Italy Pilgrimage with Fr. Leo Spezia and Dcn. Chris Ast
Italy Pilgrimage
Ten days in Rome, Orvieto, Assisi and Florence, with the Papal Audience, the major basilicas and the tombs of St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Carlo Acutis. An optional extension continues to Padua and Venice.
Your chaplain and deacon
Fr. Leo Spezia
Dcn. Chris Ast
“Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart.”
St. Francis of Assisi, Prayer before the San Damiano Cross
St. Francis prayed these words before the crucifix of San Damiano. In Assisi we pray before the same cross in the Basilica of St. Clare, and at the tomb of St. Francis in his basilica.
The Basilica of St. Francis · Assisi
Italy, February 21 to March 2, 2027
Ten days, eight nights in Rome, Assisi and Florence, with Orvieto along the way.
Begins in Rome and ends in Florence
OvernightVisit
Nights: 5 Rome, 2 Assisi, 1 Florence.
Depart for Italy
Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight from the United States to Rome. (Bring a good book, your rosary, and prayer intentions.)
Arrive in Rome
We arrive in Rome, Italy, where we meet our Canterbury Tour Director, who will remain with us throughout our trip. Transfer to our hotel for check-in, relaxation, and welcome Mass.
Ancient Rome
We begin our Roman pilgrimage exploring the city’s ancient and Christian roots. Visit the Palatine Hill and Circus Maximus, the chariot racing grounds of the ancient Romans and the location of many early Christian martyrdoms. We continue to the Aventine Hill with its Church of Santa Prisca, named for the early Christian Priscilla (Romans 16:3). See the Roman Forum, Arch of Titus, Colosseum, Trajan’s Column, and the Mamertine Prison (where St. Peter and St. Paul were imprisoned).
Papal Audience & Vatican
Following breakfast, we have an early departure for St. Peter’s Square to participate in the Papal Audience with the Holy Father (subject to the Pope’s schedule). After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Major Basilicas & Martyrs of Rome
We visit the Basilica and Catacombs of St. Sebastian, where the remains of Peter and Paul were hidden during persecutions. Continue to the Abbey of the Three Fountains, the traditional site of St. Paul’s martyrdom, and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, believed to be his resting place. Then visit St. John Lateran Basilica, the seat of the Pope, and the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs believed to be those climbed by Jesus before Pontius Pilate. End with a visit to St. Mary Major.
Artistic Rome
We begin with Mass at Santa Maria della Vittoria, home to Bernini’s masterpiece, St. Teresa in Ecstasy. Walk to Piazza Barberini to see the ossuary of Santa Maria della Concezione, then visit the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain (toss a coin to ensure your return to Rome). In the afternoon, visit the Galleria Borghese, a Renaissance palace filled with Bernini’s sculptures. This evening, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner in Rome.
Orvieto & Assisi
Depart Rome for the stunning hilltop town of Orvieto, where we’ll visit the Cathedral, built to enshrine the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. We’ll celebrate Mass here and venerate the relic of the miracle. After lunch, continue to Assisi, home of St. Francis and St. Clare. Visit the Basilica of St. Clare, where her body lies, and pray before the San Damiano Cross, the cross through which Christ spoke to St. Francis.
Assisi
Begin the day at the Basilica of St. Francis, where we’ll pray before his tomb, and visit the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation. Then, visit St. Mary of the Angels, home to the Portiuncula Chapel, the rose garden, and the cave where St. Francis prayed. Free time in the afternoon for reflection or shopping in Assisi.
Florence
After breakfast, travel to Florence, the Cradle of the Renaissance. Celebrate Mass at Santa Croce Basilica, where Galileo, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli are buried. Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and Baptistery of St. John. If time allows, visit the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo to see Michelangelo’s Florentine Pietà and Ghiberti’s original Gates of Paradise.
Return Home
After breakfast, we transfer to the Florence Airport for our flight back to the U.S., filled with gratitude for the graces of our pilgrimage.
Padua & Venice, March 2 to 4, 2027
Tuesday, March 2, Padua: After breakfast, depart for Padua, city of St. Anthony, the “Patron Saint of Lost Things and Causes.” Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony, then continue to Venice. Check into our hotel and enjoy dinner. Overnight in Venice.
Wednesday, March 3, Venice: Spend the day exploring Venice, including Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Piazza and Basilica (where St. Mark is buried), the Rialto Bridge, and the Grand Canal. Optional gondola ride before dinner. Overnight in Venice.
