Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Italy with Lori Helfrich

Depart on an overnight flight from Lexington to Florence. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flights. Optional premium economy and business class upgrades are available upon request, starting 120 days before departure. We work with group airfare which does not permit us to assign specific seats on the airplane. If this is an important feature to you, please reserve your own air and book land only package with us.

We arrive in Florence and meet with our Select International tour manager. We are transferred to the city center to celebrate Mass, and visit the city center(time permitted), which includes Duomo and the Baptistry, (outside views). Welcome dinner at the hotel in Florence.

Today, our two-hour walking tour takes us to the Church of the Holy Cross, Signoria Square, Ponte Vecchio, and other city highlights. We visit the Church of St. Ambrogio, one of the most ancient churches in Florence, and celebrate Mass. Next, stop at San Lorenzo Mercato, a must-visit spot in the city, where we can enjoy tasting delicious local food. (Be sure to bring some cash, as not all vendors here accept credit cards.) In the afternoon, we visit the Accademia to see the beautiful statue of David by Michelangelo and the Medici chapel, which are nearby. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Florence.

We depart Florence, driving through the magnificent Tuscan countryside to Siena, where we celebrate Mass and visit San Dominic Church to see the relics of St. Catherine. Following time to explore Siena on our own, we drive toward Assisi. We visit Santa Maria of the Angels Church before we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight

This morning, we visit the Basilica of St. Francis – the upper basilica with Giotto’s frescoes representing the life of St. Francis and the lower basilica and the Tomb of St. Francis. Mass will be celebrated at one of the chapels in the Basilica. Proceed to the Basilica of St. Clare and the Chapel of San Damiano, where St. Francis received his call to rebuild the Church and where St. Clare lived and died. Visit Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be beatified in the Catholic Church, dressed in jeans and tennis shoes through a viewing glass on his tomb. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

You have the option of staying in Assisi and enjoying a peaceful day exploring the beautiful town on your own, joining the public Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis, or attending the Canonization of Blessed Frassati in Rome. If you choose to travel to Rome, we will be departing very early in the morning and expect to return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

Today, we arrive in Rome. On the way, we stop in Orvieto to visit the magnificent Duomo, celebrate Mass, and see where the Miracle of the Eucharist of Bolsena is housed. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we have an opportunity to taste the famous wine from this region and depart for Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

This morning, we visit the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, where we pass through the First Holy Doors of Jubilee. This Basilica is where the Pope is installed as Bishop of Rome and where he officiates as the Bishop of Rome. Next, we cross the street to visit the Holy Staircase. Tradition states that this staircase is from Pontius Pilate’s palace of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. It is also said that this Staircase was brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4th century. If time permits, we may climb the steps on our knees, remembering Christ’s agonizing Passion. We walk over to the nearby Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, where we see the relics of the True Cross. To conclude our day, we proceed to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where we walk through the Second Holy Doors of Jubilee. This Basilica contains a relic from the Manger of the Infant Jesus. We celebrate Mass at St. Mary Major. Overnight in Rome

Following the morning attendance of the Papal Audience, we visit St. Peter’s Basilica, where we pass through the Third Holy Door of the Jubilee. After the included lunch, we visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls to celebrate Mass. Upon entering the welcoming courtyard, we’re greeted by the famous statue of St. Paul holding the Scriptures and a sword. Passing through our Fourth Holy Door of the Jubilee, we ponder the frescoes of Paul’s life and the medallions of all the Popes from Peter to Francis. Under the main altar, we venerate the tomb of St. Paul. Nearby, we visit the Tre Fontane Convent to see where St. Paul was beheaded. We board our motorcoach and drive outside of Rome down the Via Appia to visit the Catacombs, where the early Christians prayed in secret and buried their dead. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Following breakfast, we depart for the small town of Genazzano, where we visit the Church of Our Virgin Mother of Good Counsel to see the original fresco of Our Lady of Good Counsel. We celebrate Mass in the church dedicated to our patroness. Continue to Castel Gandolfo, where we have time to enjoy the city on our own before our early farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome. (B. Special dinner)

After breakfast, we enjoy a walking tour of the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Church of Santa Maria Novella, the Church of St. Augustin, and finally to Piazza Navona, where our tour ends and where you have an opportunity to explore one of the most beautiful squares in Rome on your own. Do some shopping, and enjoy dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants in the area. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Rome.

After breakfast, we are transferred to Rome airport for our flight home.