*Please note this pilgrimage involves a certain amount of walking and physical activity, such as stairs, standing for extended periods and walking on uneven surfaces; especially when visiting historical and religious sites. We kindly ask that you assess your comfort level with these activities before booking and travel with a companion that can provide assistance if required. If you have any mobility concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our team to discuss.
DAY 1: TRAVEL TO ROME
Travel to Dublin Airport for our flight to Rome departing at 10:25am. Our local rep will meet the group at departures to assist with check in. We will be arriving in Rome at approximately 14:30 where our Joe Walsh Tours representative will meet the group on arrival.
From here we will travel to Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the major Papal Basilicas, where we will have an introductory walking tour of the area and Mass before heading to
the hotel where the group will enjoy dinner together.
DAY 2: THE VATICAN
After breakfast we will spend the full morning visiting St Peter Basilica and Square and the tomb of the Popes. We will also have the pleasure to attend a guided visit of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope’s official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna, it takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV. The Basilica is one of the holiest sites of Christianity and Catholic tradition, the burial site of St Peter, who was the head of the twelve Apostles of Jesus.
Time for lunch in one of the local bistros before heading to the second major papal Basilicas, St John in the Lateran for Mass and visit before returning to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 3: PAPAL AUDIENCE
After breakfast today we will spend the morning participating at the Papal Audience.
Pick up from the hotel will be very early, around 7am. Pilgrims and visitors will have the chance to see the Pope and receive the Papal blessings or Apostolic blessings from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit.
The Audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and readings mainly in Italian but also in English. We will have a break for lunch and then visit the Basilica of St Paul
Outside the Walls in the afternoon. The basilica is the conventual church of the adjacent Benedictine abbey.
We will also visit the Shrine of the Tre Fontane – St Paul Martyrdrom. The legend says that when his head was cut off, it hit the ground and then rolled to two other spots due to the sloping terrain, miraculously causing water to spring up in three places.
DAY 4: TOUR OF ROME
After breakfast the group will be picked up from the hotel and enjoy a walking tour of Rome’s most iconic sites. We will be admiring the city’s most important attractions, such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, we will visit and have Mass in S Andrea delle Fratte (miraculous medal) and the Jesuit church. Time to relax and to head back to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 5: CATACOMBS
After breakfast we will visit the beautiful and important Catacombs of St Callisto or San Sebastian, with mass and guided tour. After lunch we will have a free day. Please ask our experienced tour guide for recommendations, sit in one of the many cafés or explore the historic centre of Rome further at your leisure. The group will enjoy dinner together at the hotel.
DAY 6: TRAVEL BACK HOME
Today is unfortunately our last day of this holy Rome’s pilgrimage. We hope you enjoyed it!
After breakfast and check out we will be picked up around 08.30 – 9am and visit the Pontifical Irish College, a Catholic seminary in Rome for the training and education of priests. It serves as a residence for clerical students from all over the world. After the visit of the College and mass, at 11:30hrs we will be picked up to travel back to the airport for our afternoon flight back to Dublin.