Thursday, March 4, Return Home: After breakfast, we transfer to the Venice Airport for our flight back to the U.S., filled with gratitude for the graces of our pilgrimage.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels in Italy
Four-star hotels throughout: five nights in Rome, two in Assisi and one in Florence, plus two in Venice on the optional extension. Hotels are subject to final confirmation; if a hotel changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“I encourage other Catholic parishes to book with Canterbury for their next pilgrimage.”
“The guides have always been top notch and importantly faithful believers.”
“I am personally grateful for your considerable time and effort in making the trip a successful and prayerful experience.”
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, not a walking one. Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical day. Days usually start around 7am, with departure by 9am, and end back at the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. The Ancient Rome day is the longest on foot, and Orvieto and Assisi are hill towns with steep streets.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $1,150, or share a room. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by November 23, 2026, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own. On the optional Padua and Venice extension the single room supplement is $225.
Lunches, donations at Masses, souvenirs, laundry and the cost of your passport. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips for your tour director and driver are at your discretion: as a guide, $8 to $10 per person per day for your tour guide and $6 to $8 for your driver. 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), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to November 23, 2026 (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. Leo Spezia and Dcn. Chris Ast lead the group.
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.
Shared rooms are always doubles with two beds. If you would like us to match you with a roommate, tell us when you book and we will do our best. Please note that if we cannot find you a match by the final payment date of November 23, 2026, the single room supplement will apply.
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.
$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
Rome, Assisi and Florence
February 21 to March 2, 2027, with Fr. Leo Spezia and Dcn. Chris Ast. 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.
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 slopes. Ancient Rome is a long walking day, and Orvieto and Assisi are hill towns with steep streets.
Expect cool winter days, often in the 40s and 50s °F, with rain likely on some days. Assisi in the hills can be colder, especially in the evening. Bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket or umbrella and comfortable shoes with good grip.
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.
The extension is optional and continues from Florence on March 2 with Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, two nights in Venice and a flight home from Venice on March 4. It costs $999 per person sharing, with a single room supplement of $225. Tell us at registration if you would like to join it.
Yes. The price includes group airfare; if you book your own flights, the price is reduced by $1,000. Tell us at registration so we can line your arrival up with the group’s in Rome on February 22 and its departure from Florence on March 2, or from Venice on March 4 if you join the extension.
Final payment is due on November 23, 2026, 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.
Italy Pilgrimage with Saint John’s Seminary Boston
Italy Pilgrimage
Nine days in Lent from Assisi to Rome, by way of Siena and Orvieto, with the Papal Audience, the four major basilicas and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus.
Your host
Saint John’s Seminary
Brighton, Massachusetts
Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, was founded in 1884 as the seminary of the Archdiocese of Boston. Today it forms men for the priesthood for dioceses and religious communities across New England and beyond.
Mass is celebrated throughout the pilgrimage, at Assisi, Siena, the Roman basilicas, Vatican City and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus.
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”
Matthew 16:18
On Wednesday, March 3, we join pilgrims from around the world for the Papal Audience with the Holy Father, then celebrate Mass in Vatican City and pray at the tomb of St. Peter.
St. Peter’s Square · Vatican City
Italy, February 26 to March 6, 2027
Nine days, seven nights in Assisi and Rome, with Siena and Orvieto along the way.
Begins and ends in Rome
OvernightVisit
Nights: 2 Assisi, 5 Rome.
Depart for Italy
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Rome, Italy.
Arrival in Rome & Assisi
Upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, our local professional tour escort will greet us and accompany us by motorcoach north to Assisi, the hill town of St. Francis and St. Clare, a journey of approximately two and a half hours. After check-in, we gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.
Assisi
Today is devoted to Assisi, the hill town of St. Francis and St. Clare. We begin at the Basilica of St. Clare, resting place of the foundress of the Poor Clares, and continue to the Sanctuary of the Renunciation at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the body of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, is enshrined. We proceed to the Basilica of St. Francis, with its celebrated frescoes and the tomb of the Poverello, where we celebrate Mass, and descend to the valley to visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, which shelters the little Porziuncola chapel so beloved of St. Francis.
Siena, Orvieto & Rome
We depart Assisi for Siena, the medieval Tuscan city of St. Catherine, Doctor of the Church, whose counsel helped return the papacy to Rome. We visit the Basilica of San Domenico, which preserves her sacred head, and celebrate Mass. We continue south to Orvieto, perched on its dramatic tufa cliff, and visit its magnificent Gothic cathedral, built to enshrine the Corporal of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, in which a consecrated Host bled during Mass in 1263. We continue to Rome for our stay.
