Cathedrals & Wine A Pilgrimage to Italy with Fr. Michael Alello

Depart New Orleans on an overnight flight to Rome. Dinner and breakfast are served on board the plane.

Welcome to Italy! Our professional English-speaking tour guide meets us at the airport and assists us with luggage and bus boarding. This morning’s drive takes us through the Umbrian hills to the magnificent hilltop town of Orvieto, famous for its wine and the Cathedral, considered one of Italy’s most beautiful. Take a funicular to the town where we see the dodecagon, a rare and unique 12-sided figure in the form of a bell tower, at Sant’ Andrea Church on Piazza della Repubblica. Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral, which houses the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. We enjoy lunch with a taste of Orvieto Classico wine, which this region is famous for. In the afternoon, continue to Assisi for dinner and overnight. (Special lunch with wine. D)

We have an entire day to explore the hilltop town of birds and silence. We start with a visit to the Basilica of St. Clare and the famous San Damiano crucifix, which spoke to St. Francis. We also see the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis at the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in the Church of St. Mary Major. Continue our pilgrimage in the footsteps of Saint Francis with a guided visit to the Basilica of St. Francis, where St. Francis’ body is entombed. The church is adorned with beautiful frescoes painted by masters of the high Middle Ages like Giotto and Cimabue. We celebrate Mass in one of the chapels before a break for lunch. We then continue with a visit to San Damiano Convent, where St. Francis heard the voice of Christ speak to him, “Go rebuild my church...” and where St. Clare lived and died. Our last stop of the day is visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels) to explore the Basilica, including the Porziuncola (the chapel where St. Francis started his order). Dinner and overnight in Assisi. (B.D)

This morning, we depart the lush landscape of Umbria for Tuscany’s rolling hills and cypress trees. Our first stop is considered by many to be one of Tuscany’s most beautiful sights, the Abbey of St. Antimo. This 12th-century Romanesque church and monastery are set deep in the rolling olive groves outside the hilltop town of Montalcino in the Val d’Orcia. Here, we celebrate Italian Mass with the monks- Next, we head to the wine region of Montalcino in the heart of Tuscany to learn about wine and cheese production and have a taste of the cheese and wine that is locally produced. Another great food tasting awaits us at a farm/winery where we will taste the most expensive red Italian wine: “ Montalcino,” served with pasta and several kinds of pecorino cheese, salami, and bread. Our next stop is a visit to a winery to taste the Fattoria Luca Palombaro, where we learn about Olive Oil production. We enjoy a farm-to-table lunch before continuing to Relais Borgo San Luigi, a fantastic villa and our home for the next 4 nights. Dinner and overnight at the villa. (B. Special Lunch, D)

This morning, we depart for Siena, where we see the relics of St. Catherine, a patron Saint of Italy, at St. Dominic Church, and where we celebrate Mass. Continue with a guided tour, including the famous Piazza del Campo, known for horse races and wine. Siena is located in the center of the wine region, and the Duomo of Siena is named the “Divine Beauty” for the richness of its interiors. Continue to Castellina in Chianti, where we stop for lunch at Villa Cerna. Our meal is paired with Chianti wines – In the afternoon; we continue to San Gimignano - the epitome of a Tuscan hilltop town - with fourteen remaining medieval towers and beautiful piazzas perfect for sipping coffee and appreciating all that is Italy! We enjoy some free time to discover the ancient town on our own. Dinner is at leisure in San Gimignano, followed by an overnight in our villa in the Tuscan countryside. (B. Special Lunch)

Florence awaits us today! Upon arrival, we stop at Michelangelo Square for a panoramic city view. Our walking tour includes the Duomo and the Baptistery next door (outside view), the Ponte Vecchio, and other city highlights. We visit the Mercato Centrale, the local market where we can sample and buy local produce, handicrafts, meats, cheeses, and all things grown and produced in Italy. After a break for lunch we visit Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David and The Uffizi Gallery. We celebrate Mass before returning to our Tuscan villa for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

This morning, we drive to Lucca ( 2 hrs drive). Lucca is a medieval town tucked away in northern Tuscany It is known as the “City of 100 Churches” and is brimming with delicious restaurants, historical sites, and Tuscan charm. Often overshadowed by its popular neighbors – Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terre – Lucca is an underrated destination and well worth visiting, even just for a day. After Mass at San Martino’s Cathedral (TBC), we can not miss a loaf of sweet bread called Buccellato di Lucca to snack on throughout the day. It’s made with orange zest, anise seed, and raisins. Following lunch, we depart Lucca and stop in Pisa. We have time to enjoy ourselves in Miracle Square and see the most important monuments: Duomo, Baptistery, and Leaning Tower. Return to Relais Borgo San Luigi for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

This morning we travel to Rome, where we will arrive in approximately 4 hours. Our first stop is the “centro storico “ Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. We stop for lunch, and then this afternoon, our guided tour includes St. John the Lateran, the Holy Stairs, and St. Mary Major, where we celebrate Mass. Overnight in Rome. (B.D)

Our visit to the Vatican starts at St. Peter’s Basilica, where we celebrate Mass before our guided tour of the Basilica. Continue with a tour of the Scavi tunnels underneath the Vatican. (TBC) Following a break for lunch, we visit the Vatican Museum, including the Sistine Chapel. (TBC) The rest of the afternoon and dinner are at leisure. (B)

Today, we attend the General Papal Audience with Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square. We celebrate Mass at the Church of Santo Spirito and have lunch together in a local restaurant. Following lunch, we drive to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Then we see the Colosseum (outside view) followed by a walking tour including the Pantheon, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, where St. Catherine is buried, and St. Augustine church to see the Tomb of St. Monica, our walking tour ends at Piazza Navona. (B.L.Special Dinner)

We are transferred to the Rome airport for our flight back to the USA.