Italy & Greece Pilgrimage with Holy Family Catholic Church
Twelve days from Rome to Athens, from the Vatican and the tomb of St. Paul to Philippi, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Delphi and Corinth, with an optional pre-stay in Sorrento from October 2.
Your chaplain and host
Fr. Bill McNeeley
Sherri McNeeley
“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7
St. Paul’s words near the end of his life. We pray at his burial site at St. Paul Outside the Walls, then follow his steps in Greece at Kavala, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Mars Hill and Corinth.
St. Paul · Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome
Italy & Greece, October 4 to 15, 2027
Twelve days, ten nights in Rome, Thessaloniki, Kalambaka, Delphi and Athens, with the Papal Audience, the major basilicas of Rome and the places St. Paul preached in Greece.
Begins in Rome and ends in Athens
OvernightVisit
Nights: 4 Rome, 1 Thessaloniki, 1 Kalambaka, 2 Delphi, 2 Athens.
Departure
Our pilgrimage begins as we board our flight(s) to Rome today.
Arrival in Rome
Upon arrival in Rome, we’ll check into our hotel and enjoy our welcome dinner for our pilgrimage.
Vatican City & The Papal Audience
We set out early to take our places in St. Peter’s Square by 7:30 for the Wednesday General Audience with the Holy Father (subject to his schedule). Pilgrims are encouraged to bring medals, rosaries, and other religious items for a blessing. The pope delivers a speech, followed by prayers and a homily, and concludes with a blessing. After lunch, we will tour the Vatican Museum, exploring the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel. Our day ends at St. Peter’s Basilica, where we view Michelangelo’s Pieta and the tomb of Pope St. John Paul II, and walk through the basilica, finishing at the Tomb of St. Peter.
Historic Rome and Catacombs
After breakfast, we will embark on a historic tour of Ancient Rome. We will stroll along cobblestone streets, lined with majestic stone pines, and visit the Colosseum, a grand amphitheater of the ancient world. Along the way we’ll stop for prayer at the Basilica of Saint Clement. Passing by the Roman Forum, we will witness the ruins of ancient government buildings. We’ll finish the day visiting the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, a resting place of several popes from the 2nd to 4th centuries. Optional walking tour of the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps this evening.
Major Roman Basilicas
Today is dedicated to the Major Basilicas. We will start at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and visit the burial site of St. Paul. Next, we’re off to the Church of St. Mary Major where pilgrims can view what is said to be the wood relics of the Holy Crib of the Nativity of Jesus. After lunch, we visit the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the “Mother of all Churches in the World,” and the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Here, we will celebrate Mass and have the opportunity to climb the Lateran Steps. Lastly, we’ll visit the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme to see the relics of the Holy Cross which St. Helena brought from the Holy Land to Rome.
Flight to Thessaloniki, Kavala & Philippi
We bid farewell to Rome and fly to Thessaloniki, Greece, where we will meet our professional tour escort and depart for our guided tour beginning with Kavala, the port where Paul first landed with Timothy and Silas. We then continue on to Philippi, where Paul was imprisoned. View the prison, the marketplace, basilica, and theater. We’ll also visit Amphipolis, the famous starting point of Alexander the Great on his mission to “conquer the world.”
Thessaloniki
Today, we will walk the places where St. Paul walked in Thessalonica, including the Agora where he preached and the walls where Jason’s home was and where St. Paul also lived. We will also see St. George Church, the Galerius Arch, and the Church of Hagia Sophia and the Basilica of St. Demetrios. We drive to Kalambaka this afternoon.
Meteora Monastery
Today we will visit Metéora, where we will ascend huge granite rocks to view architectural wonders that are over 700 years old. Visit the monastery of Metamorphosis with its church and museum containing priceless historic and religious treasures. Later we drive to Delphi.
Delphi
After breakfast, we begin our exploration of Delphi, once considered the center of the ancient world. We will visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of Athens, the Theater, and the Stadium, where ancient Pythian Games were held. In the afternoon, visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, housing the famous Charioteer of Delphi and other remarkable artifacts. Enjoy some leisure time in the modern town of Delphi or take in the scenic views of Mount Parnassus.
Delphi
This morning we continue exploring Delphi and its surroundings. Visit the Monastery of Hosios Loukas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning Byzantine mosaics. We’ll enjoy an afternoon in the charming mountain village of Arachova. We head to Athens in time for check-in and dinner.
Athens & Corinth
After breakfast, we’ll visit the Acropolis and the ruins of the Parthenon, and Mars Hill with a view to the Ancient Agora of Athens: St. Paul addressed the judges of Athens at Mars Hill. We will also enjoy a visit to the ancient city of Corinth before heading back to Athens. We’ll share a special farewell dinner tonight.
Return home
With a renewed sense of pilgrimage, and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we transfer to the Athens Airport and board our return flight(s) home.