Rome, the Basilicas
This morning we celebrate Mass and visit the great papal basilicas of Rome. At the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and mother church of the world, we venerate the nearby Scala Sancta, traditionally believed to be the very steps Christ climbed before Pilate. We continue to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the greatest Marian church in the city, and to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, raised over the tomb of the Apostle Paul.
Rome, Papal Audience & Vatican City
This morning we join pilgrims from around the world for the Papal Audience with the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Square. Afterward we celebrate Mass in Vatican City and tour the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s masterpiece, before entering the immense Basilica of St. Peter, raised over the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, where we pause before Michelangelo’s Pietà.
Rome, Christian Antiquity
Today we descend into the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, the underground burial galleries where the early Christians laid their dead and celebrated the faith in times of persecution, and celebrate Mass. We continue to the Basilica of St. Sebastian, with time this afternoon to explore Rome on our own.
Free Day in Rome
Our final full day in Rome is left at leisure to rest or explore on our own, with transportation to and from the city center provided in the morning and afternoon. Pilgrims may wish to visit the Pantheon or toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return to Rome, or spend quiet time in personal prayer at one of the city’s many churches. We celebrate a final Mass together and gather this evening for a farewell dinner, sharing memories from our pilgrimage.
Return home
With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, and the Apostles Peter and Paul, we transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for our return flight home to the United States.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Where we stay in Italy
Three-star hotels or convent guesthouses: two nights in Assisi and five in Rome. Accommodations are subject to final confirmation; if one changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“I have led two pilgrimages that they have curated, and both were flawless.”
“I have always found Canterbury helpful and cooperative in organizing and planning the pilgrimages.”
“Thank you for taking care of the day to day details, leaving all of us free to focus on prayer and spiritual growth”
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, not a walking one. Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical day. Days usually start around 7am, with departure by 9am, and end back at the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. Assisi, Siena and Orvieto are hill towns with steep streets, and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus are reached by stairs.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $899, or share a room. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by November 28, 2026, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own.
Lunches, donations at Masses, souvenirs, laundry and the cost of your passport. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips for restaurant and hotel staff are included. Tips for your tour director and driver are at your discretion: as a guide, $8 to $10 per person per day for your tour guide and $6 to $8 for your driver. 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), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to November 28, 2026 (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.
Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, hosts the pilgrimage.
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.
Shared rooms are always doubles with two beds. If you would like us to match you with a roommate, tell us when you book and we will do our best. Please note that if we cannot find you a match by the final payment date of November 28, 2026, the single room supplement will apply.
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.
$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
Assisi and Rome in Lent
February 26 to March 6, 2027, with Saint John’s Seminary. 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.
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 slopes. Assisi, Siena and Orvieto are hill towns with steep streets, and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus are reached by stairs.
Expect cool winter days, often in the 40s and 50s °F, with rain likely on some days. Assisi in the hills can be colder, especially in the evening. Bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket or umbrella and comfortable shoes with good grip.
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 are always doubles with two beds. Some nights may be in a convent guesthouse, where rooms are simple. 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. Tell us at registration so we can line your arrival up with the group’s at Rome Fiumicino on February 27 and its departure from Fiumicino on March 6. Airport transfers outside the group flights can be booked for an additional cost.
Final payment is due on November 28, 2026, 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.
Pilgrimage to Italy with Fr. Andrew Jones and Fr. Peyton Plessala
Pilgrimage to Italy
Nine days in Assisi and Rome, from the tombs of St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Carlo Acutis to the four major basilicas, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and the Papal Audience, with Mass each day.
Your chaplains
Fr. Andrew Jones
Fr. Peyton Plessala
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”
Matthew 16:18
Our Lord’s words to the fisherman whose tomb lies beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, where we celebrate Mass on our second day in Rome. Later in the week we receive the Holy Father’s blessing at the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square.
St. Peter’s Basilica · Vatican City
Assisi & Rome, May 6 to 14, 2027
Nine days, seven nights: two in Assisi and five in Rome, with the four major basilicas, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, the Vatican Museums and the Papal Audience, and Mass each day.
Begins in Assisi and ends in Rome
OvernightVisit
Nights: 2 Assisi, 5 Rome.
Departure
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Rome, Italy.
