Spiritual Highlights of Italy - Faith-Based Travel (5300)

9 Day Tour from Rome to Rome

2025 Tour Details View 2024 Tour Details »

On this inspirational tour, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Catholic icons of Rome, such as the four major Basilicas, the Scala Sancta and the Papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo; attend the Papal Audience, learn about some of Italy’s beloved Saints, and celebrate Mass. Learn about St. Pio of Pietrelcina, a modern-day saint, visit the Shrine of Monte Sant’Angelo, gather in prayer at the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano, reflect in the Holy House of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Loreto, and admire the timeless beauty of the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare in Assisi. Italy is a must for Catholic travelers and art lovers.

Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travelers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Special departures:
Departure May 21 St. Pio's feast day (25 May)
Departure September 19 Anniversary of St. Pio's passing (23 September)

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.646.5374

Spiritual Highlights of Italy - Faith-Based Travel map

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfasts daily, 4 dinners

Notes:

The Papal audience in the Vatican is subject to availability
Mass services may be in local language and venues are subject to change
Departure May 21 St. Pio's feast day (25 May) - No Papal audience on this departure
Departure September 19 Anniversary of St. Pio's passing (23 September) – No Papal audience on this departure
Departure June 16 – No Papal audience on this departure

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY

Welcome to Italy! Check into your hotel, with rest of the day free to explore on your own. This afternoon, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers, and prepare for your upcoming spiritual journey. Later this evening, a welcome dinner awaits at your hotel.

Dinner

Day 2 ROME

This morning, attend the Papal Audience (subject to availability) for the chance to see the Pope and receive the Papal Blessing. Later, with a Local Guide, visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, burial place of St. Paul the Apostle, St John Lateran Basilica and St. Mary Major Basilica, the Rome’s four major Papal basilicas. Experience the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), transported from Jerusalem to Rome around 326 AD by St. Helena, Emperor Constantine’s mother. These 28 marble steps are traditionally ascended in a kneeling position with a prayer recital dedicated to Jesus Christ. Then, visit the impressive St. Mary Major Basilica and attend Mass.*

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Breakfast

Day 3 ROME. EXCURSION TO CASTEL GANDOLFO

A different, quite unique experience is offered today. We will take an included excursion to Castel Gandolfo, a quaint village in the hills outside Rome, to visit the Papal summer residence and its manicured gardens with a Local Guide. This is a unique chance to see the rooms that have been occupied by many Popes over the centuries. Enjoy the opportunity to reflect and meditate in the garden’s quiet and relaxing surroundings. In the afternoon, take advantage of time at leisure in Rome or join one of the optional excursions available.*
Today's Distance: 50 mi / 80 km

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Breakfast

Day 4 ROME–PIETRELCINA–SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO

On your way south, stop in quaint Pietrelcina, to visit the house where the beloved St. Pio was born, before heading towards San Giovanni Rotondo on the east coast, the Saint’s home from 1916 until his death in 1968.
Today's Distance: 258 mi / 415 km

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 5 SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO. EXCURSION TO MONTE SANT’ANGELO

Attend Mass this morning at Santa Maria delle Grazie (Old Church), then visit St. Pio’s friary, including his tomb, cell, confessional, and the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church (New Church). Afterwards, take a short drive to the nearby Shrine of Monte Sant’Angelo, one of Christendom’s most celebrated, where St. Michael the Archangel appeared in 490, 492, and 1656. Tonight, attend the candlelight procession in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Today's Distance: 43 mi / 70 km

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 6 SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO–LANCIANO–LORETO–ASSISI AREA

Visit St. Francis Church in Lanciano, home of the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle, and attend morning Mass. Continue to the famous Marian Sanctuary of Loreto for a guided visit including the Holy House, where, according to tradition, angels transported the house of the blessed Virgin Mary. Arrive at the hilltop village of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare.
Today's Distance: 298 mi / 480 km

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 7 ASSISI

Today, learn more about St. Francis, patron saint of animals and the environment. Attend early morning Mass at St. Francis Basilica, famous for its 14th-century Giotto frescoes depicting the life of St. Francis. Meet your Local Guide and visit the Upper and Lower Basilicas of St. Francis and the Basilica of St. Clare, founder of the Order of Poor Clares. Next, stop at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, situated at the foot of Assisi’s hills and protecting the Porziuncola, where St. Francis is said to have founded the Order of Friars Minor in 1209, and the Cappella del Transito, where the saint died in 1226.

Breakfast

Day 8 ASSISI AREA–CASCIA–ROME

Travel to Cascia this morning, a scenic town located in Umbria and home of St. Rita, the “Patron Saint of Impossible Causes.” Visit the Sanctuary and see the Major Basilica, housing the chapel with St. Rita’s tomb. Stop in prayer at the Minor Basilica, site of the Eucharistic Miracle, commemorated each year with the Feast of Corpus Christi. Return to Rome for a final overnight stay.
Today's Distance: 149 mi / 240 km

Breakfast

Day 9 ROME

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast

Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JORGE LOZANO LEITAO

Escorting tours for more than 5 years

“I'm a daily pilgrim, taking each day as a new opportunity to discover & share about life, people & places. Whilst I now live in Italy, I'm originally from Galicia in Spain and have double nationality due to my Portuguese father. I'm proud to consider Catholic faith-based travelling my specialist field. As I always explain to the pilgrims I'm glad to meet on our way, these experiences transcend the simpler sense of vacation touring as we do not only travel in search of shopping, exploring, leisure, relax or entertainment, but we travel to meet what, somehow, has been part of us from the very beginning of our existence through our identity, our family or cultural heritage: that's pilgrimating, a journey that takes us to redefine our existence according to our beliefs through those sites where these have happened or been commemorated.”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

Rome

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

A tour around the Vatican Museums to admire the beautiful tapestry gallery and the Sistine Chapel with masterpieces by Botticelli and Signorelli. See the "Genesis" and Michelangelo's "Last Judgment".

Price Range: $$

The Catacombs

The early Christians created the Catacombs, a network of underground corridors. We will show you the best of them!

Price Range: $

Treasures of Rome and Dinner

Enjoy a tour of Rome and relax over a 3-course dinner with dessert, local wine, and authentic Roman atmosphere!

Price Range: $$

Private Touring

Private Touring: Cosmos European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Cosmos tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience. For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party. Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $1,580*
18 guests in a party: $362*

Contact Cosmos or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Cosmos Private Touring.

*Supplement pricing is per person (USD) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2021 travel year. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.

The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).

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