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

Upon arrival in Turin, we are met by our tour manager who will be with us for the duration of the pilgrimage. 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. After some prayerful time here, we proceed to our local hotel to check in for dinner and overnight. (D, Mass) Overnight 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 Florence, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Turin

Florence is a city of masterpieces where numerous churches and family chapels were painted by the greatest artists of the Renaissance to give Glory to God. We’ll enjoy a full city tour of this magnificent Renaissance city today. Stroll the same streets Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Botticelli walked. Gaze at artwork so divine it is still moving hearts, centuries after its creation. Where else can one admire Michelangelo’s David, gaze at the famous Perseus statue by Benvenuto Cellini, eat the best food, and go into deep contemplation all in one day? See the famous dome on Florence’s cathedral – Duomo di Firenze – that dominates the skyline, and walk along the Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge designed by a Dominican friar. Visit the Baptistry chapel, where thousands have received the Sacrament of Baptism, with its bronze Gates of Paradise showcasing fabulous castings of the Old Testament that seem to come to life. Continue onto Santa Maria Novella Church whose religious artwork is prized throughout the world. Enter the Santa Croce Church with its 16 chapels of superb frescoes by Giotto and see where two of Italy’s most famous Italians are buried: Michelangelo and Galileo. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Florence

We will depart Tuscany today and travel to the region of Umbria, stopping in Siena, where we visit St. Dominic’s, St. Catherine of Siena’s parish church where she attended daily Mass and went into ecstasy. The people of Siena wanted St. Catherine to be buried in her home church, but they were only able to procure her head, which is preserved for veneration in a reliquary in St. Dominic’s. Adjacent to the church is her birthplace and childhood home, which has been renovated throughout the centuries into a museum, including several chapels and a cloister. Visit the cell where she fasted and prayed, then experience a highlight of our day in the Basilica of St. Francis: venerating the Eucharistic miracle of Siena. Explore the majestic Gothic Cathedral of Siena, also known as the Duomo di Siena, built in the 13th and 14th centuries and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. This afternoon we continue on to the peaceful village of Assisi, a town which welcomes you in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare into its peaceful interior, and our home for the next two nights. (B, D, Mass) Overnight 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. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Assisi

Witness where the power of the Eucharist turned away an army. The invading Saracen army was about to attack the Convent of San Damiano where St. Clare lived with her nuns in 1241. Even though bed-ridden, St. Clare got up and held the Blessed Sacrament in the air and saw the advancing army flee in terror establishing “The Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi.” Also in the convent, we will visit the chapel where Jesus spoke to St. Francis from the crucifix, then proceed to the valley below. Here 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. This afternoon we depart for Rome, our home for the next four nights. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

On our first full day in Rome, we begin with a walking tour of ancient Rome. We begin in the Piazza Navona with Bernini’s lavish fountains and proceed to the Pantheon with its unique dome that inspired Michelangelo. Venerate the resting place of St. Ignatius of Loyola and other notable Jesuits and admire the intricate frescoes and paintings of all the side chapels in the Church of the Gesu. Afterwards, we walk past the Forum and Colosseum on our way to St. Mary Major. Here we venerate the crib of Christ, view the famous icon attributed to St. Luke, and see inestimable artwork that makes Rome renowned throughout the world. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

Our day today is filled with wonder and awe as we steep ourselves in the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica, which beckons us into its interior through the arms of Bernini’s Colonnade. Marvel at Michelangelo’s Pieta and pray at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel renovated by St. John Paul II. 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 travel to the last 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 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

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. Afterwards, we continue to St. St. Clement Basilica, which houses an original fresco depicting St. Clement celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, giving us a picture of Eucharistic worship at the end of the first century or the beginning of the second. Lastly, we’ll admire Michelangelo’s magnificent statue of Moses inside St. Peter in Chains. Tonight, we will celebrate our farewell dinner together in a local restaurant. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Rome

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