2024 Italy Pilgrimage
Cost
*$4995 Land Only (Main Tour)
$995 Additional Cost – Solo Traveler (Main Tour)
*Price is for double occupancy, main tour only.
See brochure for full pricing and payment details, and pricing for Rome extension. Group flight option from DFW no longer available.
Final payment due February 10, 2024.
Dates
April 16 – 26, 2024
*Optional Rome Extension April 26 – 29, 2024
NOTE: Mass for our group will be celebrated daily by our pilgrimage chaplains in some of the most amazing sites in Italy!
Visit the holiest places in early Christendom and experience the beauty of the Italian countryside on this spring pilgrimage. Led by international tour guide and theological historian Marcellino “Dr. Italy” D’Ambrosio, this 11-day trip will take you to the cities of Venice, Florence, Bologna, Padua, Ravenna and Assisi, with an optional extension to Rome. Explore ancient basilicas, the treasures of St. Peter’s and the Vatican, and the regional cuisine and culture of these marvelous cities. Enjoy daily Mass with the chaplain who will accompany this very special tour. Dr. Italy will be our principal guide, providing expert commentary on saints and shrines, cuisine and wines of Italy.
Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio and his wife, Susan
Known on Catholic radio and TV as “Dr. Italy,” Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio is a NY Times best-selling author and a renowned commentator on Catholic issues, appearing as a guest on national news and a variety of Catholic radio networks such as Relevant Radio, EWTN, and the Sirius Catholic channel. He recently authored the ground-breaking study series filmed in Rome, What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith. Dr. D’Ambrosio is an expert on the history of the Church in Italy and has been leading tours there since 1999. He has a special familiarity with the shrines on this tour, as well as with the culture and cuisine of the particular regions we’ll be visiting. Dr. Italy will be our principal guide on this pilgrimage, providing expert commentary on saints, sites, and shrines of Italy.
DAY 1, Tuesday, April 16: DEPART USA
Depart Dallas-Ft. Worth airport (group flight option) to Venice, Italy. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Optional upgrade quotes to either premium economy or business class seats are available upon request.
DAY 2, Wednesday, April 17: VENICE AIRPORT- PADUA
We arrive in Venice, where our English-speaking guide greets us and assists us on to the bus. The ancient city of Padua, with one of the oldest Universities in Europe, will be our home for the next several nights. We visit the Basilica of St. Anthony to learn about the saint, celebrate Mass, and explore the magnificent church with its amazing altar by Donatello. Settle into our comfortable Marriot hotel for a welcome drink, dinner, and an overnight. (D)
DAY 3, Thursday, April 18: VENICE
TFollowing breakfast, we depart by boat to Venice for a two-hour walking tour, private Mass, and a visit to the spectacular San Marco Cathedral. The afternoon is at leisure so you may explore the city on your own. Plan what you wish to see in advance by getting information about the city online. Perhaps a gondola ride and lunch sampling some Venetian specialties. In the pilgrimage handbook you will receive, Dr. Italy will provide suggestions of sites and typical foods of the city. Return to our hotel in Padua in the afternoon for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)
DAY 4, Friday, April 19: VENICE-BOLOGNA-RAVENNA
After breakfast, we check out of our hotel. We’ll stop at Padua’s ancient cathedral and then see fabulous frescos by Giotto in Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel. Next we drive about 90 minutes while we hear about why Bologna, our next stop, is one of Italy’s culinary capitals. Following Mass and a visit to the tomb of St. Dominic, we’ll have time to shop and explore the local food scene on our own with suggestions provided for a typical Bolognese lunch menu. Then we’ll drive to the historic Byzantine city of Ravenna on the Adriatic coast for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)
DAY 5, Saturday, April 20: RAVENNA
The city of Ravenna is a little-known jewel whose churches and art are among the most ancient and distinctive of Italy. Here, we’ll see some of the most beautiful Byzantine mosaics in the world and celebrate Mass together. Our walking tour includes visits to the octagonal Basilica di San Vitale, the 6th-century Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, and the cross-shaped Mausoleo di Galla Placidia. Dinner and overnight in Ravenna. (B.D.)
