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.