Italy Pilgrimage with Saint John’s Seminary Boston
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.
“This was the trip of a lifetime and excellent customer service.”
“If you want a pilgrimage that’s seamless, historical and actually fun, book these guys.”
“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 with two beds with another pilgrim. 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 manager, local guides and driver: the recommended amounts are in your final travel documents. 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 from Boston (BOS). Flying from another city? We can arrange air from your airport; call or email us for a quote.
$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
Protect your pilgrimage
Your pilgrimage is paid for long before you leave. After you reserve, your booking confirmation email has our Allianz Travel Insurance plans and a link to buy one directly. Classic is the plan we recommend for most pilgrims.
- Covers your trip cost. Classic reimburses 100% of the trip cost you insured if you cancel for a covered reason, and adds emergency medical care and baggage cover.
- Buy within 14 days of your first deposit to keep Cancel Anytime and pre-existing condition cover. The plans stay available until departure.
- Buy it from your confirmation email. Prefer to add it by phone? Call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
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 have one bed or 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. Send us your flight details once booked, 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. Group air from other airports can be arranged; call or email us for a quote.
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.
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.
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.