DAY 6, Sunday, April 21: RAVENNA-GUBBIO-ASSISI
Following breakfast, we’ll check out of the hotel and drive to the Umbrian hilltop town of Gubbio, one of the best preserved medieval gems in Italy, where we will have our Mass. You will learn about the famous story of St. Francis and the wolf of Gubbio as we visit the Piazza Grande and the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo. Gubbio is also known for its ceramics and olive oil, so this will be a good place to do some shopping. After departure, we arrive at the 5- star spa and wine resort nestled in the countryside which will be our home for next three nights. (B.D.)
DAY 7, Monday, April 22: ASSISI
We have an entire day to explore the hilltop town of birds and silence on foot. We’ll visit St. Francis Basilica, see the world-renowned frescos of Giotto, and celebrate Mass. Continue across town to visit the Basilica of St. Clare and the famous San Damiano crucifix which spoke to St. Francis. We also see the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis at the Sanctuary of Espoliazione. Before our overnight at our resort, we will have dinner at a local restaurant in Assisi and experience the medieval magic of a night-time stroll through Assisi’s quaint streets. (B.)
DAY 8, Tuesday, April 23: ASSISI
After Mass at San Damiano, the chapel, we’ll descend into the valley to visit St. Mary of the Angels, the cradle of the Franciscan order. Both chapels were rebuilt by the hands of St. Francis and his first companions. In the afternoon, we visit the Ermo della Carceri, St. Francis’ retreat hermitage near the summit of Mt. Subasio. We return to our spa/ wine resort for some relaxation and overnight. (B. D)
DAY 9, Wednesday, April 24: ASSISI-SIENA-FLORENCE
Leaving Assisi, we drive to Siena to celebrate Mass and venerate the relics of St. Catherine of Siena at the Basilica of St. Dominic. We’ll have time to explore Siena on our own before driving to a nearby winery for a wine tasting and a lesson in Tuscan wine production. Arriving in Florence later in the afternoon, we settle into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)
DAY 10, Thursday, April 25: FLORENCE
The culmination of our pilgrimage will be a visit to the magnificent Renaissance city of Florence. We see the iconic Duomo, with the famous dome by Brunelleschi, bell tower by Giotto and baptistry with the Doors of Paradise by Giotto (outside views). We visit the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s statue of David, the Convent of St. Marco with its frescos by Fra Angelico, and the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Novella. We also see the Signoria Square, and the Church of the Holy Cross where Michelangelo worshipped and Galileo worshipped. Mass will be celebrated. We also visit the stunning cast iron structure housing San Lorenzo market where we can pick up lunch and explore the amazing local food products. Dinner is at leisure with an opportunity to explore the Tuscan food scene on your own, with menu suggestions from Dr. Italy. Overnight Florence. (B.)
DAY 11, Friday, April 26: RETURN TO THE USA
Transfer to Florence airport for our return flight home (B)
DAY 11. Friday, April 26: FLORENCE-ROME
Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive to Rome. Our first visit is to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where we celebrate Mass, and the nearby Tre Fontane Convent, where St. Paul was beheaded. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Rome. (B)
DAY 12, Saturday, April 27: ROME
We visit St. Peter’s Basilica this morning and have lunch together in a local restaurant. Next, we visit the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, the Holy Stairs, and the church of Sancta Croce in Jerusalem, where we see relics of the passion brought by Constantine’s mother, Helena, back from her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the 4th century. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Mass will be celebrated. (B.L.D)
DAY 13, Sunday, April 28: DAY AT LEISURE IN ROME
Today is your day to explore as you wish. You may want to embark on a walking tour with Dr. D’Ambrosio and attend Sunday Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, then perhaps take a cab over to the Vatican Square for the noon Angelus by the Holy Father, visit the Vatican Museum (be sure to purchase tickets online well in advance), toss a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain, or just meander through Rome’s beautiful piazzas. At night we’ll meet for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome. (B. Special dinner)
DAY 14, Monday, April 29: RETURN TO USA
We are transferred to Rome airport this morning, where we will board our flights home. (B)
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