Shrines of Northern Italy & Rome - Faith-Based Travel
Shrines of Northern Italy & Rome - Faith-Based Travel
Shrines of Northern Italy & Rome - Faith-Based Travel
9 Days Starting in Milan, Italy and ending in Rome, Italy
Visiting: Milan, Turin, Padua, Ravenna, Rome
Tour operator:
Tour code:
5360-2024
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
5-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Catholic heritage in Italy extends well beyond the Vatican. Discover the inspiring Catholic Italian icons of northern Italy. From Milan’s St. Ambrose to Turin’s St. John Bosco and Padua’s St. Anthony, you’ll collect memories and inspiration that will remain with you for life. Visit the Holy Shroud Museum in Turin and the Gothic Duomo in Milan, and marvel at the unique beauty of the Carthusian Monastery of Pavia. Discover the history of musical notes at the Abbey of Pomposa and admire in awe the early Christian works of art of the Byzantine era in Ravenna. Spend two full days in Rome, focusing on the Papal legacies. Attend the Papal Audience (subject to availability), visit the four major Basilicas of Rome, join Mass, and collect in prayer at many inspiring places of worship instilling a sense of solemnity and serenity. Enjoy a special treat as you visit the Papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo and its gardens, the perfect spot to meditate surrounded by beauty.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Milan, Italy
Location: Milan
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ramada Plaza Milano
Meals Included: Dinner
Check into your hotel and, if you have time, start exploring this busy city on your own before meeting your tour companions and Tour Director during the included welcome dinner at your hotel.
Day 2 : Milan
Location: Milan
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ramada Plaza Milano
Meals Included: Breakfast
Dedicate the morning to Milan’s most important Catholic churches: St Ambrose Basilica and the Gothic Duomo. St Ambrose is the patron saint of beekeepers, beggars, learners, and Milan. Celebrate Mass and discover the treasures of the Basilica and the Duomo with a Local Guide.
Day 3 : Milan - Turin
Location: Turin
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Corso Francia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Turin is known in the Catholic community worldwide as the home of the Holy Shroud, only available to the public on very special occasions. The city was also home to St. John Bosco, the priest who founded the Salesian religious institute to help poor children with their education during the industrial revolution. Your visit includes the Holy Shroud Museum, the Basilica of St Mary Ausiliatrice, and St John Bosco's rooms. You’ll have time to appreciate the elegance of this city and former capital of Italy before attending Mass. Today's Distance: 90 mi / 145 km
Day 4 : Turin - Pavia - Padua
Location: Padua
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel NH Padova
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Pavia boasts a beautiful Carthusian Monastery, built in the 1400s by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan. The monastery is one of Italy’s “hidden treasures” with lavish decorations. It is still inhabited and looked after by monks who still live a traditional life of seclusion and prayer. Today's Distance: 245 mi / 395 km
Day 5 : Padua - Pomposa - Ravenna
Location: Padua
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: NH Ravenna
Meals Included: Breakfast
Attend morning Mass and visit St. Anthony Basilica in Padua with a Local Guide, then enjoy a short city sightseeing tour and time on your own. In the afternoon, on the way to Ravenna, we’ll stop to see the Abbey of Pomposa, where the Benedictine monk Guido d’Arezzo invented modern musical notation in the 11th century. Today’s Distance: 85 mi / 137 km
Day 6 : Ravenna - Rome
Location: Ravenna
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
UNESCO declared the early Christian monuments of Ravenna as having “outstanding universal value.” Ravenna was the seat of the Roman Empire in the 5th century and of Byzantine Italy until the 8th century. It has a unique collection of early Christian mosaics and places of worship. The Neonian Baptistry, the Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo, St. Vitale Church and the Archbishop’s Chapel of St. Andrew were all constructed in the 5th and 6th centuries. They show great artistic skill, including a wonderful blend of Greek-Roman tradition, Christian iconography, and Asian and Western styles. The morning is dedicated to discovering these masterpieces and focusing on the Byzantine-style mosaics with a Local Guide. In the afternoon, travel to Rome. Today’s Distance: 221 mi / 355 km
Day 7 : Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you have the unique chance to attend the Papal Audience in the Vatican (subject to availability). Afterwards, enjoy an included city tour with a Local Guide to see the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where St. Paul was buried after his martyrdom, St. John Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of Rome, and seat of its Bishop (the Pope) and the Holy Stairs. Said to have led Jesus to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate, the stairs were transferred to Rome by Empress St Helena. Finally, visit St. Mary Major Basilica, where a reliquary contains wood from the Holy Crib. Attend Mass here before returning to your hotel.* * For operational reasons, schedule changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.
