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The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi at sunset

Padre Pio & the Eucharistic Miracles Pilgrimage

Assisi, Loreto, San Giovanni Rotondo and Rome

Eleven days from Assisi down the Adriatic to the Gargano and back to Rome, with daily Mass at the tomb of St. Padre Pio, the Eucharistic miracle at Lanciano and the cave of St. Michael at Monte Sant’Angelo.

Departures

Current Tours to Italy

Upcoming departures to Italy. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Eight stops across Italy

By motorcoach from Rome to Assisi, out to Loreto and back, then south through Cascia and Lanciano to San Giovanni Rotondo and Monte Sant’Angelo, and inland by Montecassino to finish in Rome.

Itinerary · EU_IT-11D-03

The Padre Pio & Eucharistic Miracles Itinerary

This route pairs the Franciscan heart of Umbria with the great shrines of the Adriatic coast. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 4

Arrival, Assisi and Loreto

The Basilica della Santa Casa at Loreto
Basilica della Santa Casa, Loreto
Day 1

Departure from the United States

Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Rome, Italy. Dinner and breakfast will be served during the flight.
Day 2

Arrival in Rome & Transfer to Assisi

Upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, we are greeted by our local guide and board our private motorcoach for the scenic drive to Assisi through the beautiful Umbrian countryside. After checking into our hotel, we gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 3

Assisi, St. Clare & Blessed Carlo Acutis

We begin in the lower village at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, where St. Francis spent much of his life, and explore the Portiuncola chapel, the rose bush and the cave where he retreated to pray. We continue to the Basilica of St. Clare to venerate her incorrupt body, and after free time on the Piazza del Comune to the Basilica of St. Francis. We conclude at Santa Maria Maggiore and the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione, where St. Carlo Acutis is interred.Mass is celebrated at the Basilica of St. Francis. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 4

Day Trip to Loreto

After breakfast we travel to the Marian shrine of Loreto, the Basilica della Santa Casa, where we celebrate Mass. Within its walls we encounter the Madonna of Loreto and the Holy House of Nazareth, the modest home tradition holds is where Mary spent her early years and received the visit of the angel Gabriel. We return to Assisi in the evening.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 5 – 7

Cascia, Lanciano and the Gargano

The fortress above Monte Sant'Angelo on the Gargano peninsula
Monte Sant’Angelo, Gargano
Day 5

Santa Rita da Cascia, Lanciano & San Giovanni Rotondo

Today we travel toward San Giovanni Rotondo. Along the way we visit the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia, where we celebrate Mass, and Lanciano, site of a Eucharistic miracle dating to the 8th century. We continue to San Giovanni Rotondo, home for most of his life to St. Padre Pio.Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 6

San Giovanni Rotondo, St. Padre Pio & Monte Sant’Angelo

Today is dedicated to the town where St. Padre Pio lived for most of his life. We visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to his tomb, and celebrate Mass. In the afternoon we visit the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo, built over the cave where St. Michael the Archangel is said to have appeared in the fifth century.Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 7

Montecassino & Rome

All roads lead to Rome. After breakfast we set out for Montecassino to visit the Benedictine Abbey, the original home of the Benedictine Order, founded by St. Benedict around the year 529. We enjoy lunch here and celebrate Mass before continuing to Rome.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 8 – 9

Rome and the Vatican

Saint Peter's Square and Bernini's colonnade in Vatican City
Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City
Day 8

Papal Audience & Vatican City

This morning we make our way to St. Peter’s Square for the Papal General Audience with the Holy Father, schedule permitting. Afterward, availability permitting, we have the opportunity for a private Mass in Vatican City. After a brief lunch we tour the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 9

Ancient Rome

After breakfast we set out on a historic tour of Ancient Rome, strolling to the Colosseum, the grand amphitheater of the ancient world. We stop for prayer at the Basilica of St. Clement before passing the ruins of the Roman Forum. We conclude at the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, the mother church of the Passionists and burial place of St. Paul of the Cross, where we celebrate Mass.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 10 – 11

Return home

The facade of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome
Saint John Lateran, Rome
Day 10

Major Basilicas of Rome

Today we visit three of Rome’s four major basilicas, beginning with St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, and the Holy Stairs. We continue to St. Mary Major, one of the oldest churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, where we visit the tomb of Pope Francis. In the afternoon we visit St. Paul Outside the Walls to venerate the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle and, availability permitting, celebrate Mass.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 11

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of St. Francis and St. Padre Pio, we transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for our return flight home.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
The gilded dome and frescoed vaulting of the abbey basilica at Montecassino
Abbey of MontecassinoThe abbey basilica of St. Benedict, rebuilt and gilded anew after the war.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The Roman Forum and the Colosseum seen across the ruins
The Roman Forum, Rome
The Colosseum in Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
Frescoed vaulting and detail inside the Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Saint Peter's Basilica lit in the evening, seen from the Via della Conciliazione
Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
Rooftops and domes across the centre of Rome
Rooftops and domes, Rome
The Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle in Rome
Sant’Andrea della Valle, Rome

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Italy?

April through early June and mid-September through October are the most comfortable months, with warm days, mild evenings and thinner crowds at the shrines. July and August are hot, and Rome empties of Italians and fills with visitors. Winter is quiet and better priced, and Assisi in the cold is a serious pilgrimage.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Italy?

US citizens need a valid passport and do not currently require a visa for Italy on a trip of this length. Italy is in the Schengen area, which allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We recommend at least six months of validity beyond your return date and a couple of blank pages. Europe’s ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to begin during this period, and we will tell your group what is needed well before departure.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Italy?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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