Duration: 11 Days
Dates: March 17 - 27, 2025
Departure City: Newrak, NJ (EWR) or New York, NY (JFK)

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Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: March 17th, 2025 – Monday: DEPART FROM THE USA

 DAY 2: March 18th, 2025 – Tuesday: ARRIVAL IN ROME: ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS, TRASTEVERE 
Upon arrival we stop at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the walls to walk through the first Holy Door of our Jubilee Year Pilgrimage and to celebrate Mass. Originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, the Basilica is where the great Apostle Paul is buried. Following lunch, and on arrival time****, we will drive to the old quarter of Trastevere. Pietro arrived in Rome by ship at the Port of Ripa Grande, a few steps from the Basilica of St Cecilia, in a neighborhood at the time inhabited by Jews and was hosted here. We will start the day celebrating Mass at Basilica of St Cecilia. Then we will enjoy a walking tour around this quarter visiting the Church of St Francesco a Ripa and the Basilica of St Maria in Trastevere- Continue to the hotel for check in, dinner and overnight (BD)

DAY 3: March 19th, 2025 – Wednesday: APPIAN WAY – CATACOMBS - IMPERIAL ROME & BASILICA OF ST. MARY MAJOR 
This morning, we will drive to the Appian Way, the earliest road of Ancient Rome, to reach the Catacombs and the Basilica of St Sebastian. We will visit also the Church of Domine Quo Vadis. According to the tradition the apostle Peter, fleeing the city to avoid martyrdom, met Jesus to whom he addressed the following words “Domine, quo vadis?” (Lord, where are you going?) and the Lord replied “VenioRomam iterum crucifigi” (I am coming to Rome to be crucified again). Peter, understanding the rebuke, went back to face his fate and Jesus disappeared but, in disappearing, left his footprints on the road. As evidence of what happened, inside the Church there is a stone with the imprints "of His Holy feet". The stone is actually a copy: the original is in fact kept in the Basilica of San Sebastiano). Return to Rome. Break for lunch. We will enjoy a walking tour of the Imperial Rome area. We start at the Colosseum (outside visit). Then we will continue to the Roman Forum, the religious, political, and commercial center of ancient Rome, and for centuries, the entire civilized world. We will see the Arches of Constantine and Titus. We will visit the Church of St. Francesca Romana. Also known as Santa Maria Nova, is located between the Roman Forum and the Temple of Venus and Rome. According to tradition, the place where the basilica stands was the one where Simon Magus died. A stone commemorates the event: on this one we would still see the marks of Peter's knees, who knelt in prayer. Here we will celebrate Mass. Finally, we will see the Mamertine prison, where San Pietro was incarcerated. In the late afternoon we will drive to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, walking through the 2nd Holy Door of our pilgrimage. Today we will start the day celebrating Mass then we will visit the Basilica of St Mary Major, which is one of the oldest and most important shrines in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary - Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)

DAY 4: March 20th, 2025 Thursday: BASILICA OF ST PETER & VATICAN TREASURES - ST JOHN LATERAN & HOLY STAIRS 
Following breakfast, we reach t St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Christendom Church at the Basilica we walk through the third Holy Door of our pilgrimage. We celebrate Mass and we enjoy a guided tour of The Basilica was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. It is here that we view Michelangelo's Pieta and pray at the tombs of St. Peter and Pope St. John Paul II. Continue to the Vatican Museum where we see world-famous masterpieces including the incomparable Sistine Chapel- Our afternoon tour in ludes the Basilica of St John in Lateran the fourth Holy Door of our trip. This Basilica is the seat of the bishop of Rome, who of course, is also the Pope. The Basilica houses magnificent artwork and also wood from the table used at the Last Supper. It is high above the altar above the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, to the left of the main Papal altar. From here we will walk to the Shrine of the Holy Stairs, so named because they are the steps which led to the praetorium of the Roman Procurator Ponzio Pilato. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)