Day 8 : Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia
Meals Included: Breakfast
A special treat today: visit the Papal Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo. Wander through its manicured gardens, an opportunity to reflect and meditate in quiet and relaxing surroundings. Walk through the rooms where many Popes have spent the summer months enjoying the cooler countryside on the hills outside Rome. Later, you can join one of the optional excursions available.*Today's Distance: 50 mi / 80 km * For operational reasons, schedule changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.
Day 9 : Rome
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at the Ramada Plaza Milano, Holiday Inn Corso Francia, Hotel NH Padova, AC Marriott, NH Ravenna, and Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia. These hotels offer modern amenities, free Wi-Fi, fitness centers, and convenient locations near major attractions and transport links.
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Transport
Travel comfortably by coach, with convenient stops at key religious and historical sites across Northern Italy and Rome. Enjoy the scenic routes and the ease of organized transportation throughout the tour.
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Meals
Buffet breakfasts daily, 3 dinners.
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Guided Tours
Local guides will provide tours of key religious and historical sites, including St Ambrose Basilica, the Gothic Duomo, the Holy Shroud Museum, and more.
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Papal Audience
Attend the Papal Audience in the Vatican (subject to availability).
What's Not Included
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions available at an additional cost.
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Papal Audience Availability
The Papal audience at the Vatican is subject to availability and not available on departures June 6 and September 14.
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Mass Services
Mass services may be in the local language and venues are subject to change.
UNESCO Sites
Early Christian monuments of Ravenna|Rome (St. Paul Outside the Walls)|The properties of the Holy See in Rome enjoying extraterritorial rights and San Paolo outside the Walls|Vatican City
Meals
Buffet breakfasts daily, 3 dinners
Notes
The Papal audience at the Vatican is subject to availability.Mass services may be in local language and venues are subject to change.Papal audience not available on departures June 6 and September 14.
Mode of Transport
Travel comfortably by coach, with convenient stops at key religious and historical sites across Northern Italy and Rome. Enjoy the scenic routes and the ease of organized transportation throughout the tour.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of transportation is provided during the tour?
Travel comfortably by coach, with convenient stops at key religious and historical sites across Northern Italy and Rome. Enjoy the scenic routes and the ease of organized transportation throughout the tour.
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What kind of accommodations can I expect on this tour?
You will stay at the Ramada Plaza Milano, Holiday Inn Corso Francia, Hotel NH Padova, AC Marriott, NH Ravenna, and Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia. These hotels offer modern amenities, free Wi-Fi, fitness centers, and convenient locations near major attractions and transport links.
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Will there be opportunities to attend Mass during the tour?
Yes, there are several opportunities to attend Mass during the tour, including at St Ambrose Basilica in Milan, the Basilica of St Mary Ausiliatrice in Turin, St. Anthony Basilica in Padua, and St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
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Are there any special religious sites included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes visits to several significant religious sites such as the Holy Shroud Museum in Turin, the Carthusian Monastery in Pavia, the Abbey of Pomposa, and the Papal Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo.
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Is the Papal Audience guaranteed during the tour?
The Papal Audience in the Vatican is subject to availability and is not guaranteed. Additionally, it is not available on departures June 6 and September 14.
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What meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes buffet breakfasts daily and 3 dinners.
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What is the significance of the sites visited in Ravenna?
Ravenna's early Christian monuments are declared by UNESCO as having 'outstanding universal value.' The city was the seat of the Roman Empire in the 5th century and of Byzantine Italy until the 8th century. It has a unique collection of early Christian mosaics and places of worship, including the Neonian Baptistry, the Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo, St. Vitale Church, and the Archbishop’s Chapel of St. Andrew.
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What can I expect on the last day of the tour?
Your vacation ends with breakfast on the last day in Rome.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
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Low Deposit
Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.