★ Hosted by Fr. Leo Patalinghug, IVDei
Catholic Pilgrimage · 11 Days · Italy

Faith and Flavors of Apulia: A Pilgrimage to Southern Italy with Fr. Leo Patalinghug

Fr. Leo Patalinghug and a Christian guide will meet your party at the airport and accompany you every step of the way as you explore Monte Cassino, Pompeii, Matera, Alberobello, and more.

Dates
August 29 - September 8, 2027
Departs Newark
Duration
11 Days
Trip code 27RS08ITLP
From
$5295.00
Reserve your spot
The Pilgrimage

Walk in the Footsteps of Faith

Fr. Leo Patalinghug and a Christian guide will meet your party at the airport and accompany you every step of the way as you explore Monte Cassino, Pompeii, Matera, Alberobello, and more.

Fr. Leo Patalinghug, IVDei
Your Host

Fr. Leo Patalinghug, IVDei

Catholic priest, chef, author, speaker, and founder of Plating Grace

Fr. Leo Patalinghug is a Catholic priest and member of the Voluntas Dei secular institute, as well as an award-winning chef, author, speaker, and radio and television host. He founded Plating Grace, a food-and-faith ministry that uses meals and hospitality to strengthen families and relationships while presenting Jesus as nourishment for mind, body, and soul. A longtime international pilgrimage leader, he brings together Catholic teaching, culture, cuisine, prayer, and joyful evangelization. His work emphasizes the dinner table as a practical setting for communion, conversation, and discipleship.

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Know Before You Go

What's included

✓ Included

  • ✓Round-trip coach-class group airfare from Newark to Rome
  • ✓Airport taxes and fuel surcharges (subject to change until ticketing)
  • ✓First-class hotel accommodations for 9 nights
  • ✓Daily Buffet breakfast at the hotel
  • ✓3 Lunches
  • ✓Two wine tastings
  • ✓6 Dinners at the hotel (beverages are not included and may be purchased at an additional cost)
  • ✓Welcome dinner with wine
  • ✓Farewell dinner in a restaurant, including half a bottle of wine per person
  • ✓English-speaking Christian Tour Manager
  • ✓All transfers via private, air-conditioned motor coach as per itinerary
  • ✓All visits and entrance fees as per the itinerary
  • ✓Baggage handling at the hotels
  • ✓Daily private Mass and spiritual program (confirmed)
  • ✓Whisper sets
  • ✓For your convenience, a tip fund of $220.00 per person will be added to the invoice and collected in advance. A $60.00 Tip fund will be added to the invoice for the extension
  • ✓ROME EXTENSION:
  • ✓Transfer from Frascati to Rome
  • ✓3 nights of hotel accommodations in a centrally located first-class hotel
  • ✓Daily buffet breakfast
  • ✓Farewell dinner with wine
  • ✓Visit to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum
  • ✓Papal Audience and a guided walking tour of Rome
  • ✓English-speaking tour manager
  • ✓Transportation by private bus as noted
  • ✓Hotel taxes

× Not included

  • ×Personal expenses incurred on the trip
  • ×Trip Protection & Medical Insurance (strongly recommended)
  • ×Items not explicitly listed as included
  • ×Beverages at meals (unless noted)
  • ×Church donations: $3–$5 per person, per Mass
  • ×Airport transfers for land-only passengers (unless arriving before or with the group)
  • ×Airline seat assignments and flight pre-check-in fees
  • ×Government-imposed destination charges
  • ×Country-specific Visa fees, unless noted in the inclusions
  • ×Electronic Travel Authorization (ETIAS, ETAUK, ETAIL) applications & fees (if applicable)
  • ×BAGGAGE CHARGES NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST:
  • ×Airline baggage charges
  • ×Baggage handling at the airports and hotels is limited to one suitcase per person.
  • ×Any charges incurred due to excessive luggage, including the cost of an additional baggage vehicle or porterage charges.

See the official trip information for gratuities, shipping and handling, payment fees, and any optional-extension charges.

Day by Day

Your pilgrimage, mapped out

Tap any day to explore. Meals: B breakfast · L lunch · D dinner.
Day 1August 29, Sunday
DEPART USA TO ROME
+

Depart Newark International Airport on an overnight flight to Rome. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Enjoy your flight as you look forward to your incredible pilgrimage journey. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request and will be provided starting 120 days before departure. Group air restrictions (for ten passengers traveling together) do not permit specific seating requests on flights. If seat confirmation is essential for you, we recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and booking the Land Only package with us. If you need additional information, please contact your trip Account Manager, who will be happy to assist you.

Day 2August 30, Monday
WELCOME TO ITALY – MONTE CASSINO – POMPEII
+

Upon arrival in Rome, we are greeted by our tour manager at the airport. Then we drive south to Monte Cassino for a visit to one of the world’s most famous abbeys, built in 529 by Saint Benedict to house him and his monks. “Pray, Work and Read“ is the motto of the rule of Saint Benedict, which the monks follow in their daily routine. The original abbey was destroyed during WWII and rebuilt on its ruins. Every day, thousands of pilgrims visit this deeply spiritual place. We celebrate Mass. We have a break for lunch before we continue to Pompeii for dinner and overnight.