DAY 5: March 21st, 2025 Friday: PAPAL BLESSING –BAROQUE SQUARE 
Following breakfast, we return to San Peter’s Basilica for the 10:30 am Mass, celebrated in Italian, to which our priest can con-celebrate. Then, at 12.00, in San Peter’s square, we will attend the Sunday Papal Blessing, called the “Urbi et Orbi “(for the city of Rome and for the World). Then we walk a short distance to Castel Sant’Angelo and from here we cross the river Tiber over the Bridge of the Angles, to reach Navona Square. Break for lunch. Our afternoon walking tour includes the most beautiful monuments of the Baroque Rome area, including the Bernini’s fountain of the four rivers in Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. Some time at leisure for shopping before going back to our hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)

DAY 6: March 22nd, 2025 – Saturday: ROME – ORVIETO – ASSISI 
Breakfast and check out. We will drive approx 2 hours to reach Orvieto, where we will visit where we 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 continue to Assisi. (1,5 hrs. drive) Upon arrival we stop in the valley of Assisi to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Crowned by the magnificent dome designed by Alessi, this great Basilica was built in 1569. It enclosed the shrine of the "Porziuncola" or the Little Portion Chapel around which the first Franciscan community was centered, the place where Clare received the habit from Francis, and the Capella Del Transito, which marks the spot where the Saint died. Continue to the hotel for dinner and an overnight. (B.D.)

DAY 7: March 23rd, 2025 – Sunday: ASSISI 
After early breakfast, we will start our guided tour at the Basilica of St. Clare, the first and most important heroine of the Franciscan movement, view her remains and see the miraculous Crucifix. Continue walking throughout the narrow streets of Assisi, a very well-preserved medieval city. We reach the Basilica of St. Francis. Our local guide will take us to explore the Basilica complex, which is actually composed of two churches built one atop the other. Beneath both churches is the crypt that houses the tomb of St. Francis. The lower Basilica dates from 1228 to 1230, and is richly decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, and paintings done by some of the most important artists of the 13th and 14th centuries. In the upper Basilica, built from 1230 - 1253, we will marvel at the monumental frescoes painted by Giotto, which depict scenes from the life of the saint. Celebrate Mass. Independent lunch. In the afternoon we some time at leisure before taking a private taxi to visit San Damiano Sanctuary “One day in the autumn of 1205 the Lord was waiting here for Francis On a morning in April of 1211 the Lord welcomed Clare together with her first sisters. They were encounters and thus began their Christian adventure. Brother, Sister. Perhaps here today the Lord will meet with you. May your faith be firm and may the Lord grant you peace. Return to the hotel. Dinner (BD)

DAY 8: March 24th, 2025 – Monday: ASSISI - LORETO 
After breakfast, we check out and drive to Loreto (3 hrs. drive) Upon arrival we will we meet our local guide to visit the Shrine. We will see the Holy House of Nazareth. This tradition, based on devotion and popular belief, ascribed the transportation of the House of Nazareth to an angelic mission; current historical studies have developed the hypothesis of a transportation carried out by man, through sea and land, that came true with special assistance from above. That’s the way “to read between the lines” and give the most probable explanation to the Holy House event. Break for lunch. In the afternoon, we Celebrate Mass and enjoy time at leisure for personal activities. Dinner and overnight in Loreto (BD)

DAY 9 : March 25th, 2025 – Tuesday: LANCIANO – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO 
After breakfast we depart Loreto on a 2,5 hour drive trip to reach Lanciano to visit the Church of St. Francis. This Church is the site of the Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. Celebrate Mass. Then we Continue to San Giovanni Rotondo (2 hrs. drive) Check in at the hotel, in the afternoon, we visit the shrine dedicated to Saint Padre Pio. We honor his work as we visit his tomb, his cell, his confessional and the Capuchin Monastery of Our Lady of Grace. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)

DAY 10: March 26th, 2025 – Wednesday: SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – FRASCATI 
This morning , after breakfast, we will celebrate Mass in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. We then have time at leisure to see Padre Pio well preserved body in the crypt under the new church. Return to the hotel, check our and depart towards north. We will spend the last night in a location right outside Rome, close to the airport. Dinner and the hotel and overnight. (BD)

DAY 11: March 27th, 2025 – Thursday: Departure 
In the morning, transfer to Rome ’s airport. Departure 

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