continue to the Basilica of St. Francis, built above the saint’s tomb. The basilica’s interiors are decorated with 12th- and 13th-century frescoes depicting his life and spiritual journey. After a break for lunch and shopping, we explore Santa Maria degli Angeli, built over the place where Francis spent his later years. A visit to the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis offers a meaningful moment of prayer and reflection. We also see the Porziuncola Chapel and the Chapel of the Transit. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 8: Monday, Assisi / Lanciano / San Giovanni Rotondo
After breakfast, we check out and drive to Lanciano to visit the Church of St. Francis, site of the eighth-century Eucharistic Miracle. Celebrate Mass. Continue to San Giovanni Rotondo, check in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 9: Tuesday, San Giovanni Rotondo / Rome
This morning is dedicated to Saint Padre Pio. We honor his life as we visit his tomb, cell, confessional, and the Capuchin Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, where we celebrate Mass. We also see the new Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Home for the Relief of the Suffering. After lunch, we depart for Rome. On the way, we stop to visit the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo, where the Archangel Michael appeared. Arrival in Rome in the evening. Check in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 10: Wednesday, Papal Audience / Major Basilicas
This morning we join pilgrims from around the world in St. Peter’s Square (or the Paul VI Hall) for the Papal Audience and blessing. After lunch, we visit two major basilicas of Rome. We begin with the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which houses a fragment of the table used at the Last Supper. We then visit the Holy Stairs, believed to be the steps Jesus climbed before Pontius Pilate. Finally, we tour the Basilica of St. Mary Major, whose crypt resembles the Nativity cave and contains a reliquary with part of the Holy Crib. We celebrate Mass and return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 11: Thursday, Vatican Museums / Trevi Fountain
We begin the day with a visit to the Vatican Museums, one of the most important museum complexes in the world, home to the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s renowned ceiling. Afterward, we visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic church ever built, featuring Michelangelo’s dome and his famous Pietà. After lunch, we reach the city center, celebrate Mass at a selected church, and enjoy a walking tour from Piazza Navona to the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. Balance of the day at leisure. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
DAY 12: Friday, Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight home, arriving the same day. (B)
