DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1: Tuesday 20th October – Arrive Naples. Transfer to San Giovanni Rotondo. Pietrelcina.
Early morning departure from Dublin Airport aboard the Aer Lingus flight scheduled for 06:15 hrs. You will be landing in Naples at approximately 10:40hrs, where we will be met by our Joe Walsh Tours representative.
After collecting our luggage from the carousel, we will travel by private coach to San Giovanni Rotondo. During our transfer, ample opportunity to enjoy scenic views of the beautiful Italian countryside, as well as hearing some inspirational words of the early years of Francesco Forgione (the future Padre Pio). Stop en-route for some snacks/sandwiches (at your own expenses), before visiting to Pietrelcina. Walk in the footsteps of Padre Pio in his quaint little town and learn about his dream of becoming “a monk with a beard” and visit the family home where Padre Pio was born and the Church of Sant’Anna where he was baptised. Mass will be celebrated in Pietrelcina.
Afterwards, we will continue our drive to San Giovanni Rotondo where we will check in at the Centro di Spiritualità, our accommodation for the next three nights on a full board basis.
DAY 2: Wednesday 21st October – San Giovanni Rotondo
This morning after a good sleep and a full breakfast we will be spending the full day in San Giovanni. Mass will be celebrated in the crypt, followed by the visit of the English office where we hear about the extraordinary life of Padre Pio and the Capuchin Friary, the cell where Saint Pio lived and died and the crucifix before which he received the stigmata.
One of the most beautiful shrines to see in San Giovanni Rotondo, the Old Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie or Our Lady of Grace. Back to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon time to pay a visit the hospital “Home for Relief of the Suffering”, which now welcomes many patients, being one of the best health care centres in Italy. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3: Thursday 22nd October – Monte Sant’ Angelo. Station of the Cross.
This morning, we will depart for Monte Sant’Angelo, home to the sacred grotto where the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared in the 5th century. A long line of Saints and Popes have visited this holy site to pray, including St. Francis of Assisi, St. Pio, and St. John Paul II. Mass in the Cave will be celebrated before going back to the hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon we will be visiting the Station of the Cross or else known as the Monumental Way Of the Cross. This monument consists of a forested path through a pine forest on the hillside above Santa Maria delle Grazie. There are 16 sculptures positioned in this area. Free time for personal prayers and shopping before heading back to the hotel for our last night.
DAY 4: Friday 23rd October – Journey to Assisi
Today after breakfast and check out we will start our journey to St. Francis Birthplace, the beautiful hill town of Assisi. This beautiful journey will give us the possibility to visit the spiritual shrine of Loreto. The Loreto Shrine or Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, is one of the most sacred places in the world. A major Catholic pilgrimage site housing the Holy House (Santa Casa) of the Virgin Mary, believed to be miraculously transported from Nazareth; it’s the third-largest Marian shrine in Europe.
After such an interesting and full day, we will arrive in Assisi and check in the Domus Pacis, offering Franciscan Hospitality for a serene retreat. We will stay in Assisi for 2 nights on a Half Board Basis.
DAY 5: Saturday 24th October – Assisi
After breakfast we will be going by coach to upper Assisi where we will spend our day on a walking tour beginning with the Basilica of St. Clare where we will see the original San Damiano cross, and amongst other relics on display, her long hair which was cut off by St. Francis during her religious profession, her habit and her cord belt.
Next we will be visiting the Sanctuary of the Renunciation the Church where Blessed Carlo Acutis remains are displayed and the place where it is renowned that St. Francis relinquished his wealthy lifestyle, cast off his rich clothes, choosing instead a torn patched up tunic and life of poverty. There will be ample time for lunch, to browse the shops and to walk through the quaint medieval streets savouring the atmosphere of Assisi.
Our walking tour of the town will conclude at the impressive 13th century Basilica of St. Francis, renowned as The Mother Church of The Franciscan Order. Time for mass before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6: Sunday 25th October- Journey from Assisi to Rome
This morning after a good breakfast and check out. We will be leaving Assisi and make our way to Rome not before visiting and celebrating mass in S. Maria degli Angeli, St Mary of the Angels, 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.
Time to travel to Rome where our first stop will be Santa Maria Maggiore area. After some refreshment, we will have an orientation walking tour of the area, followed by the visit of this major Papal Basilica, St Mary Major, the largest Marian Church.
Time to head to the Hotel Casa Francesca Romana, set in a historical building in Rome’s lively Trastevere district, where we will be staying for the next 2 nights on a Half Board basis. Time to check in, dinner will be served at 19:00pm every evening in the nearby Hotel’s restaurant.
DAY 7: Monday 26th October – The Vatican City and Rome main sites
Today after breakfast we will head to the Vatican. We will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and its grottoes, one of the most sacred sites in Christianity. According to tradition, it is built over the burial place of St. Peter, leader of the Apostles and regarded as the first Bishop of Rome, making him the Church’s first Pope. Following this inspiring experience,
We will enjoy lunch before starting our walking tour of Rome main sites. We will be admiring the iconic Trevi Fountain, followed by the Spanish Steps and the former Roman temple “Pantheon”, Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in Rome.
We will then be transferred to the Pontifical Irish College is a Catholic seminary in Rome for the training and education of priests. Mass in the College before returning to the Hotel for our last evening.
Free Time, dinner and overnight.
DAY 8: Tuesday 27th October – Travel back home
This is the last day of this beautiful pilgrimage. This morning after breakfast and check out we will travel to Rome airport to catch our 11:20 flight back to Dublin.
