• Direct return flight from London Gatwick to Rome
• Coach transfers throughout the tour
• 3 Night in Rome – Santa Maria alle Fornaci – Half Board
• 1 x 10kg check-in bag

HIGHLIGHTS OF ROME PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY

DAY 1:  Depart from London Gatwick to Rome

We depart in total comfort from London Gatwick Airport at 08:50hrs on board EasyJet, landing in Rome at approximately 12:30hrs, with the full day ahead of us.

Our Joe Walsh Tours representative will meet us on arrival and, upon collecting our bags from the carousel, we will be transferred by private coach to Santa Maria Maggiore – S. Mary Major area. Time for lunch, in one of the many local cafes’ or Bistrot’s, suggested from our experienced tour guide (at your own expenses), before starting an orientation walking tour of the area, followed by the visit and Mass of St. Mary Major, one of the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome. Continue with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Prassede, renowned for its stunning Byzantine mosaics and its important connection to the early Christian history of Rome.

After a first full day, transfer to Santa Maria alle Fornaci, located in one of the most beautiful and quiet areas of Rome, adjacent to the walls of Vatican City, just a short walk from Roma San Pietro railway station. This will be our accommodation for the next three nights on a Half Board basis.

DAY 2: Vatican Area – Rome

Today after a nice breakfast we will begin our day with a truly special experience.

We will be spending our morning in the Vatican area, exploring St Peter’s Basilica and its grottos, followed by mass and a walk in St Peter Square.

After lunch, continue our pilgrimage on foot, beginning with a walk towards Castel Sant’Angelo, the imposing fortress located beside the River Tiber and historically connected with the Vatican. We will then continue towards Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful and lively squares in Rome, before walking on to the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Rome. Our walking tour will continue to the Church of the Gesù, the mother church of the Jesuits and animportant landmark of Roman Baroque architecture. After a full day of sightseeing and pilgrimage, we will return to the hotel.

DAY 3: Major Papal Basilicas – Shrine of the Tree Fontane – St Paul Martyrdom – Scala Santa (Holy Stairs)

Today, after breakfast, we will visit the remaining two of Rome’s four major Papal Basilicas. Starting with the beautiful Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. This majestic basilica is built over the burial site of St. Paul the Apostle, who was martyred in Rome around 67 AD. It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, alongside St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major. We will then visit the Shrine of the Tre Fontane and St Paul Martyrdom. This church enshrines the three springs and commemorates his martyrdom. Here, we will celebrate Mass in this deeply significant place of pilgrimage.

Following our visit, we will have time for lunch and refreshments before continuing our pilgrimage.

In the afternoon, we will travel by coach towards the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), traditionally believed to be the steps Jesus climbed in Jerusalem before His trial before Pontius Pilate, before heading to the magnificent Basilica of St John Lateran, the oldest and highest-ranking of Rome’s four major Papal Basilicas.
Continue to the historic Baptistery of St John Lateran, one of the oldest Christian baptisteries in the world and an important site in the history of the early Church, before returning to the hotel.

DAY 4: Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) – Travel back home

Today is the last day of this short but meaningful pilgrimage. Time for a relaxing breakfast and check out.

We will have time for a walking tour of Rome’s main sites: we will start with the visit of the Spanish Steps, one of Rome’s most famous landmarks. We will continue to Sant’Andrea delle Fratte and to the magnificent Trevi Fountain, one of Rome’s most iconic sights.

Time for lunch in one of the many local cafés or bistros (at your own expense).

After lunch, we will continue towards Piazza Venezia, one of the major squares in central Rome, before proceeding to the Roman Forum, where we will stroll through the ruins of ancient temples, basilicas and other buildings that formed the centre of ancient Roman life.
We will then continue towards the Colosseum, Rome’s iconic ancient amphitheatre, where we will admire this extraordinary monument from the outside.
Our final visit will be to the Basilica of San Clemente, an exceptional example of Rome’s layered history, built above earlier places of Christian worship and ancient Roman structures.

Following our final visit, we will board our private coach and proceed to the airport for our evening flight departing at 19:55hrs back to London Gatwick.

• Price per person based on two adults sharing rooms
• Single occupancy is available on request at a supplement of £35 per night
• Airport taxes, charges and airline related fees included
• Deposit of £350 is required at the time of booking
• Meals where not stated, in-flight catering and expenses of personal nature are not included
• Itinerary may be subject to change
• It is mandatory that all customers residing and travelling from England, Scotland and Wales have travel insurance in place at the time of booking. The following charges, which must be payable with the deposit, will be automatically included on every booking confirmation. Pilgrims may only opt out with the condition that they have their own travel insurance policy in place and can provide the name of the insurance company, policy number and expiry date, at the time the booking is made only. Insurance charge cannot be refunded if cancelled at a later stage.
• 3–17 years: £35
• 18–50 years: £49
• 51–65 years: £59
• 66–79 years: £79
• 80–90 years: £129