Depart for your overnight flight to Venice, Italy.

Upon arrival at Venice International Airport, proceed through Passport Control, collect luggage, and meet your ETS Tours representative outside of Customs. Board your private motorcoach and depart for the charming city of Padua. After some time for an independent lunch, visit the Basilica of St. Anthony, home to the Chapel of the Relics, which houses the saint’s tongue and jawbone. The basilica’s unique blend of Gothic, Romanesque, and Byzantine architecture showcases a vast collection of religious artwork. Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony before continuing to Mestre, a suburb of Venice, for hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight in Mestre. (D)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then transfer by boat to St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice. Celebrate Mass at the iconic St. Mark’s Basilica before beginning a walking tour of the historic square and surrounding highlights. View the famed Campanile, the Clock Tower, and stroll past the Bridge of Sighs, linking the Doge’s Palace to the old prisons. After an independent lunch, enjoy a free afternoon to wander Venice’s enchanting alleys and canals. An optional gondola ride is highly recommended for a classic Venetian experience. Return to Mestre by boat. Dinner and overnight in Mestre. (B, D)

Following breakfast, depart for Florence, driving through Tuscany’s beautiful landscapes. Upon arrival, enjoy time for an independent lunch before a guided tour of the city. Visit the Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece, “David.” Continue to Piazza del Duomo to view the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John, and the Church of the Holy Cross, the final resting place of many renowned Florentines. Celebrate Mass at a local church (location to be confirmed). Dinner and overnight in Florence. (B, D)

After breakfast, travel to the peaceful hilltop town of Assisi. Upon arrival, celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis, then enjoy a guided visit of the upper and lower basilicas, featuring Giotto’s renowned frescoes and the saint’s tomb. Continue to the Basilica of St. Clare to view her remains and the miraculous Crucifix. Enjoy time for an independent lunch. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the afternoon is free for personal exploration. Consider visiting sites such as the Piazza del Comune, Chiesa Nuova, the Bishop’s Palace, or the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, where Blessed Carlo Acutis is buried. Dinner and overnight in Assisi. (B, D)

Begin the day with breakfast, then visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which shelters the Porziuncula Chapel, the site where the Franciscan Order began and where St. Francis died. Celebrate Mass here, then view the thornless rose garden and the Capella del Transito. Afterward, depart for Rome, the Eternal City. Enjoy time for lunch upon arrival. In the afternoon, visit St. Peter in Chains to see Michelangelo’s “Moses” and the chains that once bound the Apostle. Continue to the Roman Forum, view the Arches of Titus and Constantine, and stop outside the Colosseum for historical insight. Check in at your Rome hotel. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (B, D)

After breakfast, begin the day at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, home to exquisite mosaics and relics from Christ’s birth. Celebrate Mass here, then continue to the Cathedral of St. John Lateran, the first Christian church in Rome, and later to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, where St. Paul is buried. After an independent lunch, participate in the Scavi Tour, a remarkable journey beneath St. Peter’s Basilica to the Vatican Necropolis, believed to be the burial site of St. Peter himself. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (B, D)

Begin the morning with an early Mass at the Tomb of St. Peter, followed by a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, where you’ll experience the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s masterpiece ceiling. Continue with an in-depth exploration of St. Peter’s Basilica, including sacred sites such as the “Pietà” and the Tomb of St. John Paul II. Enjoy free time for lunch and personal exploration in the Vatican area.In the early afternoon, depart for a special guided tour of the Catacombs of Domitilla (Catacombe di Domitilla – Soverdi Onlus), one of the oldest and most extensive catacomb complexes in Rome. Walk through underground galleries dating back to the 2nd century, view early Christian frescoes, and visit the ancient subterranean basilica dedicated to Saints Nereus and Achilleus. Later in the afternoon, proceed to the Generalate of the Society of the Divine Word (visit subject to confirmation) for a special encounter with the missionary community. Conclude the day with dinner and overnight in Rome. (B, D)

Following breakfast, attend the General Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Francis Prevost) at the Vatican, where he will greet pilgrims, offer his message, pray the Our Father, and bless religious articles. After an independent lunch, join a walking tour through historic Rome. Begin at the Pantheon, continue to San Luigi dei Francesi to see Caravaggio’s masterworks, then make your way to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Celebrate Mass at Sant’Agnese in Agone, located in Piazza Navona. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner in a local Roman restaurant, complete with wine, music, and authentic Italian cuisine. Overnight in Rome. (B, D)

After breakfast, transfer to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport for your return flight to the USA. (B)