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In the Footsteps of Augustine with Patrick Whitworth

Prices from £3,270 pp

Single Supplement £410

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Tour leader: The Revd Patrick Whitworth

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This unique tour follows in the footsteps of Augustine of Hippo, the most influential theologian, philosopher, mystic and bishop of the Western Church. Augustine came to Italy in 383, aged 29, as a Professor of Rhetoric, and stayed five years. In that time he became a Christian, abandoned his stellar career, separated from the partner with whom he had a son, and joined a Christian community on retreat near Lake Como. Before sailing home to Carthage, he witnessed his mother's death in one of the most moving narratives of loss in ancient literature. He tells all of this in minute psychological detail in his Confessions.

We begin in Milan, where Augustine was baptised on the site of today's cathedral and where the fourth-century Bishop Ambrose preached. From there we visit his retreat near Lake Como. In Pavia we see Augustine's burial place. Staying near Florence, we consider Augustine and the Quattrocento artists through Gozzoli's frescoes in San Gimignano and Piero della Francesca's Legend of the True Cross in Arezzo. In Rome we see some of the main sights Augustine knew before  we travel to Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome, where Monica died and from where Augustine sailed for Carthage in 388. Then we fly home!

Alongside our Italian guides and art historian Eleanor Walker of the British Institute of Florence, Patrick Whitworth will present the narrative of Augustine's life and its meaning. His new biography, to be published in November with a foreword by Rowan Williams, is the first full-scale life of Augustine since Peter Brown's classic of the 1960s. Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP writes: "Patrick Whitworth's highly readable account of St Augustine, written with much verve, helps us to see how his preaching and teaching at a time of cultural and political collapse is still relevant for us today in our own time of crisis."

It promises to be a memorable tour. Do join us!

 

 

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Itinerary

  1. Travel to Milan

    We fly from London Heathrow to Milan, where you will be met by your English-speaking tour manager and transferred to the Kleos Hotel Milano for three nights. Before dinner Patrick Whitworth gathers the group for his opening talk, Augustine in Italy — What Brought Him Here and the Story That Unfolded. Dinner together at a local restaurant, and a first chance to meet fellow travellers.

  2. Ambrose, Augustine and the Duomo

    We visit the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, church of the formidable Bishop Ambrose whose preaching first pierced Augustine's defences, and the ancient Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore. At the Duomo, built on the site of the basilica where Ambrose baptised Augustine at Easter 387, we ascend to the rooftop. Lunch, then free time. Evening talk: Augustine — His Conversion, Retreat and Baptism. Dinner at leisure.

  3. Cassiciacum and Lake como

    We travel north into the hills of Brianza, traditionally associated with Augustine's retreat at Cassiciacum, where Patrick leads a reflection on the Dialogues written there. Lunch in Lecco on Lake Como follows, with time to explore or take the cable car into the hills above the lake. Back in Milan, Eleanor Walker gives her lecture, Augustine and the Artists.

  4. Pavia and Tuscany

    We travel south to Pavia, one of the great cities of late antique Italy, where Augustine's remains rest beneath the high altar of the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro. Here Patrick leads a reflection on the fall of the Roman Empire. After lunch we continue into Tuscany and the Hotel Toscana Ambassador, Poggibonsi, for one night. Dinner at leisure.

  5. San Gimignano, Arezzo and Rome

    In San Gimignano the Church of Sant'Agostino holds Benozzo Gozzoli's Life of St Augustine, painted in the 1460s — one of the great fresco cycles of the Renaissance. After lunch, free time in Arezzo, then on to Rome and the Cardinal Hotel St Peter for two nights. Evening talk: Augustine in Rome — The City He Passed Through Twice, and Never Forgot.

  6. Catacombs, San Clemente and the Colosseum

    We visit the Catacombs of St Domitilla, among the largest in Rome, and the Basilica of San Clemente, where a medieval church stands above a fourth-century basilica, a first-century house and a Mithraic temple. We walk past the Colosseum, then transfer towards Piazza Navona for a free afternoon. We hope to visit Sant'Agostino, where St Monica is buried. Dinner at leisure.

  7. Ostia antica and Fly Home

    Our journey ends where Augustine's Italian journey ended: at Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome, where Monica died and from where he sailed for Carthage in 388. We explore the archaeological site and close with a final talk and reading from the Confessions. After an early lunch we transfer to the airport for our flight home.

