This pilgrimage includes departures from both Ireland and the UK. All transfers are scheduled to suit both flights, with arrival and departure times coordinated within approximately ±1–2 hours.
*Please note this pilgrimage involves a certain amount of walking and physical activity, such as stairs, standing for extended periods and walking on uneven surfaces; especially when visiting historical and religious sites. We kindly ask that you assess your comfort level with these activities before booking and travel with a companion.
DAY 1: Thursday 21st May 2026 – Fly from Manchester
Morning departure from Manchester airport to Venice on Jet2 airline. On arrival you will be met by our Joe Walsh Tours representative. Upon collecting our bags from the carousel, small wait for our fellow travellers from Ireland before being transferred by private coach to Padua.
Time to check in Casa del Pellegrino, and settle into your rooms as they become ready, our accommodation for the following 3 nights on a Half Board Basis.
Padua is one of the prettiest cities in Europe, probably most famous for its Franciscan monk, St Anthony. Born in London in 1195, Anthony became a hermit and lived in seclusion
and contemplation until 1222 when he gave an improvised sermon. Anthony continued to preach to the crowds and people were astonished by his great gift of preaching the gospels and teaching of the Catholic faith. Anthony worked himself to death at the age of only thirty-six years.
Due to the abundance of miracles, after his death he was recognised immediately as a saint and canonised in less than a year.
DAY 2: Friday 22nd May 2026 – Padua
Today we will have full day around Padua. We visit Prato delle Valle, the largest square in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. The elliptical square is surrounded by a small canal. We visit the Basilica of Santa Giustina, which overlooks the square. This beautiful Basilica with its side chapels and frescoes houses the t9ombs of several saints as well as the relics of Luke the Evangelise and St Mathias also known as the twelfth Apostle. We also visit the tomb of St Leopold Mandic, a man for us and for our time, the Capuchin Saint is fondly known as the Saint Confession.
Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
DAY 3: Saturday 23rd May 2026 – Optional visit to Venice
Today there is an option to visit Venice (payable locally). Venice, a fascinating and unique city, was built on one hundred and seventeen islands. This great maritime republic was the richest city in the world in the fifteen century. We can witness the results of this wealth at St Mark’s square with the Doges Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. St Marlk’s Basilica is unique for both its wealth of history and its magnificent façade and interior. There will be free time to take the splendours of this beautiful city from Piazza San Marco to the Grand Canal, which is crossed by the famous bridge of ‘Sighs’ and the Rialto bridge.
There will be time to stroll along the narrow streets to admire the Murano glass and Venetian Carnival masks. There is also the option to take the ‘Gondola’ ride up to the famous Grand canal and Rialto bridge. Return to the hotel for evening meal and overnight.
DAY 4: Sunday 24th May 2026 – La Verna – Cascia
Today we depart Padua and travel to Cascia. On the way we stop at La Verna. The sanctuary in La Verna is located on Monte Penna in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. La Verna is one of the places where St Francis is venerated and where he received his stigmata. We will have some time here to visit the sanctuary and to experience the peace of the Tuscan countryside.
We continue to Cascia, where we will check in into the Hotel Monte Meraviglia, our base for the next four nights on a Half Board basis. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: Monday 25th May 2026 – Roccaporena
After a good rest and breakfast today, we will visit the nearby Roccaporena, the town where St Rita was born. We will visit her family home, the garden of the miracle and the sanctuary dedicated to St Rita. We will return to Cascia for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6: Tuesday 26th May 2026 – Excursion to Assisi
After breakfast today we will depart for our excursion to Assisi. On arrival we have a walking tour of the main sights of the medieval town of Assisi. We visit the impressive thirteen century Basilica of St Francis, the mother church of the Franciscan order. Construction of the Basilica started a mere two years after the death of St Francis. This was uncommon at the time but the enthusiasm of the people to create a permanent home for the body of the beloved Francis pushed them to complete the masterpiece of the lower church in just two years, an amazing feat for that era.
We also visit the Basilica of St Clare, foundress of the Order of the Poor Clares. The original St Damiano cross, the cross that S Francis was praying before when he received his commission to rebuild the church is also in the Basilica. Time permitting, we will also visit the Church of the Renunciation where the newly canonised Carlo Acutis rests are. Time to go back to Cascia for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7: Wednesday 27th May – Cascia
After breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the full day in Cascia. The relic if the Eucharistic Miracle and the tom of St Rita are housed in the Basilica in Cascia, and known as a patron of desperate cases and the seemingly impossible; this is because she overcame the difficulties of each stage of her life as a wife, a mother, a widow and a nun without losing her faith in God.
Today is also a market day in Cascia so we will have free time for shopping and relaxing., Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8: Thursday 28th May
This morning we will have an early breakfast and departure (06am) to Rome for our flights back to Dublin and Manchester departing respectively at 11:10am and 12:10pm.
