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+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Gondolas on the Grand Canal in Venice

Rome to Venice Pilgrimage

From Rome to Venice

Twelve days from Rome through Orvieto and Assisi to Florence, Padua and Venice, with daily Mass at the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Francis and St. Anthony.

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

Six stops across Italy

By motorcoach from Rome through Orvieto to Assisi, then north through Florence to Padua, finishing across the lagoon in Venice.

Itinerary · EU_IT-12D-03

The Rome to Venice Itinerary

Five nights in Rome with a Papal Audience, then the road north through Orvieto, Assisi and Florence to Padua and Venice. 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 – 6

Rome and the Vatican

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

Upon arrival in Rome, we are greeted by our Canterbury tour director, who remains with us throughout the pilgrimage, and transfer by motorcoach to our hotel for check-in. This evening we gather for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.Overnight in Rome.
Day 3

Ancient Rome

We explore Rome’s ancient and Christian roots: the Palatine Hill, the Circus Maximus, site of many early Christian martyrdoms, and the Aventine Hill’s Church of Santa Prisca, where we celebrate Mass. We see the Roman Forum, the Arch of Titus, the Colosseum and Trajan’s Column, then descend into the Mamertine Prison, where tradition holds St. Peter and St. Paul were held before their martyrdoms.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 4

Papal Audience & the Vatican

We depart early for St. Peter’s Square to attend the Papal Audience with the Holy Father, and continue with Mass in Vatican City. In the afternoon we tour the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, concluding at St. Peter’s Basilica, built over the tomb of the first pope and the largest church in Christendom.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 5

Major Basilicas & Martyrs of Rome

We visit the Basilica and Catacombs of St. Sebastian, the Abbey of the Three Fountains, the traditional site of St. Paul’s martyrdom, and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over his resting place. At St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Pope, we celebrate Mass and climb the Scala Sancta in prayer, concluding at the Basilica of San Clemente, built on nearly two thousand years of worship.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 6

Artistic Rome

We begin with Mass at Santa Maria della Vittoria, home to Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa, then see the Capuchin ossuary at Santa Maria della Concezione, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. In the afternoon we visit the Galleria Borghese, filled with masterworks by Bernini and Caravaggio, and share a farewell dinner in Rome.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 7 – 8

Orvieto and Assisi

The carved Gothic facade of Orvieto Cathedral
Orvieto Cathedral
Day 7

Orvieto & Assisi

We depart Rome for the hilltop town of Orvieto, whose Gothic cathedral enshrines the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. We celebrate Mass and venerate the miracle’s blood-stained corporal, then continue to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare, to visit the Basilica of St. Clare, where her incorrupt body rests, and pray before the San Damiano Cross.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 8

Assisi

We begin at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation to venerate the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, then continue to the Basilica of St. Francis to pray at his tomb and celebrate Mass amid Giotto’s frescoes. We visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, home to the Porziuncola, with free time in the afternoon in Assisi.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 9

Florence

The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi at sunset
Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi
Day 9

Florence

We travel to Florence and celebrate Mass at the Basilica di Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in the world, where Galileo and Michelangelo are buried. We visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery of St. John, and, if time allows, Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia.Dinner and overnight in Florence.
Day 10 – 12

Padua, Venice and home

Florence at sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, the Duomo above the rooftops
Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo
Day 10

Padua & Transfer to Venice

We depart for Padua to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony and venerate the relics of the beloved Franciscan preacher at his tomb. We then continue to Venice, the floating city built on more than a hundred islands of its lagoon, and check into our hotel.Overnight in Venice.
Day 11

Venice

We spend the day in Venice, beginning at St. Mark’s Square and the Basilica of St. Mark, built to house the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist, where we celebrate Mass. We continue to the Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Bridge, with time for an optional gondola ride before dinner.Overnight in Venice.
Day 12

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, St. Anthony of Padua, and Sts. Peter and Paul, we transfer to the Venice Airport for our 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®
Full-screen photograph
Venice, St. Mark’s across the lagoon
VeniceThe basilica of St. Mark, built for the relics of the Evangelist.
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
Saint Peter's Basilica lit in the evening, seen from the Via della Conciliazione
Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
Frescoed vaulting and detail inside the Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
The Roman Forum and the Colosseum seen across the ruins
The Roman Forum, Rome
The Colosseum in Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
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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