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Fort St. Elmo and the walls of Valletta from the air, Malta

Malta, the Amalfi Coast and Rome

Valletta, Gozo, Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri, Pompeii and Rome

Twelve days from St. Paul’s Malta to the Rome where he was martyred, by way of Montecassino, three nights at Sorrento for the Amalfi Coast and Capri, Pompeii, and the Papal Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.

Departures

Current Tours to Malta

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

All current pilgrimages
    The Route

    Ten stops from Malta to Rome

    Valletta, Gozo and Mdina on Malta, a flight to Rome, then Montecassino, Mugnano del Cardinale, Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri, Pompeii and back to Rome.

    Itinerary · EU_MT-IT-12D-01

    The Malta, Amalfi Coast and Rome Itinerary

    This is one of the routes we run for groups to Malta. 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 – 5

    Malta, the island of St. Paul

    Yachts moored below the churches and houses of Vittoriosa on the Grand Harbor, Malta
    The waterfront of Vittoriosa, one of the Three Cities on the Grand Harbor
    Day 1

    Departure for Malta

    Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight to Malta. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
    Day 2

    Arrival in Malta

    We are met on arrival by our tour guide and driver and transfer to our hotel. Our guide tells the story of St. Paul the Apostle and the arrival of Christianity in the Maltese Islands nearly two thousand years ago. We gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 3

    The Three Cities and Valletta

    We visit the Three Cities of Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, where the Knights of St. John settled along the Grand Harbor in 1530, and see the Miraculous Crucifix in the Oratory of the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady. A traditional harbor boat carries us across to Valletta, where we celebrate Mass at St. John’s Co-Cathedral and view Caravaggio’s paintings in its Oratory.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 4

    Gozo

    We stop at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieha, blessed by St. John Paul II in 1990, then cross by ferry to Gozo. We visit the Munxar Parish Church, dedicated to St. Paul, the Gozo Cathedral of the Assumption and St. George’s Basilica, where relics of St. Clement rest. We celebrate Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, Malta’s most important pilgrimage site, before the ferry back.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 5

    St. Paul’s Bay, Mosta, Mdina and Rabat

    We view St. Paul’s Bay by boat, then visit the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady at Mosta, where in April 1942 a bomb pierced the great dome during a service and failed to explode. We celebrate Mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the walled city of Mdina, see its Museum and the Bastions, and descend into St. Paul’s Catacombs and St. Paul’s Grotto at Rabat, where tradition holds the Apostle prayed for three months after his shipwreck.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 6 – 8

    Montecassino, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Capri

    Positano and its beach on the Amalfi Coast, Italy
    Positano on the Amalfi Coast
    Day 6

    Montecassino, the Shrine of St. Philomena and Sorrento

    We fly from Malta to Rome and drive south through the Italian countryside to the Abbey of Montecassino, the original home of the Benedictine Order, founded by St. Benedict around the year 529. We continue to Mugnano del Cardinale and the Shrine of St. Philomena, whose relics were brought here from the Roman catacombs in 1805, and end the day at Sorrento above the Bay of Naples.Overnight in Sorrento.
    Day 7

    The Amalfi Coast

    We follow the cliffside road of the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a stop for the view of Positano. At Amalfi we visit the cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle, whose relics were brought from Constantinople in 1208 and are venerated in the crypt. After lunch we continue to Ravello for its Duomo, home to a relic of St. Pantaleone, and the gardens of Villa Rufolo.Overnight in Sorrento.
    Day 8

    Capri and the Blue Grotto

    We cross by hydrofoil from Sorrento to Capri for a panoramic minibus tour of the island and, weather permitting, a visit to the Blue Grotto by rowboat. We continue to Marina Piccola, the Salto di Tiberio and Piazza Umberto, and end at the Gardens of Augustus, with views over the Faraglioni rocks.Overnight in Sorrento.
    Day 9 – 10

    Pompeii, the Vatican and the Appian Way

    Photograph to come · The Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at Pompei
    The Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at Pompei
    Day 9

    Pompeii and Rome

    We explore the ruins of Pompeii, the Roman city buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79, then visit the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei, founded by St. Bartolo Longo, and venerate its image of Our Lady presenting the Rosary to St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. We continue to Rome, with time to rest before dinner.Overnight in Rome.
    Day 10

    St. Peter’s, the Vatican Museums and the Appian Way

    We tour St. Peter’s Basilica and see Michelangelo’s Pieta, continue through the Vatican Museums to the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, and end at the tomb of St. John Paul II. After lunch we travel the Appian Way past the Church of Domine Quo Vadis to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, and finish at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, founded over the tomb of the Apostle.Overnight in Rome.
    Day 11 – 12

    The Papal Angelus and home

    St. Peter's Square and the obelisk, Rome
    St. Peter’s Square at the Sunday Angelus
    Day 11

    Papal Angelus, Piazza Navona and St. John Lateran

    We attend the Papal Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, held each Sunday subject to the papal calendar, then have free time and lunch around Piazza Navona, near the Pantheon. This afternoon we visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, and ascend the Holy Stairs on our knees in prayer. We end with Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.Overnight in Rome.
    Day 12

    Return Home

    After an early breakfast and farewells, we transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino 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®
    AmalfiThe cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle, whose relics were brought here from Constantinople in 1208.
    Photograph to come · The Amalfi Coast, Amalfi Cathedral
    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 National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu on Gozo, Malta
    The National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu on Gozo
    Photograph to come · St. Paul’s Grotto at Rabat
    St. Paul’s Grotto at Rabat
    The Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino on its hilltop, Italy
    The Abbey of Montecassino
    The town of Amalfi climbing the hills above the coast, Italy
    Amalfi on the hills above the coast
    Photograph to come · The Faraglioni from the Gardens of Augustus on Capri
    The Faraglioni from the Gardens of Augustus on Capri
    The facade and courtyard of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome
    The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in 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 Malta and the Amalfi Coast?

    April through June and September through October suit both halves of the route, warm and dry without the heat and the coast-road traffic of high summer. The Blue Grotto on Capri is visited weather permitting. The Papal Angelus is held on Sundays subject to the papal calendar, so we set the dates to put day eleven on a Sunday.

    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 Malta and Italy?

    A US passport valid for at least three months beyond your return date is required, and we recommend six. Malta and Italy are both in the Schengen area, so no visa is needed for a stay of this length and there is no border check on the flight between them. Requirements change from time to time, so we confirm what applies with your group before you travel.

    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 Malta?

    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)

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      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

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