Essential Information

The price of this tour is £3,270 per person  sharing a double or twin room. This tour is designed for a small group, therefore a minimum of 15 guests are required. To secure this departure, the minimum number of participants has to be reached by Friday 27 November 2026.

This Tour Includes:

Return flights London - Milan / Rome - London

Airline baggage allowance

3 nights in Milan at the Kleos Hotel Milano ***

1 night in Poggibonsi at the Hotel Toscana Ambassador ****

2 nights in Rome at the Cardinal St Peter****

Rome, Poggibonsi and Milan City Tax

Daily breakfasts, one dinner and six light lunches

Transportation in air-conditioned vehicles

English-speaking licensed local guides

Licensed guide in Milan, Rome and Ostia Antica

Entrance fees to sites as per itinerary

Personal audio guiding system

Gratuities are included and will be disbursed locally

Talks by Patrick Whitworth and Eleanor Walker

Not included
Travel insurance: this is essential. We require all travellers to have adequate cancellation and medical coverage for their journey. We recommend the policy with Holiday Extras who offer a comprehensive policy as well as yearly policies that also cover short UK overnight stays.

Single rooms: a very limited number of single rooms are available at a supplementary cost of £410. For single travellers who do require single accommodation this should be requested when making a booking and, if a single room is available, the supplement will be payable.

Special Requests: These should be noted at the time of booking.

Payments: a non refundable deposit of £500 per person is payable to secure a place. 50% of the booking is due 6 months prior to departure, the final balance is due at 12 weeks.

Completing your booking form: Please ensure that we have your full name (as per your passport) correct address, email address and contact telephone numbers as soon as your booking is confirmed. We will need your passport details no later than ten weeks before departure.

Final Travel Documents: These will be sent to you two weeks before departure.

Late Bookings: Please note that for bookings made within 12 weeks of departure, the price may increase due to the fluctuating cost of flights.
If this arises, we will always discuss this with you before processing your booking.

Practical information

MCCABE PILGRIMAGES
Our pilgrimage is being organised in association with McCabe Travel, a company well-known in church circles and recognised as Britain’s foremost religious tour operator. McCabe has been responsible for organising hundreds of pilgrimages to the Bible Lands with churches from all over Britain for more than 40 years.

THE MCCABE EDUCATIONAL TRUST
For many, meeting the ‘Living Stones’ of The Land becomes a real highlight of their pilgrimage. The McCabe Educational Trust is an independent registered charity with the aim of helping inspiring people we meet on pilgrimage. McCabe Pilgrimages invite all travellers to become partners in this work. A £20 voluntary donation to the Trust’s work is added to every pilgrim’s invoice and all money raised in this way is given in full to the projects the Trust supports. This scheme is voluntary and confidential with nobody put under any pressure to participate.

PASSPORTS, VISAS AND HEALTH
Please ensure that your passport is valid according to the requirements of your destination. If you need a new passport apply early as there can be considerable backlogs at the passport offices. Visas are not required for British or other EEC passport holders. No inoculations are required. We do, however, advise you to consult your doctor regarding your own personal requirements.

HOLIDAY INSURANCE
Ensuring that your holidays are appropriately protected is one of our main priorities. That's why we have partnered with Holiday Extras so you can get a travel insurance quote to protect you before and whilst you are travelling. Holiday Extras Cover Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial  Conduct Authority and has been independently rated 5-stars by Defaqto. For more information or to obtain a quote, please click here: https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-insurance.html?agent=WU987

Or call them on 0800 083 3551 to speak to a friendly advisor. Please quote AG628 upon calling.'
• Holiday insurance - annual and single trip policies with cover for pre-existing conditions and all ages.
• Airport parking - including meet and greet and valet parking services.
• Airport transfers - travel in comfort with a door-to-door service.
• Airport hotels - never worry about getting to the airport in time. Travel the day before and relax.
• Airport lounges - enjoy refreshments in a comfortable and calm atmosphere before your flight.

AITO QUALITY STATEMENT
McCabe Pilgrimages is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. McCabe abides by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito.co.uk. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.
This pilgrimage is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. The McCabe ATOL number is 2920.

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Dates

Our Programme Tour Leader Tour Dates Availability
In the Footsteps of Augustine with Patrick Whitworth and art historian Eleanor Walker In the Footsteps of Augustine with Patrick Whitworth Departing From London Heathrow Prices from £3270 pp The Revd Patrick Whitworth 13/05/2027 for 7 days Download brochure Book now Make an enquiry

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