Pilgrimage to Italy & France 

Day-By-Day Itinerary

DAY 0 - Oct 4 – Los Angeles/Roma

DAY 1 - Oct 5 - Arrive Roma / Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. Upon arrival in Rome, we will meet our English-speaking Tour Manager and board our motor coach. According to the time of arrival, we will stop at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. Celebrate Mass. Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight (D)

DAY 2 - Oct 6 – Papal Audience / Basilicas. This morning, we will transfer to the Vatican City to join the pilgrims from around the world for an audience with His Holiness, the Pope (subject to the Holy Father’s schedule and health). After lunch, we will visit the Cathedral of St. John Lateran, the first Christian church to be consecrated. It was founded by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century and was home to the Popes for many years prior to the present Vatican residence. We will also visit the Holy Stairs. Finally, we will reach the Basilica of St Mary Major, where we will see the impressive interior with its remarkable mosaics in the nave depicting scenes from the Old Testament. View relics of Jesus’ manger from Bethlehem and the high altar, which contains the remains of St Matthew the Evangelist. Celebrate Mass. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (B)

DAY 3 - Oct 7 – Vatican Museums / Baroque Squares. Following breakfast will visit the Vatican Museums which house what can be described as the most important collections of art in the world. Highlights include The Tapestry Gallery, The Raphael Rooms, and The Sistine Chapel. Then we will continue to St. Peter's Basilica to admire Michelangelo’s magnificent “Pieta.” In the afternoon, we will enjoy a walking tour to see the most beautiful monuments of the Baroque Rome area, including, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (B, D)

DAY 4 - Oct 8 - Roma – Orvieto – Assisi. This morning, we will depart Rome and drive approximately 2 hours to reach Orvieto, where we will visit the gothic Cathedral built to house the holy relics of the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto. It was this miracle that occasioned the proclamation of the Feast of Corpus Christi and inspired St. Thomas Aquinas to write the famous hymn “Tantum Ergo.” After lunch, we will continue our drive to Assisi. Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight (B, D)

DAY 5 - Oct 9 – Assisi. After breakfast, we will visit the birthplace of the beloved St. Francis. We will start with the Basilica of St. Clare, to see her tomb and the cross that spoke to St. Francis, the Cross of San Damiano. Then we will walk throughout the medieval streets to visit the Santuario Della Spogliazione, where Saint Carlo Acutis’ tomb is placed. Finally, we will reach St. Francis Basilica and explore the upper and the lower parts of the Basilica to see the tomb of St. Francis. Celebrate Mass. In the afternoon, we will visit the Convent of San Damiano. Time at leisure before going back to the hotel for dinner and overnight (B)

DAY 6 - Oct 10 - Assisi-Siena-Florence. Today we will depart the hotel for Siena. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a walking tour of Siena, birthplace of St. Catherine, Virgin and Doctor of the Church. We will visit Basilica of St Dominic, which houses the relics of St. Catherine, and stroll the streets of Siena, considered to be the best-preserved medieval city, to reach the famous Piazza del Campo. Some time at leisure for lunch and shopping before celebrating Mass. In the afternoon, we will continue to Florence. Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight (B, D)

DAY 7 - Oct 11 – Florence. We will spend the day in Florence. We will enjoy a walking tour to visit the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore and to marvel at the sight of Brunelleschi’s Cupola. We will also see Giotto’s Bells Tower and the Baptistery Doors, and Gates of Paradise. Then we will continue to Signoria Square, considered as an “open-air museum”. Some free time for shopping in Ponte Vecchio. Today the mass will be celebrated in a local church. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (B)

Day 8 – Oct 12 – Florence-Bologna-Padova. This morning we will continue our drive to Bologna. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a walking tour of Bologna, the oldest university town in the western world, discovering medieval markets, towers, and porticoes. We will see the most important buildings in the city, including the famous Fountain of Neptune, which dates back to the 16th century, and the Basilica of San Petronio, the medieval two towers and the complex of Santo Stefano, inspired by the Church of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. We also see the Basilica of St. Dominic, where the saint is buried. Celebrate Mass. After lunch, we will drive to Padova, where we will spend the next two nights. Check in, dinner and overnight. (B, D)

DAY 9 - Oct 13 - Venice. After breakfast, we will depart our hotel by bus to reach the dock. From here, by private motorboat, we will reach Venice, nicknamed La Serenissima, in 30 minutes by sea. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a guided tour to see the Doge’s Palace, home to the political leader of the Republic of Venice, and the magnificent Basilica of St. Mark, a Byzantine wonder covered in golden mosaics and art treasures. Mass will be celebrated. Balance of the day at leisure. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (B, D)

DAY 10 - Oct 14 – Padua-Milan. After breakfast, we check out and reach the center of Padova to see the Basilica where St. Anthony is buried. Here we will celebrate Mass. Continue to Milan. Break for lunch upon arrival. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a walking tour of the city centre of Milan to see the magnificent Scala Theatre (outside), built in 1776 and located in Piazza della Scala, the temple of Music. We will see also the majestic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Finally, we will visit the Duomo (inside), symbol of Milan and the third biggest Cathedral in Europe. Then we will continue to Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight (B, D)

DAY 11 - Oct 15 - Milan-Paris. In the early morning, transfer to the train station. Today we will experience a trip on the TGV (Fast Train) than connects Milan to Paris in 7 hours. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a panoramic tour by bus. We will celebrate Mass, at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal at Rue de Bac. It was here where Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830. Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight (B, D)

DAY 12 - Oct 16 – Paris. Following breakfast, we will enjoy a guided tour of Notre Dame Cathedral (from outside), which is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. We will also visit the Sainte Chapelle. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a guided tour including the Montmartre quarter, including the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. Celebrate Mass. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (B)

DAY 13 - Oct 17 – Paris. Today we will start the day by visiting the Louvre Museum. Balance of the day at leisure for shopping or to discover the city on our own. In the late afternoon, we will enjoy a boat ride along the River Seine. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

DAY 14 - Oct 18 - Paris-Los Angeles