Arrival in Rome & transfer to Assisi
Upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, our local professional tour escort will greet us and accompany us by motorcoach to Assisi, the hill town of St. Francis and St. Clare. After check-in, we gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.
Assisi, St. Clare, St. Carlo Acutis, San Damiano & the Porziuncola
Today is given entirely to Assisi. We begin at the Basilica of St. Clare, resting place of the foundress of the Poor Clares, where we venerate her incorrupt body and pray before the San Damiano Cross, from which St. Francis heard the call to rebuild the Church. A short walk brings us to the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where we venerate the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be canonized, a boy of fifteen who called the Eucharist his highway to heaven and who died of leukemia in 2006. We continue to the Basilica of St. Francis, where we celebrate Mass at the tomb of the Poverello, whose radical embrace of poverty and love of creation continue to inspire the Church eight centuries later, and view Giotto’s frescoes of his life. After time for lunch and quiet prayer in the upper town, we descend to the Church of San Damiano, where the crucifix spoke to St. Francis and where St. Clare and her sisters lived out their days, still among the most peaceful corners of Assisi. We conclude at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, built around the tiny Porziuncola chapel so beloved of St. Francis, and see the Cappella del Transito, marking the spot where he died in 1226, along with the thornless rose garden associated with his victory over temptation. The evening is our own in Assisi.
Assisi to Rome, San Clemente & the Colosseum
After breakfast we take leave of Assisi and travel south through Umbria to Rome, where we check in to our hotel for the remainder of our pilgrimage. This afternoon we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of San Clemente, entrusted to the Irish Dominicans, a church built in three layers: a twelfth-century basilica crowned by a golden mosaic of the Cross as the Tree of Life, above a fourth-century church that holds the relics of St. Clement, third successor of St. Peter, and the tomb of St. Cyril, apostle to the Slavs, and beneath that a first-century Roman house. A short walk brings us to the Church of St. Peter in Chains, where we venerate the very chains tradition holds bound St. Peter during his Roman imprisonment, and pause before Michelangelo’s imposing Moses. We come down to the Colosseum and walk its perimeter, where tradition holds that early Christians gave witness to their faith even unto death, pausing at the neighboring Arch of Constantine, raised in honor of the emperor whose Edict of Milan in 313 ended centuries of persecution and opened the way for the Church to flourish. From there we walk the length of the Via dei Fori Imperiali toward Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum lying open below us on one side and the forums of the emperors on the other, finishing in view of Trajan’s Column and the Victor Emmanuel Monument. The evening is at leisure.
St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums & the Sistine Chapel
This morning we celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in Christendom, raised over the tomb of the fisherman to whom Our Lord entrusted the keys, and we remain afterward to pray at the tombs of the Apostle and of St. John Paul II and to pause before Michelangelo’s Pietà, a moving meditation on Our Lady cradling her crucified Son. We then enter the Vatican Museums, home to one of the world’s great collections of sacred art, passing through the Gallery of Maps and the Raphael Rooms and concluding in prayerful silence beneath Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. The evening is at leisure.
The Old Appian Way, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus & St. Paul Outside the Walls
This morning we journey out along the Old Appian Way, the ancient road walked by the earliest Christians and, tradition holds, by St. Peter himself as he fled Rome, pausing at the little church of Domine Quo Vadis. We descend into the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and celebrate Mass amid the same underground galleries where the early Church buried her dead, among them the Crypt of the Popes and the tomb of St. Cecilia. We visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, raised over the tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles, whose nave is ringed by mosaic medallions of every pope from St. Peter onward. This afternoon we visit the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, where Bernini carved his Ecstasy of St. Teresa, his rendering of the Carmelite reformer’s own account of the wounding of her heart, and the neighboring Church of St. Charles at the Four Fountains, Borromini’s small masterpiece dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo. The evening is at leisure.
Papal Audience, St. John Lateran, the Holy Stairs & the Holy Cross in Jerusalem
This morning we attend the General Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square and receive the Holy Father’s Apostolic Blessing. This afternoon we visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, whose facade proclaims it the mother and head of all the churches of the city and of the world. Across the street we come to the Scala Sancta, traditionally believed to be the very steps Our Lord climbed to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate, brought to Rome by St. Helena and ascended by pilgrims on their knees in prayer, and we look into the Sancta Sanctorum, the private chapel of the medieval popes. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, raised within St. Helena’s own imperial residence to house the relics she brought back from the Holy Land, among them fragments of the True Cross, the title board that hung above Our Lord, and a nail. The evening is at leisure.
