Rome and Assisi, Italy

Motorcoach pickup at airport, drive to Assisi (3.25 to 3.75 hours)

If the flight arrives by 2pm, we will stop in the valley below at:

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. St. Francis spent most of his life here.

Stop 45 minutes to 1 hr. If you choose to celebrate Mass here add another 30 minutes (minimal walking, all flat)

Check-in at the hotel, then group welcome dinner at the hotel.

Overnight ASSISI (Dinner)

After breakfast at the hotel we will walk to the Basilica di San Francesco where we will visit the tomb of St. Francis in the lower Basilica (and have time for prayer). We then will go to the upper Basilica to view a series of frescoes, painted by Giotto and his students, depicting St. Francis', guided by Franciscan brother or nun. Walking distance ~ 0.3 mi

We will celebrate Mass at either Sts. Francis, Clare or Rufino churches (choice of Priest or your group)

We will then take a professional guided walking tour:

The birthplace of St. Francis

Piazza del Comune/Santa Maria Sopra Minerva – A Catholic church built over a Roman temple to Minerva. (0.5 mi)

St. Rufino Cathedral – originally built in the 8th century, then rebuilt around 1,000. See the baptismal font of both Sts. Francis and Clare. (0.2 mi)

St. Clare’s Basilica - St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clare Sisters, is buried here. (0.2 mi)

After lunch: (0.5 mi) back to hotel

(total walking for the day ~1.6 miles ~ 37 min, 295 feet of elevation gain)

Afternoon Free

Possible afternoon trip(s).

Convent of San Damiano - see the chapel where the talking cross originally hung. (0.8 mi)

Other possibilities - I will discuss with you.

Overnight ASSISI (Breakfast)

After breakfast at the hotel, the motorcoach will take us first to Gubbio (~1–1.35 hrs). Gubbio is a medieval town: We will visit St. Francis Church. St. Francis freed Gubbio from a fierce wolf who afflicted it.

Lunch (on own)

Then continue to La Verna (~1.75 – 2.2 hrs), where St. Francis received the stigmata on his last visit in 1224.

Return to Assisi (~2.1–2.4 hrs). OR could stay in the Guest Quarters overnight in La Verna as a mini retreat.

Choice to celebrate Mass in Assisi, Gubbio or La Verna.

Overnight ASSISI (Breakfast)

Assisi - Rome

Following breakfast at the hotel, we check-out and depart for the Tuscan hill town of Siena (~2-2.5 hours). We will visit the Dominican church with St. Catherine’s incorrupt head and fore finger (her body is buried in Rome) where we will have time for prayer.

We then will take a professional guided walking tour to visit the house St. Catherine grew up in, the Cathedral, the famous Town Square and possibly the Eucharistic Miracle.

walking 1.4 miles (~30 minutes) with 177 feet elevation gain and loss.

Overnight ROME (Breakfast, Dinner)

On the way to Rome, you can also choose to stop in Orvieto (Eucharistic Miracle)

Walking is 2.2 miles with 338 feet elevation gain and loss. For those who have difficulty walking, one could take a city bus. If just most of the uphill portion, it would then be only 1.4 miles of walking (~28 minutes).

After breakfast at the hotel, we will walk over to the Vatican Museums for a professional guided tour, which usually takes 1.75-2 hours. We will see:

Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's Masterpiece: the restored mural of the Last Judgment.

We will then go to St. Peter's Square and Basilica where you will get a guided tour of the Basilica by a US seminarian which usually takes 2-3 hours. You will see:

Michelangelo's Pieta.

Tombs of Pope St. John Paul II, Pope St. John XXIII and numerous other Popes.

You will have free time to go up into the Cupola (Dome) to the top of the dome, with nice views of the city.

Gift shops

There is regular daily Mass at 5 pm in Italian or we can arrange for an English Mass at a different church.

Overnight ROME (Breakfast)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will go on a professional guided walking tour of Ancient Rome.

Some of the places we will visit:

Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Sopra Minevra, the Gesu (Mother church of the Jesuits, where St. Ignatius is buried), the Trevi Fountain (made famous to Americans by the 1954 movie 3 coins in the fountain).

1.4 – 1.6 miles, walking time ~28 – 32 minutes, tour around 3 hours with ~30 minute stops (could be a bit longer) in the churches for looking and praying and sitting.

After lunch the motorcoach will pick us up and take us to:

see the Chains that shackled St. Peter and then the to the Colosseum and Roman Forum for a professionally guided tour.

Overnight ROME (Breakfast)

After breakfast at the hotel we will go to the morning Papal Audience. We will then visit two Major basilicas plus two Minor Basilicas.

First the Basilica of St. Mary Major, then the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, then across the street a minor basilica with The Holy Stairs plus an additional minor Basilica.

Will spend 30 minutes to 1 hour at each Major Basilica and ~20-30 minutes at the other sites.

Return to hotel between 7-8 pm.

Overnight ROME (Breakfast)

After breakfast at the hotel, we head to the Catacombs for a tour and will celebrate Mass there. Then to the Major Basilica of St. Paul, outside the walls.

Overnight ROME (Breakfast, Dinner)

After breakfast at the hotel, we check-out and our Motorcoach takes us to Fiumicino airport for the flight home.

Need to be at airport 2 hours prior to departure,