Catholic Shrines of Italy Tour - BHT0008
Italy Catholic Sanctuaries and Shrines Tour
The most popular pilgrimage tour to Italy visits the most significant and spiritually inspiring Catholic shrines and sanctuaries. We will start exploring Italy from Rome and the Vatican. On this 13-day tour, which ends in Milan, we will "meet with "dozens of saints, explore abbeys and convents, pray at the eucharistic miracle sanctuary, visit places Archangel Michael appeared at, and St. Anthony preached!
We are sure the list of places is inspiring enough for you to join us or take your group or parish on tour to the Shrines of Italy!
Who we meet and learn about on this pilgrimage, St. John Paul II, St. Benedict, St. Padre Pio, St. Francis, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Anthony, St. Claire, St. Marc, St. Ambrosius, St. Catherine....and many more!
Rome * Montecassino * San Giovanni Rotondo * Lanciano * Monte San't Angelo
Loreto * Assisi * Siena * Venice * Padua * Milan
Day 1 DEPARTURE (always Monday)
Depart from your gateway airport/city, an intercontinental flight to Europe, and your final destination is Rome, Italy.
Day 2 ARRIVAL TO ROME
We will arrive at the Rome airport; you will meet with Blue Heart Travel tour escort, and your Christian tour of Rome can begin. First, on our schedule, today is the Holy Mass at St. Mary Major basilica and a visit to St. John Lateran Cathedral. This is the Cathedral of Rome and was a Papal residence from the 5C until the papacy departed to Avignon in France. Today we will also see the nearby Holy Staircase (Scala Sancta) actual stairs that Jesus Christ walked on the day he went to Pilate. We will end our day at the hotel, have dinner, and overnight.
Day 3 AUDIENCE AT ST. PETER'S & VATICAN MUSEUMS
Today we have an early breakfast to be on time for the general audience with Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square. Following is a visit to the Vatican Museums, where we will see art masterpieces of Michelangelo, Bernini… We will walk through the Gallery of the Geographical map, the Sistine Chapel with the magnificent fresco of The Last Judgment, and many more halls and rooms filled with Christian paintings, sculptures, tapestry, and art from the Greeks & Romans until modern times. On the same day is our visit to the heart of the Vatican State, St. Peter's Basilica, and underground burial stones with the tomb of St. Peter and Pope John Paul II's tomb chapel and end at the Square. After some free time in the late afternoon for shopping, we end our day in our hotel with dinner.
Day 4 ROME HISTORICAL
Today we will tour Rome and first go to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and then the Domitilla Catacombs. As the second part of our today's tour, we will be sightseeing, walking from the Coliseum & Imperial forums (Caesar, Augustus, and Trajan), via Piazza Venezia, with King Victor Emanuel II monument, Piazza di Spagna, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona - truly the best of Rome!. Our entire day will, for sure, be inspirational and educational. Return to our hotel for the third overnight in Rome.
Day 5 ROME - Abbey of MONTECASSINO - SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
After breakfast, we leave Rome. After about 3 hours of driving, we are at Montecassino, a magnificent Benedictine abbey on the top of the mountain. This monastery was founded and built by St. Benedict (patron saint of Europe) around 529 on the remains of a Roman fortification. After the visit, we continue to San Giovanni Rotondo, to the church of Our Lady of Grace with the tomb of St. Pio. Dinner, and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 6 SAINT PADRE PIO - MONTE SAN'T ANGELO
After breakfast, we will spend the morning in the sanctuary of St. Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, walk to the church of Our Lady of Grace, celebrate the mass, and visit St. Pio's tomb. After sightseeing at the Shrine of St. Padre Pio, we are on the way to Monte Sant'Angelo to visit the Grotto, where the Archangel Michael had appeared on a few occasions in the period from the 5th to the 17th century. Return to our hotel, dinner, and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 7 SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO - LANCIANO - LORETO - ASSISI
This morning, we will leave Saint Pio and head northwest to Lanciano, to the great Eucharistic Shrine dating back to the 8th century. Time for prayer in the church before the relic above the main altar. Lunch break, and we will continue to Loreto. Loreto is a beautiful little town where a church dedicated to Saint Mary was already there in the 14th century. Legend says that the House of the Holy Family was miraculously transferred from Nazareth, while some parts were brought here by the Crusaders.
