0608UA5 - Holy Family Italy Pilgrimage 9 Days from Orlando

Today, we depart from Orlando to connect with our overnight flight to Milan aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast while aloft.

This morning, upon arrival in Milan, we drive to the Duomo di Milano, one of the largest cathedrals in Italy and a gem of gothic architecture and magnificent stained-glass windows. While there, we visit the crypt church and the tomb of St. Charles Borromeo, the first Archbishop of Milan and patron saint of seminarians. We celebrate our opening Mass here. Following a break for lunch on our own, we continue to our hotel before we enjoy our “welcome” dinner and overnight in Milan.

Today, we journey west to Turin, home of the Shroud of Turin*, the famous burial cloth of Jesus Christ! While there we visit the Museum of the Shroud and celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Turin where Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is buried. Pier Giorgio died at 24 and has been an inspiration for young Catholics around the world. He is scheduled to be beatified a saint in 2025. After lunch on our own, we will visit The Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians which was originally part of the safehouse for poor boys cared for by St. John Bosco. The church now contains the body of Bosco, and six thousand numbered relics of other Catholic saints, among them the body of St. Dominic Savio, a beloved teenage saint. We return to Milan for dinner and overnight in Milan. *The shroud is only displayed for limited times during specific years, thus we can’t guarantee it will be on display during this Holy Year pilgrimage.

This morning, we visit the Santa Marie della Grazie, home of Leonardo di Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper” (Subject to availability). We tour this magnificent church and celebrate Mass here. Later, we visit nearby Sforza Castle, a 15th century renaissance castle, which features numerous works of art and Michelangelo’s last work before his death. Following a break for lunch on our own, the remainder of the day is free to browse, shop or relax in metropolitan Milan. This evening dinner is on our own at one of Milan’s many great restaurants. Overnight in Milan.

Today, we visit the city of Bologna. Though famous for its meats and cheeses, as well as the luxury sports car icons of Ferrari and Lamborghini, it also houses The Basilica of San Petronio, the 10th largest Basilica in the world. We will celebrate our Mass here followed by a tour of the basilica. Afterwards, we enjoy lunch on our own at the famed Piazza Maggiore, home to numerous restaurants and shops as well as the magnificent statue of Neptune by the artist Giambologna. In the afternoon we continue south through Umbria to the hilltop village of Assisi, the home of St. Francis for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

We begin our day in Assisi at the Basilica of St. Francesco, where St. Francis is buried. We enjoy a walking tour of the village with visits to the Church of St. Clare to view the famous San Damiano crucifix. From this cross, Christ spoke to St. Francis telling him to “rebuild my Church”. After lunch on our own, we visit the resting place of Blessed Carlo Acutis who was 15-years old when he died in 2006 from leukemia. Acutis will likely be canonized in 2025. Acutis' tomb is located in Santa Maria Maggiore, otherwise known as The Sanctuary of the Renunciation, the spot where a young St. Francis of Assisi is said to have cast off his rich clothes in favor of a poor habit. It is here where we celebrate our Mass. After Mass, our taxis take us up to the Hermitage of the Carceri, where Francis and his Friars retreated from the world to pray and fast. Here the grotto of St. Francis can also be seen. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today, we depart Assisi. Our first stop is in the lower town for a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis' Church of the Little Portion. We travel south to Rome where we tour her sites, including a walking tour to the Roman Fora passing the Arch of Constantine and Flavian Amphitheater, more commonly known as” the Coliseum.” Following a late lunch on our own, we journey to one of the Catacombs, the underground burial place of early Christians. We celebrate Mass here and view the 2nd and 3rd century fresco paintings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Today, we visit Vatican City where we celebrate Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, passing through the “Holy Doors” during our Jubilee Pilgrimage. Afterwards, we view the treasures of St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museum including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel as well as the famous Bernini altar columns in St. Peter’s. One altar column contains the spear of St. Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of our Savior and was healed by the blood and water that flowed from it! This afternoon, following a break for lunch on our own, we conclude our pilgrimage with a wonderful visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major and pass through the 2nd set of “Holy Doors”. St. Mary’s holds relics of Christ’s Holy Manger from Bethlehem and a piece of the true cross from Golgotha. The golden ceiling of St. Mary’s is decorated by the first gold brought back from the New World by Christopher Colombus. The Spanish Catholic Kings—Ferdinand and Isabel—gave the gold as a gift to the Pope. Following our time at St. Mary’s, the largest church dedicated to Mary in the west, we depart for a farewell dinner at local restaurant and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we transfer to the airport for our flight home to the US with memories of a lifetime!