Pilgrimage to Italy – March 21, 2025

Rome | Assisi | Turin
Private Group

Tour a land steeped in the history of martyrs and well-known saints. See how the Catholic faith grew as a signpost to the world.
A Truly Catholic Pilgrimage
Date:
3/21/2025
Duration:
11 Days
Departure:
Louisville
Activity Level:
Level 3 - Demanding
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Activity Level 3 - Demanding
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$4,480
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(317) 574-4191

Pilgrimage Itinerary

Day 1 | March 21 | Depart USA

Our pilgrimage begins as we depart on our overnight flight to Italy. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft.

Day 2 | March 22 | Arrive Rome

Upon arrival in the “Eternal City,” we are met by our tour manager who will be with us for the duration of the pilgrimage. We begin our time here with a walking tour of ancient Rome. We begin in the Piazza Navona and proceed to the Pantheon. View the Forum and Colosseum (from the outside) on our way to St. Mary Major. Here we will walk through the first of the four Holy Doors. We will then have time to venerate the crib of Christ, view the famous icon attributed to St. Luke, and see inestimable artwork that makes Rome renowned throughout the world. We continue to our hotel where we check in for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Day 3 | March 23 | Rome

We begin early this morning with some free time for prayer at St Peter’s before we walk to the NAC for a unique view of the city. Afterwards. we join thousands of other pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus with the Pope and receive his blessing (per his schedule). This afternoon, we travel to another of the four major basilicas of Rome – St. Paul Outside the Walls. Though it was destroyed by a fire in 1823, it was originally built by Constantine in the fourth century over the site of St. Paul’s tomb and was rebuilt in the 19th century exactly as it was before the fire. We will have the opportunity to walk through our second set of Holy Doors. We then journey into the lives of the martyrs as we visit the Catacombs. Here Christians celebrated the Mass in secret and buried the martyrs, including several popes. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Day 4 | March 24 | Rome

Today we return to St. Peter’s Basilica where we enjoy a full tour, including time to marvel at Michelangelo’s Pieta and pray at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel renovated by St. John Paul II. We will also walk through our third set of Holy Doors on this Jubilee pilgrimage. Afterwards, we have a guided tour through the Vatican Museums which house artifacts from around the world and Eucharistic art to prepare ourselves for the greatest masterpiece yet: The Sistine Chapel. Painted by Michelangelo, it is the most famous ceiling in the world under which popes are chosen to lead the faithful. This afternoon, we explore the city on our own with a walking tour of some of our spiritual director’s favorite Roman sites and enjoy dinner out on our own. (B, Mass) Overnight Rome

Day 5 | March 25 | Rome / Assisi

We begin today in Santa Croce in Gerusalemme where we get a little piece of Jerusalem thanks to Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, who brought relics of the True Cross and the inscription part of the cross that stated Jesus was King of the Jews. At one time, soil from Jerusalem covered the Basilica’s floor, so it truly was part of the Holy Land. After venerating these relics of Our Lord’s crucifixion, we climb the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), which our Lord climbed on His way to His condemnation, followed by the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the seat of the Bishop of Rome, including a walk through the Holy Doors. This afternoon we depart Rome and travel north to Assisi. Upon arrival, we will visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, site of the Porziuncola, the tiny church in the woods where St. Francis began his ministry and where St. Clare began her religious life, before checking into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Assisi

Day 6 | March 26 | Assisi

We begin our day in the heart of Assisi in the Shrine of Renunciation within St. Mary Major church. This shrine was built to commemorate the spot where St. Francis renounced his wealth and family and began his life of poverty and service to the Lord. It is now where the tomb of Bl. Carlo Acutis lies. Bl. Carlo – the first millennial saint – dedicated part of his short life to cataloging Eucharistic Miracles from around the world. After venerating his resting place, journey to the Basilica of St. Francis to venerate this saint’s burial place. Afterwards is the Basilica of St. Clare, which holds the famous San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to St. Francis, and where the golden locks of St. Clare’s hair and St. Francis’ poor patched tunic are kept. The remainder of the day will be free for personal prayer and activities, including dinner on our own. (B, Mass) Overnight Assisi

