The Tuscan Way with Tsh and Kyle Oxenreider and Fr. Patrick McCain

We’ll depart Newark International Airport on an overnight flight to Rome, with dinner and breakfast served on the plane (quotes for add-on flights from different airports and optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request, and will be provided starting 120 days prior to departure). Group air restrictions (for ten passengers traveling together) do not permit specific seating requests on flights; therefore, we recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and opting for land-only packages with Select if seat confirmation is important to you.

Welcome to Italy! We’ll meet our English-speaking tour manager at the airport in the Eternal City. En route to Rome, we’ll stop at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the oldest church sites in the city and where tradition holds is the burial site of St. Paul; we’ll celebrate Mass together. We’ll then check into our hotel, and the day is free to wander and acclimate to the new time zone. Later in the evening, we’ll then gather for our group welcome dinner with wine. Overnight in Rome. (dinner included)

We’ll have an early start today as we make our way to St. Peter’s Square for the Papal Audience and the Holy Father’s blessing. We’ll then enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant before visiting the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Basilica of St. John Lateran, and the Holy Stairs (Mass will also be celebrated). We’ll then end our day with a stroll through Rome’s most beloved piazzas, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona, with free time to explore, shop, and enjoy dinner on your own. Overnight in Rome. (breakfast & lunch included)

We’ll begin with Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (TBC), followed by a guided tour of the facade and Piazza. We’ll then enjoy some free time to pray in one of the chapels, ascend to the top of the cupola, visit the Basilica’s treasury, or browse the nearby shops. After lunch on your own, we’ll explore the Scavi Tunnels: the Vatican Necropolis, the ancient excavations beneath St. Peter’s and where the Apostle was buried after his martyrdom (TBC). We’ll then enjoy a tour of the Vatican Museums, including the magnificent Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, and the remainder of the day and dinner are free to enjoy on your own. Overnight in Rome. (breakfast included)

This morning we’ll head to the nearby town of Subiaco to visit the Benedictine Monastery of St. Scholastica, the only surviving monastery among the twelve founded by St. Benedict in the Middle Ages. Over centuries, the monks here have transformed the fresh produce they grow into remarkable culinary delicacies, which we’re privileged to taste. We’ll explore the monastery, learn about St. Scholastica (St. Benedict’s sister), visit the saint’s cave, and celebrate Mass. Lunch is included at the monastery’s foresteria. We’ll then return to Rome for dinner and overnight. (breakfast, lunch at the monastery, & dinner included)

After breakfast we’ll travel to Assisi, the city of birds and silence. We’ll explore the chapels of the Cathedral of St. Francis, walk through the town to visit the Church of St. Clare, and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis. In lower Assisi, we’ll then explore the magnificent Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, built over the very chapel where St. Francis founded his order. We’ll enjoy free time in this delightful area for personal prayer and exploration before continuing north to our villa in Monteriggioni, where we’ll spend the next three nights. Dinner and overnight at the villa. (breakfast & dinner included)

We’ll first stop at the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, widely regarded as one of Tuscany’s most breathtaking sights (and one of the Oxenreiders’ favorites). This 12th-century Romanesque church and monastery sits nestled among rolling olive groves below the hilltop town of Montalcino in the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO Heritage Site. We’ll celebrate Mass with the monastic community (TBC). Afterward, we’ll visit a local winery in Montalcino for lunch and a tasting of the renowned Brunello di Montalcino wine. We’ll then return to the villa for dinner and overnight. (breakfast, special lunch with wine tasting, & dinner included)

Today we’ll visit the magnificent Tuscan city of Siena, where we’ll venerate the relics of St. Catherine of Siena at the Basilica of St. Dominic and celebrate Mass. A one-hour guided walking tour will take us through the city, including the Duomo and its extraordinary marble floor, before breaking for free time and lunch at our leisure. Back at the villa, we’ll then gather for a hands-on pasta-making class, followed by dinner together. Overnight at the villa. (breakfast & dinner + pasta-making class included)

After breakfast, we’ll depart the villa for San Gimignano, the quintessential Tuscan hilltop town, crowned by fourteen medieval towers and dotted with beautiful piazzas. There we’ll enjoy free time to sample their famous local gelato, sip coffee while soaking in the beauty of Italy, and leisurely explore the ancient town and have lunch on our own. Florence then awaits! We’ll stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for a sweeping panoramic view of the city, then check into our hotel. A one-hour guided walking tour covers the Duomo and Baptistery, the Ponte Vecchio, and the city’s most iconic highlights. We’ll also celebrate Mass. Overnight in Florence. (breakfast & dinner included)

After breakfast, we’ll visit the Accademia Gallery to stand before Michelangelo’s magnificent David. We’ll then explore the Mercato Centrale, Florence’s vibrant central market, where local produce, artisan cheeses, cured meats, handicrafts, and the flavors of Italy are all under one roof. We’ll also celebrate Mass. The rest of the day is ours to explore Florence freely: visit one of its famous museums, wander its charming streets, or simply sit in a piazza and take it all in for your final full day in Italy. This evening, we’ll gather for a special farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Overnight in Florence. (breakfast & special farewell dinner included)

Today we’ll bid farewell to Italy, transfer to Florence Airport for our return flight home, and carry with us memories, graces, and friendships from this extraordinary pilgrimage together. (breakfast included)