PILGRIMAGE TO ROME ITINERARY
DAY 1: Dublin to Rome
Early departure from Dublin Airport, at approximately 06:35hrs. We will be arriving in Rome at approximately 10:40am, with the full day ahead of us.
Our Joe Walsh Tours representative will meet us on arrival and, upon collecting our bags, we will be transferred by private coach to Santa Maria Maggiore – S. Mary Major area.
Time for lunch, in one of the many local cafes’ or Bistrot’s, suggested from our experienced tour guide (at your own expenses), before starting an orientation walking tour of the area, followed by the visit and Mass of St. Mary Major.
Quick transfer to the Hotel TwentyOne, situated only a few minutes away from the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, where we will be staying for the next 4 nights. Time to check in, dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: Papal Audience, St Peter’s and Tour of Rome
After a nice breakfast we will begin our day with a truly special experience: the Papal Audience. An unforgettable opportunity for pilgrims and visitors alike to see the Pope in person and receive his Papal or Apostolic blessings, coming directly from the successor of the Apostle Peter. The Papal Audience includes brief teachings and readings, primarily delivered in Italian, with portions also presented in English to accommodate international guests. This gathering offers a unique moment for spiritual reflection and connection with the Holy Father. Following the Audience, we will continue exploring St Peter’s Basilica and the grottoes, St Peter Square and the Vatican area. Mass.
Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon we will be walking around the most famous attractions, from the Spanish Steps, we will visit S. Andrea delle Fratte (miraculous medal), followed by the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the church of the Jesuite (Gesu’ church).
Dinner and overnight back at the hotel.
DAY 3: St Paul Outside the Walls and St John Lateran
Today after breakfast we will visit the beautiful Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. This majestic basilica is built over the burial site of St. Paul the Apostle, who was martyred in Rome
around 67 AD. It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, alongside St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major. Time to move on to visit the Shrine of the Tre Fontane and St Paul Martyrdom. This church enshrines the three springs and commemorates his martyrdom.
Time to take our coach and move to St John’s Lateran area for lunch and refreshments in one of the many local Café’s and Bistrot. In the afternoon we will keep visiting the Major Papal Basilica of St John in the Lateran, it and we will celebrate mass. After a full and insightful day time to head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: Walking tour of Rome
After breakfast time to have a walking tour of Rome main sites.
We will start with the visit of the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), 28 marble steps traditionally believed to be the steps Jesus climbed in Jerusalem. We will visit after the Basilica of San Clemente followed by the Colosseum, Rome’s iconic amphitheatre (from the outside).
Our walk will bring us to admire the Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forums strolling through the ruins of ancient temples, the Palatine Hill all the way to St Mary Major area. Time for mass in the Basilica of Santa Prassede before our evening meal back at the hotel.
DAY 5: Trastevere and back to Dublin
This is unfortunately our last day of this meaningful Pilgrimage to Rome.
This morning, we will visit the colourful and lively Trastevere neighbourhood with Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, with its golden-mosaic basilica, the heart of the district, surrounded by
trattorias, wine bars, and cafes. We will have Mass in Santa Cecilia in Trastevere and some free time for lunch, shopping, personal prayers before being collected from the Hotel at 16:00pm to head to the airport for our evening flight back to Dublin.
*Itinerary may be subject to change.
