Shrines of Italy
11 Days Starting and ending in Italy
Visiting: Rome, Assisi, Loreto, San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant'Angelo, Salerno, Campania, Abbey of Montecassino, The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, Apostolic Palace, Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica
Tour operator:
Tour code:
13154
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 44
Physical rating:
Medium, Activity Level 3
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Collette with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
From the hallowed Basilica of St. Francis to the glorious Sistine Chapel, discover why Italy is a bastion of Catholicism. Spend time at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, the beloved saint’s hometown. Stay two nights in San Giovanni Rotondo. Reflect at the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. Discover the cathedral of Salerno and the abbey of Montecassino. Explore the burial sites of the Catacombs where the early Christians hid and venerated their dead. Attend the weekly Papal audience and receive the blessing given by the Pope. Discover Michelangelo’s Last Judgment mural and explore St. Peter’s Basilica. See the world’s most inspirational sites and relics on a journey through the rolling hills and lively cities of Italy.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Overnight Flight
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cardinal St. Peter
Meals Included: No Meals
Travel on an inspirational journey to some of the most fascinating religious sites and relics in the world.
Day 2 : Rome, Italy - Tour Begins
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cenacolo
Meals Included: Dinner
Your tour opens in Rome. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a special welcome dinner at a popular local restaurant featuring regional delicacies and Italian wine.
Day 3 : Rome - Assisi
Location: Rome, Assisi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cenacolo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Travel north to Assisi, where St. Francis spent most of his life. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, built on the founding site of the Franciscan Order. Pause at the Chapel of the Porziuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint prayed. Spend time at the Church of St. Clare before reflecting at the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis. Join a local expert on a tour of Assisi, highlighting the 13th-century basilica where you can see many of St. Francis’ possessions and a series of frescoes. Celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. Francis this afternoon.
Day 4 : Assisi - Optional Florence Excursion
Location: Assisi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parco delle Rose
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a full day at leisure to independently explore historic Assisi. Or, join a full-day optional excursion to Florence, the “Renaissance City,” where a local expert provides a walking tour featuring the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio.
Day 5 : Assisi - Loreto - San Giovanni Rotondo
Location: Assisi, Loreto, San Giovanni Rotondo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parco delle Rose
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Travel across the Apennine Mountains to the Marian shrine of Loreto. Discover the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto where more than 50 popes have made a pilgrimage. Celebrate Mass before continuing your journey to San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pio.
Day 6 : San Giovanni Rotondo - Monte Sant’ Angelo - San Giovanni Rotondo
Location: San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant'Angelo, San Giovanni Rotondo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Scapolatiello
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Visit Monte Sant’ Angelo and take in stunning views of the Gargano Peninsula. Explore the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, where popes and saints have knelt and prayed for protection. Return to San Giovanni Rotondo and celebrate Mass in the sanctuary of Padre Pio. Tour Padre Pio’s tomb and the sanctuary, including the old church and the crucifix from which he received the stigmata in 1918. Spend time in the new church dedicated to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
Day 7 : San Giovanni Rotondo-Tomb Of Matthew The Apostle In Salerno-Campania
Location: San Giovanni Rotondo, Salerno, Campania
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cardinal St. Peter
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Journey through the picturesque landscapes of Apulia on your way to Campania. Visit the Cathedral of Salerno, which guards the relics of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist. You will have the option of celebrating Mass here in Salerno. This afternoon opt to relax at your hotel or visit the Historic Ruins of Pompeii during an optional tour of this vast archeological site.
Day 8 : Campania - Abbey Of Montecassino - The Catacombs - Rome
Location: Campania, Abbey of Montecassino, The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, Rome
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cardinal St. Peter
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel to Montecassino and discover the renowned abbey founded by St. Benedict in the 6th century A.D., housing the relics of the saint and his sister, Saint Scholastica. Montecassino also became famous during World War II, when the abbey was bombed and destroyed. You’ll have the option of celebrating Mass here before continuing to Rome. Visit the Catacombs where early Christians hid and buried their dead.
Day 9 : Rome - Papal Audience - Christian Rome City Tour
Location: Rome, Apostolic Palace, Rome
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cardinal St. Peter
Meals Included: Breakfast
Attend the weekly Papal audience* at Vatican City to receive the blessing given by His Holiness Pope Francis. Visit the Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major and Rome’s Cathedral: St. John in Lateran - the former residence of the popes. Conclude your day with a visit to the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs which tradition believes are the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate.
