Pilgrimage to Italy with St. John Fisher Parish
Eleven days in Assisi and Rome, by way of Siena and Orvieto, praying at the tombs of St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Carlo Acutis and at Rome’s major basilicas, with daily Mass.
Your parish
St. John Fisher Parish
This pilgrimage is organised for St. John Fisher Parish, with daily Mass and the sacraments throughout.
“We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your churches in the whole world, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”
St. Francis of Assisi, Testament
The prayer St. Francis taught his brothers to say in every church they passed. We spend four nights in Assisi, with Mass at St. Mary of the Angels and at the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione.
The Basilica of St. Francis · Assisi
Italy, July 12 to 22, 2027
Eleven days, nine nights in Assisi and Rome, with Siena, Orvieto and the Eremo delle Carceri along the way, and Mass each day.
Begins and ends in Rome
OvernightVisit
Nights: 4 Assisi, 5 Rome.
Departure from the United States
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Italy.
Arrival in Rome & transfer to Assisi
Upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, we are greeted by our local guide and board our private motorcoach for the scenic drive to Assisi through the beautiful Umbrian countryside. After checking into our hotel, we gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.
Assisi, Basilica of St. Francis & Basilica of St. Clare
We begin with a guided tour of the Basilica of St. Francis, admiring its stunning frescoes and venerating his tomb. We continue to the Basilica of St. Clare to view the San Damiano Cross that spoke to St. Francis, calling him to conversion. After free time for lunch, we walk through the charming streets of Assisi, visiting the birthplace of St. Francis and other key sites, and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, home to the Porziuncola, the small chapel where St. Francis spent much of his life.
Assisi, Eremo delle Carceri & Sanctuary of the Spogliazione
Today we journey to the peaceful Eremo delle Carceri, a hermitage nestled in the hills where St. Francis and his followers retreated for prayer and contemplation, with time for personal reflection in this serene setting. In the afternoon we visit the Church of San Damiano, where St. Clare lived and where St. Francis received his calling to rebuild the Church. We continue to the Sanctuary of the Spogliazione to venerate the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, and celebrate Mass here. The evening is left free to explore Assisi’s local shops and cafes before dinner.
Siena day trip
We travel today to Siena, a city rich in Catholic heritage. We begin at the Basilica of San Domenico, home to the relics of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and co-patroness of Europe, where we celebrate Mass. We continue to the Siena Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture, and explore the Piazza del Campo, famed for the Palio horse race.
Orvieto & transfer to Rome
After breakfast we bid farewell to Assisi and travel toward Rome, stopping in the hilltop town of Orvieto to visit the magnificent Orvieto Cathedral, home to the corporal of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, when in 1263 a consecrated host began to bleed as a doubting priest celebrated Mass. We celebrate Mass here before continuing to Rome.
Rome, Major Basilicas
Today we visit three of Rome’s four major basilicas, beginning with St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, and the Holy Stairs, venerated as the steps Christ ascended during his trial before Pontius Pilate. We continue to St. Mary Major, one of the oldest churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, where we visit the tomb of Pope Francis. In the afternoon we visit St. Paul Outside the Walls to venerate the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle. We celebrate Mass at one of these sacred sites, with free time in the evening to explore Rome.
Ancient Rome
We step back in time to explore Ancient Rome, beginning with a guided tour of the Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire, and the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient political life. We visit Palatine Hill, the legendary founding site of Rome. After free time for lunch, we walk along the Appian Way, one of the earliest roads of the Roman Republic, and visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, where early Christians gathered and were buried, and celebrate Mass.
Free day in Rome
Our free day in Rome is left at leisure to rest or explore on your own, with transportation to and from the city center provided in the morning and afternoon. You may wish to visit the Pantheon or toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome.
Papal Audience & Vatican City
Our final full day in Rome begins in Vatican City. If available, we attend the Papal Audience with the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Square, held each Wednesday morning, schedule permitting. We then enter St. Peter’s Basilica, the heart of the Catholic Church. After lunch we tour the Vatican Museums, marveling at the treasures of the Church, including the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling. We celebrate a final Mass at a Vatican chapel together and gather 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 and St. Clare of Assisi, 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: four 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.
“This was the trip of a lifetime and excellent customer service.”
“Thank you for taking care of the day to day details, leaving all of us free to focus on prayer and spiritual growth”
“If you want a pilgrimage that’s seamless, historical and actually fun, book these guys.”
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. Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical day, more on the Ancient Rome day. Days usually start around 7am and end back at the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. Assisi and Orvieto are hilltop towns with steep streets and stairs, and Rome has cobblestones.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $995, 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 April 13, 2027, 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 and laundry, and the cost of a passport if you need one. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. 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 April 13, 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.
The group travels from St. John Fisher Parish, with daily Mass throughout.
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. Premium economy and business class are available: call or email us for pricing.
$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 and Orvieto are hilltop towns with steep streets.
July in central Italy is hot and sunny, often in the 90s °F in Rome. Bring light clothing, a hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle. Churches and the Vatican require modest dress, with shoulders and knees covered, so pack a light scarf or layer.
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 Papal Audience is held on Wednesday mornings in St. Peter’s Square when the Holy Father is in Rome, and we attend it on July 21 if it is held. Audiences are often paused in July for the summer, so we cannot promise it.
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 in Rome on July 13 and its departure from Rome on July 22. Group air from other airports can be arranged; call or email us for a quote.
Final payment is due on April 13, 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.
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, Siena and Rome
July 12 to 22, 2027, with St. John Fisher Parish. 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.