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+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Saint Peter's Square and Bernini's colonnade in Vatican City

Italy Pilgrimages

Rome, Assisi and the Shrines of Italy

Ten days across Assisi, Siena, Orvieto and Rome, with daily Mass at the shrines of St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Catherine, and in the major basilicas of Rome.

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

Four stops across Italy

By motorcoach from Rome’s airport to Assisi for four nights, out to Siena for the day, then down through Orvieto to finish with four nights in Rome and Vatican City.

Itinerary · EU_IT-10D-02

Our Standard Italy Pilgrimage

This is the route we most often run for groups in Italy. 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 and Assisi

The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi at sunset
Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi
Day 1

Departure from the USA

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, enjoying glimpses of the beautiful Umbrian countryside along the way. After check-in, we gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 3

Basilica of St. Clare & Basilica of St. Francis

We begin at the Basilica of St. Clare, where we venerate her incorrupt body and view the San Damiano Cross that spoke to St. Francis. We continue to the Basilica of St. Francis for a guided tour, admiring its stunning frescoes and venerating the tomb of St. Francis. After lunch, we walk through the charming streets of Assisi, visiting the birthplace of St. Francis and other key sites, before descending into the valley to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, home to the Porziuncola.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 4

Eremo delle Carceri, San Damiano & the Sanctuary of the Renunciation

Today we journey to the peaceful Eremo delle Carceri, a hermitage nestled in the hills where St. Francis and his followers retreated for prayer and contemplation. We continue to the Church of San Damiano, where St. Clare lived and where St. Francis received his calling. We then visit the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where we venerate the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, and celebrate Mass.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 5 – 7

Siena, Orvieto and Rome

The striped marble facade of Siena Cathedral
Siena Cathedral
Day 5

Siena Day Trip

We embark on a day trip to Siena, a city rich in Catholic heritage. Our first stop is the Basilica of San Domenico, which houses the relics of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and co-patroness of Europe. We visit the Siena Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture, where we celebrate Mass, before exploring the Piazza del Campo.Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 6

Orvieto & Transfer to Rome

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Assisi and make our way to Rome. En route, we stop in the hilltop town of Orvieto to visit the magnificent Orvieto Cathedral, home to the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, where we celebrate Mass.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 7

Major Basilicas of Rome

Today we explore the major basilicas of Rome, beginning with the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. We visit the Holy Stairs, believed to be the steps Jesus ascended during his trial before Pontius Pilate. We continue to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the oldest churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the afternoon, we visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where we venerate the tomb of St. Paul and celebrate Mass.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 8 – 9

Rome and the Vatican

The facade of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome
Saint John Lateran, Rome
Day 8

Ancient Rome

We step back in time as we explore Ancient Rome. Our guided tour includes the Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire, and the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient political life. We visit Palatine Hill, the legendary founding site of Rome. After lunch, we walk along the Appian Way and visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, where early Christians gathered and were buried, and celebrate Mass.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 9

Vatican City & the Papal Audience

Today we enter Vatican City, the heart of the Catholic Church. We begin in St. Peter’s Square for the Papal Audience, joining pilgrims from around the globe. We continue with Mass in Vatican City, followed in the afternoon by the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s ceiling. Our day concludes inside St. Peter’s Basilica, where we venerate the tombs of St. Peter and St. John Paul II.Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 10

Return home

Frescoed vaulting and detail inside the Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Day 10

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, 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®
Full-screen photograph
Rome, St Peter’s and the colonnade
RomeSaint Peter’s Square, held in the arms of Bernini’s colonnade.
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 carved Gothic facade of Orvieto Cathedral
Orvieto Cathedral
The Colosseum in Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
Saint Peter's Basilica lit in the evening, seen from the Via della Conciliazione
Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
The Roman Forum and the Colosseum seen across the ruins
The Roman Forum, 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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