Day 10 : Rome - Vatican Museum - St. Peter’S Basilica
Location: Rome, Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cardinal Hotel St. Peter
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner,
Celebrate Mass before exploring the Vatican Museums**, including the Sistine Chapel and the famous Last Judgment mural. End your visit in St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church. Feel the grace around you as you meander along towering marble columns and stand in awe before Pietà, Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you’ll go on an optional tour of Rome with visits to the Roman Forum and Colosseum, where the Pope begins the Good Friday Procession. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of a memorable pilgrimage to Italy.
Day 11 : Rome - Tour Ends
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your tour comes to a close in Rome.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Drinks with Meals
(non-alcoholic)
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Train Tickets
(if train occurs once tour starts and before tour ends – i.e. not airport transfers)
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Meals – Half Board
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Fully Guided
What's Not Included
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Country Entry Visas
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Tipping and Gratuities
Experiences
- Attend the weekly Papal audience in the Vatican City.
- Spend time at the renowned Abbey of Montecassino, founded by St. Benedict.
- Visit the Holy Stairs, believed to be the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate.
Options
Florence: Day Trip to Florence
The beautiful city of Florence is a gem in the crown of the renowned region of Tuscany, and its capital city should not be missed. Enjoy a wonderful full day of shopping and sightseeing as a local expert highlights such treasures as the Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza del Duomo, the famed Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza della Signoria. You will also visit the Church of Santa Croce, one of the oldest and largest Franciscan churches in the world. Before your return to Assisi, take some time at leisure to savor the local flavors of this region and shop in the wonderful boutiques and acclaimed handicraft shops that Florence offers. Duration approximately 12 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. Time for lunch will be allotted, but lunch is not included.
Price: £100
Pompeii: Visit the Historic Ruins of Pompeii
Experience the eerie pull of history as you walk through Pompeii, the excavated ruins of a Roman city at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Discover what was buried under more than 60 feet of ash and pumice, sealing history away until it was discovered in the mid-1700s. The walking tour begins at Porta Marina, the city gate leading to the Sea. Ascend to the Forum, which was once the core of daily life in the city, as well as Pompeii’s main places of citizen worship. Along the way see the theatres, bath complex, and plaster casts while a local expert guides you through Pompeian life and history. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option. Please note that walking in Pompeii can be difficult for some. The streets are uneven, with steps up or down everywhere. Opportunities for sitting and rest could be far between. There is little to no shade available during the walking tour. Travelers need to be able to walk and stand for at least 90 minutes consecutively.
Price: £65
Check out our Q&As
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Yes. Baggage is limited to 1 checked bag and 1 carry per person.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Varies by tour.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
That will vary by country of residence and country destination.
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What is the tipping policy?
Igratuities for included meals and accommodation housekeeping are included. It is customary to tip you Tour Manager and driver at the end of the tour.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, the fees associated with required Visa’s are an additional expense.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Yes, it varies by tour.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
Yes.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes, an experienced Tour Manager, with the passion for travel, discovery and the destination - will guide you through your journey from start to finish,
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes, you will receive full information within the weeks leading up to your departure.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes, with few exception.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes, our Customer Care center would be happy to help.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Primarily, yes. All of the coaches used must meet rigourous safety and cleanliness standards.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
Effective immediately and until further notice, all guests will be required to bring one of the following: proof of vaccination (official vaccination certificate in paper or electronic form), proof of recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test result (FDA Approved diagnostic) for a test performed 72-hours or less from the start date of the tour with you on tour to verify information you will be pro
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What currencies are required for this tour?
Local currency.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, unless you purchase and land and air package from Collette.
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What is the maximum group size?
Varies by tour.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
We can accommodate children as young as 5 years old, provided they are traveling / rooming with a parent or legal guardian.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes, most likely. Our tours draw travelers from the United States, Canada and Australia, predominatly.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Absolutley. Out tours are crafted with that in mind – striking a balance between included experiences and time to explore on your own.
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
Varies by tour, but typically thjey are 4* / 4*+, and an occaissional 5*
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Collette requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of collette charges.
Up to 300 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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