"The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and She Conceived of the Holy Spirit" - words in Loreto in the House of the Holy Family touch us even more profoundly. On the ruins of the house, one can see the actual place of the event. Tonight we will check into our hotel in Assisi. After a long day of driving, we will arrive in Assisi for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 8 ASSISI
This morning, we will explore and learn about St. Francis and his life. Our guided tour will start at the church of Santa Chiara to see The Cross that spoke to St. Francis and pray his prayer before the same Crucifix. We will hear the story about St. Claire, the founder of Poor Claire’s, and see her incorrupt body. We will visit the Basilica of Saint Francis, both Upper and Lower basilicas. For the end of our visit is "Porziuncola," one of the three churches restored by young Francis that are now part of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel in Assisi.
Day 9 ASSISI - SIENA - FLORENCE
Today we leave Assisi for Florence via Siena. We will walk through the lively city of Siena, the birthplace of St. Catherine, Virgin and Doctor of the Church; we will stroll through the streets from the church of Saint Dominic that hosts the relics of St. Catherine to the Piazza del Campo. Piazza del Campo is the heart of Siena and one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Europe. Famous for its unique fan-shaped design and harmonious architecture, it is surrounded by elegant palaces and dominated by the Torre del Mangia and the Palazzo Pubblico. The square is also world-renowned as the site of the Palio di Siena, the thrilling horse race held twice each summer.
In Florence, we will arrive in the late afternoon, check in to the hotel, dinner & overnight.
Day 10 - FLORENCE - PISA - FLORENCE (B)
This morning, we are in Florence for a walking city tour. A guided tour will include the Franciscan church of "Santa Croce" with a beautiful facade. This church, with a vast interior, is a burial place of 280 nobles, among whom are notables such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, Rossini, and others. We will pass by the National Museum before reaching the heart of the city – “Piazza Signoria” - with its most important buildings, such as the Old Palace or "Palazzo Vecchio", the Uffizi Gallery, and the “Ponte Vecchio”. We will continue our walk through “Piazza della Repubblica” to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell Tower, and St.John’s Baptistery at “Piazza del Duomo”.
After lunch in Florence, we are on our way to Pisa for a short walking guided tour, focusing only on three architectural masterpieces in "Piazza dei Miracoli". It will be the Cathedral of the Assuption of Mary ( and admire the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral,
and the Baptistery.
Free afternoon for dinner on your own in Pisa before we return to our hotel in Florence. Our second night at the hotel in Florence!
Day 11 FLORENCE - MILANO
Today is the entire day excursion to Venice. The short water taxi "sails" to the city, and we start with the Holy Mass in the Cathedral of St. Marc. Sightseeing will include St. Mark's Square with the basilica, the Bridge of Sighs, and a walk to the Grand Canal & Rialto Bridge. After a two-hour tour, we will have some free time for shopping, starting from the Rialto Bridge with hundreds of souvenir shops and restaurants. The beauty of Venice is ours for the entire afternoon. We will return to Padua in the early evening, have dinner, and overnight at our hotel in Padua or the area.
Day 12 PADUA - MILAN
After the morning Holy Mass in the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua and a city tour of about 2 hours, we will go to Milan, the city of St. Ambrose. Here we will visit the Sforza palace seat of the Dukes of Milan, Il Duomo or Cathedral of Milan, 357 feet high church with 3600 statues of different dimensions, the Cathedral that was built in 1386. On our walk through the center, passing by the famous Opera House "Scala." In the late afternoon, some free time for shopping. Our farewell dinner is in one of the typical Italian restaurants near "Il Duomo" Cathedral and "Galleria Vittorio Emanuele." Hotel in Milan, our last overnight in Italy!
