Our Italian adventure begins as you depart the USA on your international flight.

On arrival at Rome airport, you will be met and transferred north by coach through the stunning countryside. We will visit the Church and Covenant of San Damiano. The Church and Convent of St. Damiano is where, in 1205, St. Francis received his calling to “Rebuild My Church.” St. Claire would later lead her Order of the Poor Ladies from here until her death in 1253. Next, we will visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Finish your day by checking into your Assisi hotel to enjoy a welcome dinner and overnight stay. (D)

This morning, wake up to the atmospheric sounds of chapel bells, cobblestone footsteps and a tangible spirit of St. Francis preserved within the walls of this holy town. Today, you will have ample time in the Basilica of St. Francis and will celebrate Mass here. Then, we will visit the Basilica of St. Clare, which houses the Crucifix of San Damiano. We will also go to the Cathedral, St. Rufino, where both St. Francis and St. Clare were baptized. You will have time for private devotion and leisure before returning to your hotel for overnight. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B)

Say farewell to Assisi this morning and travel to Orvieto where the Cathedral houses a very famous Eucharistic Miracle. We will celebrate Mass here. Orvieto served as a papal residence. Pope Nicholas IV laid the cornerstone for the Cathedral of Orvieto in 1290, dedicating it to the Assumption of the Virgin. Orvieto served as a papal residence through the Middle Ages, Pope Clement VII being one of the last to stay in Orvieto in 1527. Here, the Feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated, marching from the Duomo. We then travel to charming Trastevere, a famous neighborhood in Rome, and enjoy a bit of free time. After lunch, we will tour the Colosseum and the Forum. Then, we will visit the world-famous Pantheon, which is a perfectly preserved structure over 2000 years old. Check into your Rome hotel for an overnight stay. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B)

This morning, celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s, where we will have ample time for private prayer. We will see the entire world-famous Basilica, including Michaelangelo’s Pieta Sculpture and the tombs of many popes, including that of St. Pope John Paul II. Next, visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The present structure stands over the place where Constantine built the first church over St. Paul’s grave. The church features a portrait of every pope who has served the church, with the face of Pope Francis I illuminated as the present pontiff. Then, in the late afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican’s Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Built by connecting portions of the old papal residence with newer structures, the museum houses a world-renowned collection of art and antiquities. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512 and later painted The Last Judgment between 1535 and 1541 for Popes Clement VII and Paul III. The primary function of the chapel is the Papal Conclave, providing the place where the College of Cardinals of the church gathers to elect a new pope. Return to your hotel in Rome for a rest. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B)

Begin your day with a visit to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. We will celebrate Mass here. Next door are the Sacred Steps, which according to tradition, are the steps leading up to the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate, which Jesus Christ stepped on. Our next pilgrimage stop is the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. St. Helena brought Passion relics here, and the floor was covered with soil from Jerusalem. Relics here include the index finger of Thomas that touched the wounds of Christ after His resurrection and a piece of the Good Thief’s Cross. Enjoy some time for lunch on your own. Visit the Basilica di San Clemente with its first-century underground archaeological complex, which is one of the great treasures of the world. Explore the romance of Rome as you stop at the famous Trevi Fountain and view the Spanish Steps. Legend says those who toss a coin into the fountain will one day return to Rome to toss another into the waters of Trevi. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B)

This morning you will check out and transfer to Dubrovnik. With a local guide, spend the afternoon visiting Dubrovnik, a city, today under the protection of UNESCO, which carries the appellation of the Pearl of the Adriatic In the evening embark on a ferry to Italy. Dinner and overnight on board.

This morning, walk through St. Peter’s Basilica and celebrate Mass here. The present structure completed in 1590 was built over the Byzantine and Middle Ages structures that marked the tomb of St. Peter. There are more than 100 tombs within the basilica, including most recently St. Pope John Paul II. You may opt to stay in St. Peter’s Square to hear the Pope’s Angelus address and receive a papal blessing. Enjoy time for lunch and explore Rome on your own this afternoon. This evening, you will visit San Sabina in Aventino, (St. Dominic and St. Francis met here) and join 60 monks chanting vespers in San Anselmo church. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B)

Continue your pilgrim journey to the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Maria Maggiore). This is the largest Marian church in Rome. Its construction began after the Council of Ephesus in 431 proclaimed that Mary was the Mother of God. St. Jerome, translator of the Bible into the Latin Vulgate, is buried here. Next, is the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls (San Lorenzo). St. Lawrence was one of the first seven deacons of Rome, martyred in 258. The church is built next to catacombs that lead down to his grave. The relics of Saints Justin Martyr and Stephen are also enshrined here. Enjoy time for lunch on your own. San Sebastian Outside the Walls is another of the seven Pilgrimage churches, built over the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. The remains of Peter and Paul were temporarily protected here during the Valerian Persecution of 258. Those who want to complete the seven-church pilgrimage as declared by St. John Paul II in 2000 can continue to one more stop at the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love. Here, a pilgrim pursued by dogs appealed to Our Lady and she intervened for his safety. Pilgrims began to frequent the site and a chapel was built here in 1745. Enjoy a group dinner together. (B, D)

Return to the USA, or continue your pilgrimage this evening in Medjugorje, with a day tour of stunning Dubrovnik.