*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: Friday 17th July – Piana Romana and Pietrelcina
Today, we depart from Dublin Airport on an Aer Lingus flight at 06:15 hrs. We are scheduled to arrive in Naples at approximately 10:40hrs, giving us a full day ahead. Upon arrival, our Joe Walsh Tours representative will be there to warmly welcome us.
After collecting our luggage from the carousel, we will begin our journey by private coach to Piana Romana and Pietrelcina, the birthplace of Saint Pio. Here, we will visit significant sites including Saint Pio’s family home and the Church of St. Anna, where he was baptized and received his First Holy Communion.
We then continue on to San Giovanni Rotondo, where we will stay at the Parco delle Rose Hotel for three nights. Accommodation includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Dinner and overnight after a first full day.
DAY 2: Saturday 18th July – San Giovanni Rotondo
Today, we dedicate the full day to exploring the sacred town of San Giovanni Rotondo, a place deeply connected to the life and mission of Saint Padre Pio.
Following morning Mass, we will visit the English Office, where we will learn more about the extraordinary life and spiritual legacy of Padre Pio.
Our day continues with a guided visit to the Capuchin Friary, the heart of Padre Pio’s ministry. Here, we will see the modest cell where he lived, prayed, and eventually passed away, a humble and powerful reminder of his dedication to a life of service and sacrifice. We will also visit the crucifix before which he received the stigmata, a deeply moving and significant site for all who come to understand the depth of his spiritual journey.
We return to the Parco delle Rose Hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3: Sunday 19th July – Monte Sant’Angelo | Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) | Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza
MORNING:
Today promises to be a spiritually enriching and reflective day. In the morning, we will travel by private coach to the historic town of Monte Sant’Angelo, one of the oldest and most revered pilgrimage sites in Italy. The town offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and coastline.
Our destination is the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pilgrims have visited this sacred grotto for centuries, drawn by reported apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel dating back to the 5th century. Here, we’ll have time for prayer, reflection, and exploration of the sanctuary, rich in history and spiritual symbolism. Back to the hotel for lunch.
AFTERNOON:
In the afternoon we will have a guided walk along the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross), located on the hillside behind the sanctuary.
This powerful devotional path features life-sized bronze statues depicting the Stations of the Cross. As we follow the route, we will have the opportunity to meditate on Christ’s Passion and unite our own intentions and prayers with His suffering.
Following this, we will visit the renowned Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (Home for the Relief of Suffering), the hospital founded by Padre Pio in 1956.
Back to the hotel for our last evening. (**Hotel Parco delle Rose has an outdoor swimming pool at disposal for their guests).
DAY 4: Monday 20th July – Lanciano and journey to Assisi
After an early breakfast and check out we will travel to Lanciano before arriving to Assisi. In the 8th Century, a Church in Lanciano was the location for the first and greatest Eucharistic miracle of the Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated in the Chiesa del Miracolo and we will have time to visit the medieval centre and the ancient sites.
Lunch before continuing our journey to Assisi. Time to check in the Hote Da Angelo, a warm family run hotel where we will be spending the next
two nights on a Half Board basis.
DAY 5: Tuesday 21st July – Assisi
After breakfast, we begin our day with a walk and visit to the awe-inspiring 13th century Basilica of St. Francis and his tomb, the town’s most important sanctuary.
Next, we will be visiting St Clare Basilica, of St. Clare, the foundress of the Order of the Poor Clares.
St. Clare was a devoted follower of St. Francis and embraced his ideals by living a life of poverty
and humility.
Time for lunch and snacks before continuing our day with the visit of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the remains of Blessed Carlo Acutis are housed. Mass will be celebrated there.
Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6: Wednesday 22nd July – Lower Assisi | Flight back home
After a good breakfast and an early check-out we will be picked up from the hotel to discover Lower Assisi.
The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli built in the 16th century, where the Porziuncola, the cradle of the Franciscan Order is, and where the original community of brothers made their home is enshrined also, his cell, the famous rose garden and place where St. Francis departed this life.
Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica. We will afterward travel to Rome for our flight back to Dublin departing at 15:10pm.