Optional Sorrento pre-stay, October 2 to 5, 2027
Saturday, October 2: Depart for Naples, Italy. Our pre-stay in Sorrento begins as we board our flight(s) to Naples today.
Sunday, October 3: Arrival in Naples. Upon arrival in Naples, we’ll check into our hotel and enjoy dinner. Overnight in Sorrento.
Monday, October 4: Leisure day in Sorrento. After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll enjoy a full day to catch some rest and explore Sorrento at our own leisure, maybe taking a walking tour, going shopping, enjoying a wine tasting, or all of the above. We’ll save time for the Rosary and Mass later this afternoon, followed by dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Sorrento.
Tuesday, October 5: Leisure morning in Sorrento, transfer to Rome. We’ll start the day with Rosary and Mass this morning, followed by breakfast at the hotel. More free time on our own before departing Sorrento for Rome this afternoon. We’ll arrive at our hotel in Rome, check in and enjoy our welcome dinner for our pilgrimage. Overnight in Rome.
The itinerary continues on Wednesday, October 6 with the main pilgrimage.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels in Italy and Greece
Four-star hotels throughout: four nights in Rome, one in Thessaloniki, one in Kalambaka, two in Delphi and two in Athens, plus two nights in Sorrento for those joining the pre-stay. Hotels are subject to final confirmation; if a hotel changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“The entire trip from start to finish went smoothly. We felt very safe and well cared for.”
“Each site was thought out about why and how to pray there.”
“This was the trip of a lifetime and excellent customer service.”
Questions pilgrims ask
Short answers to what most people want to know before they put down a deposit.
It is a touring pilgrimage by motorcoach, with one flight from Rome to Thessaloniki. Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical day, with cobblestones in Rome, uneven ground at the ancient sites, and the main climbs at the Meteora monasteries, Delphi and the Acropolis. Days usually start with a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $1,000, or share a room with two beds with another pilgrim. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by July 6, 2027, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own. The optional Sorrento pre-stay has its own single room supplement of $200.
Lunches, donations at Masses, souvenirs and laundry. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips for your tour manager, local guides and driver: the recommended amounts are in your final travel documents. Travel insurance if you choose it, and a 3% fee if you pay by card. Abroad, we recommend paying for most things by credit card, which is accepted almost everywhere and comes with protection that cash does not; bring a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (euros in Italy and Greece), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to July 6, 2027 (90 days before departure), everything you have paid is returned except $200. After that date, the $450 deposit and any costs we cannot recover are kept. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
Fr. Bill McNeeley and Sherri McNeeley lead the group from Holy Family Catholic Church.
More answers in the FAQ below and in our Support Center, or call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Price per person
Per person, including roundtrip group airfare from Knoxville (TYS). Flying from another city? We can arrange air from your airport; call or email us for a quote. If you book your own flights, the price is reduced by $1,000.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Protect your pilgrimage
Your pilgrimage is paid for long before you leave. After you reserve, your booking confirmation email has our Allianz Travel Insurance plans and a link to buy one directly. Classic is the plan we recommend for most pilgrims.
- Covers your trip cost. Classic reimburses 100% of the trip cost you insured if you cancel for a covered reason, and adds emergency medical care and baggage cover.
- Buy within 14 days of your first deposit to keep Cancel Anytime and pre-existing condition cover. The plans stay available until departure.
- Buy it from your confirmation email. Prefer to add it by phone? Call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Frequently asked questions
This is an active program that covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. You should be able to walk 2 to 3 miles a day at a moderate pace, with uneven surfaces, stairs, cobblestones and some steep slopes, including the steps up to the monasteries at Meteora and the climb at Delphi.
October is usually mild in Rome and warm in Greece, with sunny days and cooler evenings, especially in the mountains at Meteora and Delphi. Rain is possible. Bring layers, a light rain jacket, sun protection and comfortable walking shoes.
Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and passport cards are not accepted for international travel. We need your passport details at least 90 days before departure. Entry rules for Europe can change, so we will let you know before departure if anything new applies to your trip.
Rates are per person based on two pilgrims sharing a room. Shared rooms have one bed or two beds. If you are travelling alone we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender; if we cannot, the single room supplement applies.
Yes. The price includes group airfare; if you book your own flights, the price is reduced by $1,000. Send us your flight details once booked, so we can line your arrival up with the group’s in Rome on October 5 and its departure from Athens on October 15, or with the pre-stay in Naples on October 3. Group air from other airports can be arranged; call or email us for a quote.
Final payment is due on July 6, 2027, 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.
Couples, families, friends, singles, all are welcome!
Some pilgrims come as a couple, some bring the whole family, some come with a friend from the parish, and plenty come on their own. Everyone is welcome.
Rome and the steps of St. Paul
October 4 to 15, 2027, with Holy Family Catholic Church and Fr. Bill McNeeley. Reserve today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Secure your spot today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.