Saints and Sinners: A Sacred Journey Through Rome and Beyond

Today morning, a van will pick you up from your hotel at 9:00 AM and take you to Piazza Venezia, where you'll meet your guide for a deep dive into the ancient history of Rome. The first stop will be an outside view of the Mamertine Prison, where you’ll learn about its importance in ancient times. Next, you'll explore the ruins of the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Roman public life, filled with history and ancient architecture. Afterward, you'll head to Palatine Hill, one of the most famous of Rome’s seven hills, and finish with a tour of the awe-inspiring Colosseum, a symbol of ancient Rome’s grandeur. This 3-hour tour will end at around 12:00 PM, leaving you the afternoon free to relax or further explore the city.

We suggest enjoying a leisurely lunch today, with a wide variety of dining options conveniently located near the hotel. For dinner, we recommend allowing guests the freedom to explore Rome's culinary offerings on their own, as the hotel is surrounded by numerous excellent restaurants.

Today at 9:00 AM, following breakfast at the hotel, a van picking you up from your hotel. Together with your guide, you'll head towards the Appian Way (Appia Antica), the ancient road where saints Paul and Peter are believed to have entered Rome. Along the way, you'll learn about the significance of this route before heading to the fascinating Catacombs, where early Christians were buried. If time permits, the guide will include a few more quick stops to highlight other points of interest. Around 12:00 PM, you will have a lunch in TRASTEVERE with Roman Food Experience.

After lunch, the final tour begins at 2:00 PM with a visit to Vatican City. During this tour, you’ll visit the vast collections in the Vatican Museums, including world-renowned art and sculptures. Then, experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s frescoes will leave a lasting impression. The tour concludes with a visit to the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest and most important churches in the world. By 5:00 PM, the tour will come to an end, and spend rest of the evening at leisure.

Begin your day with a morning visit to Vatican City. After an early breakfast, the group will depart from the hotel for an exclusive, private guided tour of the Vatican Museums, the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, and the majestic Saint Peter’s Basilica, one of the most beautiful and significant cathedrals in the world. This tour offers a fitting conclusion to your time in Rome as we prepare to journey into central Italy.

We aim to depart Vatican City by 12:30 PM, traveling north towards Orvieto. En route, we will stop for lunch at a charming restaurant in Ponzano Romano, renowned for its delectable Roman specialties and fine wine. After lunch, our journey continues to Orvieto, where a guided tour of the Duomo of Orvieto, a masterpiece of central Italian architecture, awaits.

There will also be time to explore Orvieto's charming shops, enjoy wine tasting, sample truffles, and discover local artisanal goods before we continue our journey to Assisi, our final destination for the day. Given the full schedule, I recommend including dinner at the hotel this evening, allowing everyone to unwind and enjoy a relaxing meal after a day rich with exploration.

You can explore the hotel in Assisi here: Hotel Giotto Assisi.

This is going to be a wonderful day for the group to delve deep into the legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most important Saints in Italy.  Over the course of the day, the guests will have the opportunity to learn about this important order of San Francesco, the legacy of Saint Francis and learn about the incredible life and family of one of the country’s most beloved saints.

We will have a break for lunch (included) then continue onto visit Santa Maria Delgi Angeli, which is one of the largest churches in Italy and most important in the Umbria region.

Return to the hotel in the evening for dinner at leisure in Assisi.

This morning, we will depart Assisi and head towards the picturesque southeastern region of Tuscany. Our destination is the charming hilltop town of Cortona, where you will be captivated by its stunning views overlooking the valley and the serene Lake Trasimeno. The area is dotted with beautiful lakeside towns like Castiglione del Lago, renowned for producing exceptional olive oil, and you can learn more about this remarkable region here:

Castiglione del Lago

After a morning of exploring and touring Cortona, we recommend enjoying lunch in town before taking a guided tour of the town’s historic fortress. Following the tour, we will continue to the Hotel Villa Casagrande, a unique accommodation housed in a former convent.

The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure, with the option to dine at the hotel or explore the local culinary scene in town.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will embark on a scenic morning tour along the renowned Chianti wine road. This journey will lead us through some of Tuscany’s most breathtaking landscapes, culminating in a visit to the iconic town of Siena, known for its stunning Duomo, one of Italy's most exquisite cathedrals.

During our guided tour, you’ll discover Siena’s fascinating history, its deep connections to Christianity, and its significant role in Italian heritage, all beautifully narrated by our expert guide.

Following our exploration of Siena, we will visit a charming winery nearby for a delightful lunch paired with a wine tasting experience, allowing you to savor the flavors of the region.

In the evening, we will return to the hotel where you can enjoy dinner at your leisure before settling in for the night.

This morning we will depart for Florence, where you will enjoy a full day guided walking tour of the cradle of the renaissance and one of the most important centres for art and music in Europe.

Today, your focus in Florence will be on the legacy of the Medici family, who helped the Christian faith in Europe expand through their contributions to the church financially and otherwise. 

Today will be a fascinating day for all participants because there is so much incredible artistic beauty in Florence woven into the architecture and art which dominantes this city with profound Christian roots. 

Return to the hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Return to Rome with stop en-route in Tivoli or the Castelli Romani (home of the Papal Palace) or simplify to enjoy a beautiful drive around Lake Bracciano and take a wonderful walk on the Lake Shore of this incredible volcanic lake.

For more information about this beautiful area, you can explore it here: Anguillara Sabazia. Having lived on the shores of this lake in the town of Trevignano Romano, I can recommend a visit to a remarkable church with spectacular views of the lake, which I may be able to arrange for a private opening.

Experiencing these charming lakeside towns, often overlooked by American travelers, would be a meaningful way to spend your last day before returning to Rome.

That evening, you can choose to stay at the Crown Plaza hotel or Isola Sacra hotel, both conveniently located near the airport. For those seeking a more luxurious experience, consider the QC TERME resort spa—one of the finest thermal resorts in Rome, just 10 minutes from the airport.

It would be ideal to check in at the resort before 3:00 PM, allowing you to unwind with a relaxing soak in the spa facilities and perhaps indulge in a treatment before your departure the following day.

For more details on the QC TERME resort spa, you can visit their website here: QC TERME Roma.

You will have the option of either transferring directly to your hotel near the airport or extending your journey by heading south to the stunning Amalfi Coast, with a stop at the historic Monte Cassino along the way. Should you choose this extension, I will provide a detailed itinerary for this option separately.