Overview
Itinerary
Your tour opens in Rome, the spiritual center of the Catholic faith during the Holy Year.
This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at your hotel, featuring regional delicacies and Italian wine. (D) Stay: Hotel St. Martin (7 Nights)
This morning, begin your pilgrimage of the Seven Jubilee Churches with a visit to Rome's cathedral: the Basilica of St. John Lateran – the former residence of the popes. Continue to the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs which tradition believes are the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate.
This afternoon, enter the Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major, where art and spirituality meet. Celebrate Mass before returning to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Or opt to enhance your Roman sojourn with a half-board dinner supplement at your hotel. (B)
Today, venture beyond ancient Rome's city limits, though still within the modern city center. Visit the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, built over the shrine of Saint Lawrence, one of the earliest martyrs of the Catholic Church. Continue to St. Paul Outside the Walls and pause in reverence at the tomb of the Apostle.
This afternoon, celebrate Mass at the church of St. Sabastian Outside the Walls. Then, follow the steps down to the catacombs underneath the basilica, for a touching visit to the tombs of early Christians, martyrs, and saints. (B)
This morning, celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. Afterward, walk on to St. Peter's Square to await the Papal Blessing. Every Sunday when in residence, His Holiness pronounces a brief reflection on the Gospel of the day before reciting the Angelus prayer from his window overlooking St. Peter's Square.
This afternoon, visit the Shine of our Lady of Divine Love, added to the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome by Saint John Paul II during the Jubilee of AD 2000. (B)
Early this morning, travel north to Assisi, where St. Francis spent most of his life. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, built on the founding site of the Franciscan Order. Pause at the Chapel of the Porziuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the Saint prayed. After an included lunch, join a local expert on a tour of the 13th-century basilica of St. Francis, where you can see many of St. Francis' possessions and a series of frescoes. Celebrate Mass in the basilica before returning to Rome in the evening for a late dinner at your hotel. (B/L/D)
This morning explore the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel where the Pope is elected and where Michelangelo's famous Last Judgment mural is located. End your visit of the Vatican City in St. Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church. Feel the grace around you as you meander along towering marble columns and stand in awe before La Pietà, Michelangelo's renowned sculpture.
This afternoon, visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, another of the seven pilgrimage churches of the Jubilee and where you celebrate Mass. (B)
Early this morning attend the weekly Papal audience at the Vatican City to receive the blessing given by His Holiness the Pope. The afternoon is yours to do as you wish. You may choose to cross the Holy Door of St. Peter's to seek jubilar absolution if you have not done so yet.
This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant celebrating the end of a memorable pilgrimage to Italy. (B/D)
Your spiritual journey to Rome and Assisi comes to a close. Return home with renewed faith as a Pilgrim of Hope. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Visit the Seven Pilgrim Churches that grant indulgence during the Holy Year.
- Pause at the Holy Stairs, believed to be the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate.
- Daily Mass organized for you during your stay.
- Venture underground to the catacombs of St. Sebastian, where early Christians hid and buried their dead.
- Enter the Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major, where art and spirituality meet.
- In Assisi, visit the Basilica of St. Francis and see the Porziuncola chapel from where the Franciscan Order originated.
- Expertly crafted itineraries
- 4-star+ accommodation
- Skilled and engaging tour managers
- Expert local guides with insider knowledge
- Attraction entrance fees
- Many meals full of local flavour
- Unparalleled sightseeing
- Enriching cultural experiences
- Comfortable on-tour transportation
- Hotel-to-hotel baggage handling
- Plus, access to Wi-Fi hotspots on tour
- This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, up stairs or on uneven walking surfaces should be expected.
- Private, chauffeur service is included for all air-inclusive tour bookings. This personalised service is included within a 40km radius from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, Cairns and Hobart airport gateways. Service is available between 41-70 kms for a small fee.
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Trip Optionals These optional activities can be pre-booked & included in your trip price.
- Location: Rome. Cost: $266.
- For a carefree stay in Rome, you can opt to add 4 dinners to your trip, enhancing your stay at the hotel to a half-board arrangement. The additional dinners will be 3-course meals including water and a choice of wine or beer. Duration approximately 1 hour(s). Transportation is not included This optional supplement can be booked up to 30 days prior to your trip.
- Location: Pawtucket, RI. Cost: $167.
- You can now include pre-paid tipping into your guided tour purchase. You pay for your tipping up front, we handle the rest, and you can cross one more thing off your “To Do” list. No more running to an ATM at the last minute on tour, or carrying around cash you won’t spend. Transportation is not included Prepaid gratuities are only available to guests departing from Australia & New Zealand. This covers tips for the Tour Manager, driver(s), and local guides including optional tours. Airport transfer and extension gratuities are not included in this amount
Brochure
Collette Worldwide (2024-25)
Availability
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Collette. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Collette. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
