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.
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.
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 3 to 4 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.