Northern Italy & Sordevolo Passion Play Pilgrimage 2027

We begin the day with Mass, then visit the magnificent Duomo di Milano, where the relics of St. Charles Borromeo are enshrined alongside a nail from the Passion of Christ. St. Helena sent this relic to her son Constantine, who had it fashioned into a bridle for his horse; it later came into the possession of St. Ambrose and is now raised and lowered on a special platform for veneration. Next, visit Santa Maria delle Grazie to view Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco “The Last Supper” (TBC- subject to ticket availability). In the afternoon, explore the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, the final resting place of Milan’s patron saint. The evening is free to explore Milan’s exceptional dining scene. Overnight in Milan. Meals: B

Travel to Pavia to celebrate Mass at the Church of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro, the final resting place of St. Augustine and St. Boethius. We then explore the magnificent Certosa di Pavia, one of Italy’s most beautiful monasteries. Lunch follows at Tenuta Travaglino, a fifth-generation family winery set among rolling hills, where we enjoy a guided wine tasting amid the estate’s historic cellars. Return to Milan for dinner and overnight. Meals: B, L at the winery, D

After breakfast, head into the heart of Piedmont and stop in Asti, the region’s premier wine-producing center. Tour this elegant city, known for its medieval towers and beautiful churches, including the Church of San Secondo and the 14th-century Duomo, where we celebrate Mass. Enjoy a leisurely lunch accompanied by Asti Spumante. We then continue to the Langhe region for dinner and overnight in Bra. Meals: B, L, D

We start with a visit to the Basilica del Corpus Domini, built to commemorate the Eucharistic miracle of June 6, 1453, and celebrate Mass there. We then travel to the Sacra di San Michele, an ancient abbey dramatically perched atop Mount Pirchiriano. Recognized as a symbolic monument of the Piedmont region, it inspired the best-selling novel The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, and members of the Royal House of Savoy are buried in its main church. The afternoon is free to browse the city’s shops and sample Turin’s famous chocolates — don’t miss Bicerin, the city’s iconic layered drink of espresso, chocolate, and whipped cream. Dinner is on our own this evening; Turin is the birthplace of the Slow Food movement, so take the opportunity to savor a meal at one of the city’s many outstanding restaurants. Overnight in Turin. Meals: B, L

Depart for the Lake Maggiore region and the resort town of Stresa. After Mass at the Hermitage of San Remigio, we board a boat for a cruise to the Borromean Islands — Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori — with a special lunch on the charming fishermen’s island. Dinner and overnight in Stresa. Meals: B, Special lunch on Isola dei Pescatori, D

Sail to the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, built into a sheer cliff face above the lake, where we celebrate Mass. We then continue by boat to Arona to admire the colossal 17th-century bronze statue of St. Charles Borromeo, one of the largest statues in the world. The afternoon includes a wine-and-cheese experience at Guffanti Fiori, one of Italy’s finest affineurs. We close the pilgrimage with a farewell dinner at a restaurant overlooking Lake Maggiore. Overnight in Stresa. Meals: B, Special farewell dinner overlooking Lake Maggiore

Transfer to Milan Malpensa or Turin Airport (TBC) for our return flight home, carrying with you the memories and graces of this extraordinary pilgrimage through Northern Italy.

Depart on an overnight flight bound for Venice. Dinner and breakfast are served on board. Pre-tour airfare is booked separately from the main group air block. Please coordinate flight arrangements with Jane Allison, the Select International Operations and Account Manager, who can advise on the best available options from your departure city.

Arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport, where we are met by our English-speaking Christian Tour Manager and assisted with boarding our private motorcoach for the approximately 45-minute transfer to Padua. In the afternoon, we visit the Abbey of Santa Giustina, a church rarely visited by American pilgrims but very important as a pilgrimage site, as it houses the relics of several early Christian martyrs and saints, including St. Luke the Evangelist and St. Justina of Padua. Here we celebrate Mass. After checking into our hotel and freshening up, we gather for a welcome dinner, the perfect occasion to meet our fellow pre-tour pilgrims and set the tone for the days ahead. Overnight in Padua. Meals: Welcome Dinner

This morning, we celebrate Mass at the magnificent Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, one of the most visited pilgrimage churches in Christendom and the final resting place of the great Franciscan preacher and wonder-worker. We venerate the relics of St. Anthony, including his incorrupt tongue and vocal cords, preserved as a sign of his lifelong dedication to proclaiming the Word of God. We then visit the Oratory of St. George and the Scrovegni Chapel, whose interior is adorned with Giotto’s breathtaking 14th-century fresco cycle depicting the lives of Our Lady and Christ, among the most important works of art in the Western tradition. The afternoon is free to explore Padua’s lively market squares and medieval arcaded streets at our own pace. Dinner at leisure in Padua. Meals: B

This morning, we travel by private coach to Venice, approximately 45 minutes from Padua. We step aboard a vaporetto for a cruise along the Grand Canal before exploring the heart of La Serenissima on foot. We celebrate Mass at Santa Maria della Salute (TBC), a historic Venetian church with a soaring dome, vast windows, and beautiful, glittering gold details, and visit the Basilica of St. Mark, whose gilded Byzantine mosaics and sacred relics have drawn pilgrims for more than a millennium. Venice is full of art and beautiful churches, and we recommend that, during our time at leisure, you visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in San Polo for paintings by Titian, or the Church of San Rocco and its museum if you are a fan of Tintoretto’s paintings. We also recommend a visit to the Church of San Zaccaria, where the impressive paintings by Venetian masters are on another level. Walk across the Rialto Bridge, wander the labyrinthine calli, and sample the city’s renowned cicchetti before returning to Padua by early evening. Dinner and overnight in Padua. Meals: B, D

After breakfast, we check out of our Padua hotel and travel by private coach to Milan, approximately 3 hours west. Before arrival in Milan, we stop in the city of Bergamo to visit the  striking Bergamo Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the walled city. We visit the Capella Colleoni with its magnificent frescoes and carvings. Departing Bergamo, we stop at Sotto il Monte, where we can see the birthplace of Pope John XXIII, before continuing to our hotel in Milan. Upon arrival, we check into the group hotel and settle in. This evening, we join the full pilgrimage group for the welcome dinner, a joyful gathering of pre-tour participants and newly arrived pilgrims, marking the official start of the main tour together. The full group itinerary begins tomorrow morning. Overnight in Milan. Mass will be celebrated. Meals: B, D