D
Day 3August 31, Tuesday
POMPEII - SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
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This morning, after breakfast, we check out of the hotel and walk to Our Lady of the Rosary Basilica and celebrate Mass. We visit the ruins of Pompeii, then head to Bosco de Medici winery for lunch and a wine tasting. We tour the vineyards and learn about their unique wine production. Next we drive south, toward San Giovanni Rotondo, where we stay for two nights. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

BLD
Day 4September 1, Wednesday
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – ST. MICHAEL’S CAVE – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
+

This morning we celebrate Mass at Santa Maria delle Grazie, the second most visited Catholic shrine in the world. Following Mass, tour the sanctuary, the old church, and the crucifix from which St. Padre Pio received the stigmata in 1918. Next, we visit the tomb of Padre Pio at the new shrine, where we enjoy a guided tour of the shrine and other important surrounding sites. Following lunch, we drive to Monte Sant’Angelo to pray at the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel. Many Popes and Saints have prayed at this grotto seeking the protection of St. Michael. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

BD
Day 5September 2, Thursday
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – BARI – OSTUNI A MARE
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Following breakfast, we depart for the coastal city of Bari. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari and pray at the tomb of this beloved saint. After lunch in the old city, where we see local Nonne make the special orecchiette (little-ears) hand-shaped pasta, we continue south to check into our hotel and relax before dinner. Overnight in Ostuni.

BD
Day 6September 3, Friday
FLAVORS OF APULIA
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After breakfast, we depart for a local Masseria. Today we engage in various activities to explore the remarkable flavors of Apulia. This region is rich in traditions and heritage, rooted in its agricultural biodiversity. Enjoy a tasting class featuring extra virgin olive oil, join a mozzarella cheese-making workshop, learn to cook Apulian “orecchiette” pasta, and explore the aromas of fine herbs in an olfactory laboratory. A lavish lunch buffet featuring traditional Apulian dishes will cap the day at the Masseria. Then we return to the hotel for free time. You might enjoy time at the beach or join an optional visit to the village of Ostuni. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Ostuni.

BLD
Day 7September 4, Saturday
MATERA
+

After breakfast, we depart for a day trip to the cave city of Matera, one of the most amazing places that you will ever visit. Mel Gibson filmed The Passion of Christ and its sequel here, and the series The Chosen was filmed in this city as well. We take a 90-minute guided tour of the ancient city, “Sassi,” visit the religious museum, and the 13th-century cathedral where we celebrate Mass. Then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Ostuni.

BD
Day 8September 5, Sunday
ALBEROBELLO – POLIGNANO
+

After breakfast, we drive a short distance to visit the UNESCO-protected town of Alberobello, known as the capital of ‘trulli’ houses. We can explore the cone-shaped dwellings and discover why they are so amazing. In the afternoon, we visit the charming city of Polignano, where every street is picture-perfect. Each church looks like a museum, and lively cafes line the streets. We celebrate Mass in Polignano. Dinner is at leisure tonight. Overnight in Ostuni.

B
Day 9September 6, Monday
ORTONA – ST. THOMAS – FRASCATI
+

We depart early this morning and drive along the Adriatic coastline toward the region of Abruzzo. We visit the famous wine fountain. The estate’s owner, a passionate walker of the Santiago Way, saw a wine fountain during their pilgrimage, available to all tired pilgrims. That experience inspired them to create the same experience on the walking path they helped design: the Walk of St. Thomas, between Rome and Ortona, which links the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Thomas. Their winery was the right place to realize a fountain of wine, where pilgrims from all over the world could be refreshed by the fatigue of the long trip. Proceed to the city of Ortona to celebrate Mass in the Cathedral, where we see the tomb with the relics of St. Thomas. Then continue to Frascati, where we will spend the next two nights. Dinner and overnight in Frascati.

BLD
Day 10September 7, Tuesday
CASTEL GANDOLFO - FRASCATI
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This morning we drive a short distance to Castel Gandolfo, where we celebrate Mass and then visit the beautiful gardens of the Pontifical Villas at Castel Gandolfo, a botanical and historical heritage of immeasurable value. With 35 hectares of gardens and 20 hectares of farmland, it houses 3000 plants and trees of 300 different species, in addition to the archeological ruins of the Villa belonging to the Roman Emperor Domitian. We enjoy a golf cart tour. The route winds through the ruins of Emperor Domitian’s Villa and along avenues that flank magnificent gardens and majestic fountains. Each stop is marked by an ecological reflection inspired by excerpts from the Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si’”. Return to the hotel in Frascati to refresh, before our farewell dinner in a local restaurant with wine. Overnight in Frascati.

BD
Day 11September 8, Wednesday
RETURN TO USA
+

Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We say farewell to a country and a trip that will last in our memory forever. We are transferred to the airport for our return flights home.

B
Pricing

Choose how you travel

Base Price
$5295.00per person

Land Only. Main trip package

Most popular
Base Price and Group Airfare
$6295.00per person

Land and Group Airfare from Newark. Main trip package

Solo Room (Additional Charge)
$1295.00additional

Solo Room (Additional Charge). Additional supplement.

Optional Extension to Rome
$1495.00(Double Occupancy)

See brochure for details

Optional Extension to Rome
$1990.00(Solo Traveler)

See brochure for details

Reserve your spot
ETA Required
No ETA or VISA required for US passport holders at this time.
Deposit
A deposit of $500.00 per person should accompany your registration by May 11, 2027
Final Payment
Final payment is due by June 30, 2027.
Passport Validity
Your passport must be valid through March 11, 2028.
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