St. Mary Major & the Churches of Old Rome
We open the day with Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest church in the West dedicated to Our Lady, where we venerate the relic of the Holy Crib and the ancient icon of Salus Populi Romani, so beloved of the popes, and pray at the tomb of Pope Francis. The rest of the day belongs to the churches of old Rome, which we visit on foot. We begin at the Church of the Gesù, mother church of the Society of Jesus, where St. Ignatius of Loyola lies beneath the altar of his chapel and the arm of St. Francis Xavier is venerated. We continue to the Church of St. Ignatius, whose vault carries Andrea Pozzo’s soaring painted heavens and whose celebrated dome is an illusion painted on flat canvas, and where St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. John Berchmans are buried. At Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome’s great Dominican church, we venerate the body of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and co-patroness of Europe, and pause at the tomb of Blessed Fra Angelico. Steps away stands the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs, better known as the Pantheon, an ancient temple given to the Church in 609 and consecrated to Our Lady and all the martyrs. We continue to the Church of St. Louis of the French, home to Caravaggio’s paintings of the calling, inspiration and martyrdom of St. Matthew, and to the Church of St. Augustine, where the tomb of St. Monica rests near Caravaggio’s Madonna of Loreto and Sansovino’s Madonna del Parto. We pause in Piazza Navona before concluding at the Chiesa Nuova, the church of St. Philip Neri, apostle of Rome, where we pray at his tomb and see the rooms in which he lived. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner at Ristorante Abruzzi, near the Pontifical Gregorian University (pending availability).
Return home
With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage and by the intercession of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi and the Apostles Peter and Paul, we transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for our return flight home to the United States.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels in Assisi and Rome
Four-star hotels throughout: two nights in Assisi and five in Rome. Hotels are subject to final confirmation; if a hotel changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“The guides have always been top notch and importantly faithful believers.”
“I have led two pilgrimages that they have curated, and both were flawless.”
“The entire trip from start to finish went smoothly. We felt very safe and well cared for.”
Questions pilgrims ask
Short answers to what most people want to know before they put down a deposit.
It is a walking-heavy pilgrimage, with a motorcoach for transfers and longer drives. Expect about 3 to 4 miles of walking on a typical day. Days usually start around 7am, with evenings mostly at leisure. Assisi has steep streets and stairs, and the walk from San Clemente to Piazza Venezia and the day among the churches of old Rome are the longest on foot.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $699, or share a room. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by February 5, 2027, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own.
Airfare, if you choose the land-only price. Lunches, and every dinner except the welcome dinner in Assisi and the farewell dinner in Rome. Donations at Masses, souvenirs and laundry, and the cost of a passport if you need one. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips are at your discretion: as a guide, $8 to $10 per person per day for your tour guide and $6 to $8 for your driver. 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), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to February 5, 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. Andrew Jones and Fr. Peyton Plessala lead the group.
More answers in the FAQ below and in our Support Center, or call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Price per person
Per person. The land-only price does not include airfare; the airfare package adds roundtrip group flights. Call us for group air from other U.S. airports.
Shared rooms are always doubles with two beds. If you would like us to match you with a roommate, tell us when you book and we will do our best. Please note that if we cannot find you a match by the final payment date of February 5, 2027, the single room supplement will apply.
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.
$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
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Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Assisi and Rome
May 6 to 14, 2027, with Fr. Andrew Jones and Fr. Peyton Plessala. 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.
Frequently asked questions
This is an active program that covers a good amount of ground each day, much of it on foot. Expect a wake-up call around 7am and a departure by 9am, with evenings mostly at leisure. You should be able to walk 3 to 4 miles a day at a moderate pace, with uneven surfaces, stairs, cobblestones and hills in Assisi. The afternoon walk from San Clemente to Piazza Venezia and the day among the churches of old Rome are the longest walks.
Breakfast is included every day, with two group dinners: a welcome dinner in Assisi and a farewell dinner in Rome, both with wine. The other dinners are on your own, so you can try the restaurants of Assisi and Rome.
The General Audience is held on Wednesday mornings in St. Peter’s Square. We go through security early to be in the square by 7:30am, and we celebrate Mass later that day at the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. The Audience depends on the Holy Father’s schedule.
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.
Yes. The land-only price of $2,950 does not include flights. Tell us at registration so we can line your arrival up with the group’s at Rome Fiumicino on May 7 and its departure on May 14. The airfare package is $4,299; call us for group air from other airports.
Final payment is due on February 5, 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.