Day 13 MILAN - USA, FLIGHT HOME
After breakfast, transfer to Milan International Airport, flight back home – arrive the same day.
DATES & RATES for 2026 & 2027 - based on a minimum of 25 people in a group:
March 24 - April 5, 2025 - JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE:
Land and Air..........New York JFK, Philadelphia PHL............................US$ 3990.00
Land and Air..........Los Angeles, LAX, Houston......................................US$ 4090.00
Land and Air..........Chicago, Boston, Newark.........................................US$ 3945.00
Land only................................................................................................US$ 2870,00
June 9 - 21, 2025 - JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE:
Land and Air..........New York JFK, Philadelphia PHL............................US$ 3790.00
Land and Air..........Los Angeles, LAX, Houston......................................US$ 3860.00
Land and Air..........Miami, Orlando........................................................US$ 3790.00
Land only................................................................................................US$ 2970,00
August 11 - 23, 2025 - JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE:
Land and Air..........New York JFK, Philadelphia PHL............................US$ 4290.00
Land and Air..........Los Angeles, LAX, Houston......................................US$ 4320.00
Land and Air..........Miami, Orlando........................................................US$ 4190.00
Land only................................................................................................US$ 2870,00
Sept. 22 - Oct. 4, 2025 - JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE:
Land and Air..........New York JFK, Philadelphia PHL............................US$ 4045.00
Land and Air..........Los Angeles, LAX, Houston......................................US$ 4195.00
Land and Air..........Chicago, Boston.......................................................US$ 3990.00
Land only................................................................................................US$ 2970,00
A new custom-made Italy tour this June...
Rome - Sorrento - Naples - San Giovanni Rotondo - Assisi - Florence - Padua...
CATHOLIC SHRINES OF ITALY
JUNE 17 - JULY 2, 2024
with FR. RYAN NGUYEN
HOLLAND, PA
For the flyer, including the flights from your departure city, please get in touch with us at: info@bluehearttravel.com
or give us a toll-free call at +1 877 545 5562
Prices are informative and will be confirmed only once the airline reservation is made in the client's name!
For the TRAVEL INSURANCE QUOTE - click on this link for a quick quotation based on the tour costs, your age & residence state!
INCLUDES:
- Airline tickets and airport taxes from your departure city - SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE AIRLINES
- 11 nights in 4* first-class hotels
- Dinner and breakfast daily, glass of wine & water included
- Escort guide from Rome to Milan
- Local English-speaking guides in Rome, Montecassino Abbey, Assisi, Siena, Padua, Loreto, Venice & Milan
- High-class tourist coach from Rome to Milan
- Water taxi for the excursion to Venice
- Entrance fees to :
- Vatican Museums
- Catacombs
- Basilica St. Francis & St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
- Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi
- Headsets, whispers for all city tours and visits, the whole trip
- Farewell dinner in Milan, Italian cuisine 3 courses, prosecco & wine or soft drinks included
- Daily Holy Mass with the priest with the group
- Tickets for the General Audience with Pope Francis (no costs involved)
NOT INCLUDED:
- Lunch daily
- Tips for guides, drivers, and hotel staff
- Items of a personal nature
- Visa costs for passports that require a Schengen visa
- Porterage of luggage in/out of the hotel
- Travel insurance - strongly recommended (Insurance quote available here)
GROUP RATES AVAILABLE - CUSTOM-MADE TOUR
ENGLISH or SPANISH SPEAKING TOUR GUIDES
TRAVEL FREE WITH YOUR GROUP ALREADY FROM 15 PILGRIMS
FIRST-CLASS OR BUDGET & CONVENT TYPE HOTELS
PRIVATE HOLY MASS DAILY ARRANGED FOR YOUR GROUP
...WE KNOW YOU ARE ON A CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE TOUR...
To join the tour, please fill in the registration form below!