Day 7 | March 27 | Assisi / Turin

Depart Assisi for Turin. Along the way, we will stop in Pisa for lunch (on our own) and a visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Upon arrival in Turin, we will proceed to our hotel to check in for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Turin

Day 8 | March 28 | Turin

Today we begin in the Basilica Corpus Domini, built to commemorate the Miracle of the Eucharist of 1453. Afterwards, we visit the students at the Oratory school, followed by free time in the neighborhood of Valdocco. We will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Turin

Day 9 | March 29 | Turin

We begin this morning in the Duomo – the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – housing the reliquary containing the Shroud of Turin. We will have what is perhaps a once‐in‐a‐lifetime opportunity to view the Shroud. After time for prayer here and veneration of the shroud, we can visit other side chapels of the Cathedral, including the resting place of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. This afternoon, we journey to Colle Don Bosco. This is where St. John Bosco was born and grew up – before he moved into the city of Turin. Spend some time in prayer in the Basilica of Don Bosco before visiting Mondonio, where St. Dominic Savio died. Afterwards, we return to our hotel in Turin for dinner and overnight. (D, Mass) Overnight Turin

Day 10 | March 30 | Turin

This morning, we journey to the Oratory of St. Frances de Sales. This is where St. Dominic Savio attended Mass and where he consecrated himself to our Blessed Mother. Proceed to the Basilica di Maria Ausiliatrice (Mary, Help of Christians). This church houses the body of St. John Bosco (and was originally part of the home for boys he founded), St. Mary Mazzarello, St. Dominic Savio, and relics of over 6,000 other saints. Next door is the Casa Don Bosco – the home and museum telling the story of this saint’s life. This evening, we celebrate our farewell dinner out together. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Turin

Day 11 | March 31 | Turin / Milan / USA

Today we say “Ciao” to Italia and transfer to the airport in Milan for our return flight home, cherishing all the wonderful memories and graces of this pilgrimage. (B)

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What's Included

  • Daily Mass at holy sites
  • Roundtrip economy class airfare from Louisville on United Airlines
  • 9 nights’ accommodation, including taxes and service charges
  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at airports and hotels
  • Knowledgeable, friendly, Catholic/Christian guides; whisper headsets; deluxe motor coach transportation to holy sites; all entrance fees listed on itinerary
  • Farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Turin on day 10
  • Breakfast and dinner per itinerary (excluding drinks)

*Pricing Information

The total pricing is based off the following components:
Base price:
$3,795
Air taxes/fuel surcharges:
$526.10
Gratuities:
$155 (Gratuities are not factored into the total pricing, but will be added to the final invoice.)
See brochure for information about single rooms and/or land-only pricing.

Please note: Air taxes/fuel surcharges and gratuities are subject to change and will be updated on the final invoice. The final invoice will be emailed to you approximately 3 months prior to departure.
Contact Tekton Ministries to reserve your spot on this life-changing pilgrimage

Testimonials

Read what other pilgrims have shared about their experiences with Tekton Ministries.
You can view more testimonials here.
Italy
"[Our tour manager] was just amazing! Our trip would not have been the same without her. Because we were a family group we would sometimes make last minute decisions to make changes to the itinerary and [our tour manager] always went above and beyond to meet our wishes."
Michelle P.Pilgrim from Omaha, NE
Italy
"My favorite moment was offering Mass on the altar of Pope St. Gregory the Great in St. Peter's."
Fr. Sean D.Pilgrim from Pawhuska, OK
Italy
"Celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. Francis, my confirmation saint, was an incredible gift. As our pilgrimage continued, I was drawn into each and every altar and chapel that Mass was celebrated, but the uniqueness of that place was memorable."
Fr. Steven M.Pilgrim from Lincoln, NE