Pathways of faith

Day 1 - Rome
Arrival at Rome airport, meet your local Tour Manager and board your coach to the Colosseum, not only an iconic symbol of Imperial ages but also widely regarded as a Christian site. Next we will visit the Church of St. Peter’s in Chains, which houses the relics of the chains that bound Saint Peter. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Welcome dinner in a typical Roman restaurant.

Day 2 - Rome
Meet local guide and depart to the Vatican City to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. We will then see the Basilica of St. Peter’s, by tradition the burial site of the first Pope and Bishop of Rome. In the afternoon we will visit the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls and complete our tour with a visit of the Christian Catacombs in the suggestive setting of Via Appia Antica.

Day 3 - Rome
Early transfer to St. Peter’s square to attend the General Audience with Pope Francis. In the afternoon visit of St. John Lateran's Basilica, cathedral of Rome, and the nearby Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs). Our tour will end with the Church of St. Mary Major, the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome.

Day 4 - Rome/S. Giovanni Rotondo
Today we leave for a long distance transfer to San Giovanni Rotondo. On our way we will visit the Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino. Before reaching our destination, we will also stop in Pietrelcina, birthplace of St. Pio. Dinner at the reserved hotel.

Day 5 - S. Giovanni Rotondo
This morning we will visit the new Church of Saint Pio and its crypt with the tomb of the Saint. Later on we will make our way to the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo, the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael.

Day 6 - S. Giovanni R./Lanciano/Loreto/Assisi
Driving along the Adriatic coastline, we will arrive at Lanciano and visit the great Eucharistic shrine. We will then continue on to Loreto and visit the House of the Holy Family, miraculously transferred here from Nazareth, as tradition says. Early evening arrival in Assisi, town of peace.

Day 7 - Assisi
Meet your local guide at hotel and start a guided tour including St. Francis Basilica, one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Italy, the Church of St. Clare and the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels with the little Porziuncola church, where the young Francis started the Franciscan order.

Day 8 - Assisi/Padua
Buffet breakfast and check-out. Departure to Padua, beautiful old university town with an illustrious past. Here we will visit the Basilica of St. Anthony, which welcomes millions of believers and pilgrims every year.

Day 9 - Padua/Venice/Padua
Today we will enjoy a daytrip to nearby Venice with a guided tour of the Byzantine Basilica of St. Mark. We will continue with the monumental Rialto Bridge, the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Afternoon at leisure and return to Padua.

Day 10 - Padua/Milan
Departure to Milan where we will meet our local guide and visit the Duomo, one of the world’s largest churches and best example of Northern Gothic in Italy. The tour will be completed with visits to the Sforza Castle and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Farewell dinner.

Day 11 - Milan
Bus transfer to Milan airport. End of the tour.