Italy

Rome and Assisi led by Revd John Bannister

Prices from £3,130 pp

Single Supplement £130

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‘After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also see Rome’ (the Apostle Paul Acts 19:21).

In this pilgrimage we encounter some of the great saints who have shaped Western Christianity. In Rome we focus on the city’s patron saints, Peter and Paul. A comprehensive programme of sightseeing is included featuring the major sites of ancient Rome and the Vatican City. We visit St Peter’s Basilica, St Paul’s Outside the Walls as well as the Cathedral of Rome, St John Lateran and the Basilica of St Mary Major. We also drive along the Via Appia Antica, the route Peter and Paul would have taken entering Rome, to discover the underground burial sites and places of worship for the early Christian community. We then head to Assisi where we spend three nights in the medieval town home of St Francis, set amidst the peace and tranquillity of the Umbrian countryside. The bustle of Rome is contrasted with the peace of Assisi where visits include the famous Basilica of St Francis, the church of St Clare, Santa Maria degli Angeli and other pilgrimage sites in and around the town. We invite you to join us on this pilgrimage which promises to be a spiritually enriching experience.

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Itinerary

TRAVEL TO ROME

We fly from London Stansted to Rome. On arrival, we meet our Italian tour manager and transfer by coach to our accommodation located a few meters away from St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican.

Four-night stay at Casa per Ferie Ravasco San Pietro. Dinner in a local restaurant.
ST PETER’S BASILICA, THE ANGLICAN CENTRE AND THE MEDIEVAL QUARTER

This morning we have a guided tour of the Basilica of St Peter which houses the Michelangelo’s Pieta, the artwork of Bernini and the tombs of several popes, including St John Paul II. Today we hope to join the congregation at the Anglican center for Eucharist followed by lunch. This afternoon we continue to the medieval quarter of central Rome to discover sites such as Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. From here we then walk to the Trevi Fountain.
PAPAL AUDIENCE AND THE EARLY CHRISTIANITY

After breakfast we transfer to St Peter’s Square to take our seats for this morning’s Papal Audience (if His Holiness is in Rome at the time). Lunch at own cost. This afternoon we drive along the Via Appia Antica to the catacombs of St Sebastian, through which we will be guided. We then continue to the Basilica of St-Paul-Outside-the-Walls, built over the saint’s tomb, before returning to our accommodation.
ST MARY MAJOR, ST JOHN LATERAN AND THE SCALA SANTA

This morning we transfer by coach to two of the Major Basilicas: St Mary Major and the Cathedral of Rome – St John Lateran. We cross the road here to see the Scala Santa – the steps brought back by Empress Helena from Jerusalem in the fourth century and said to be those ascended by Christ on his way to Pilate. The afternoon is free to wander at your leisure and visit other places of interest.
TO ASSISI

This morning we join our coach and transfer to Assisi. We call at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli to visit the Porziuncola, St Francis’ original tiny chapel, which marks the site where St Francis died. Continue to our accommodation for a three-night stay. Three-night stay at Hotel Posta Panoramic Dinner in the hotel.
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANCIS AND CLARE

After breakfast, we walk to the Basilica of St Francis where we have a guided tour of the twin Basilica by one of the resident Franciscan friars. We see the frescoes attributed to Giotto in the Upper Basilica and the Crypt in the Lower Basilica where St Francis is buried. This afternoon we have a walking guided tour of the Old Town. We visit the Chiesa Nuova (New Church) built on the site of Francis’s house and the Basilica of St Clare which now houses the Crucifix that called to Francis, and the Tomb of St Clare.
THE EREMO DELLE CARCERI AND SAN DAMIANO

This morning we take a twisting ride by taxi above Assisi to the peaceful Hermitage, which was a place of retreat and meditation for Francis. From here we drive down to San Damiano where St Francis received the message from the Crucifix to repair God’s church and where, later, St Clare founded her community. The rest of the day is free in the Old town of Assisi.
HOME

We depart for Perugia Airport after breakfast.

Essential Information

For booking received by 8 December 2025, we offer a benefit from a LOWER DEPOSIT* of £300 per person (instead of £500pp).

In Rome, we stay at the Casa per Ferie Ravasco San Pietro located a few meters away from St Peter's Basilica and Square. In Assisi, we stay at the Hotel Posta Panoramic located in the Old Town.

The tour includes daily breakfast and dinners and a welcome drink on arrival. Touring is by air-conditioned coach and we will be accompanied by our tour guide who will look after the formalities of hotel check-ins, etc.

Entrance fees as per the itinerary are included as well as all gratuities; these will be disbursed locally to those who help us on our journey.

The tour price also includes return flights to Italy, flying from Stansted to Rome and return fromPerugia. All airport and security charges are included.

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. See the back cover for details.

Single rooms: a limited number of single rooms in Rome and Sole Use of a double/twin room in Assisi are available at a supplementary cost of £130. For Sole Use of a double/twin room in both Rome and Assisi the supplement is £490. 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.

For people sharing a room: a limited number of double use of triple and quadruple rooms in Rome and twin/double rooms in Assisi are available at the supplementary cost of £180pp.

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

Payments: a non refundable deposit per person is required to book your place. For booking received by 8 December 2025 we offer a lower deposit payment of £300. After this date, a second deposit payment of £200 per person is due 6 weeks from booking*.

The final balance is due 12 weeks before departure.

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: 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

Entry requirements

British Citizen and EU Citizen Passport holders can currently enter Italy freely with no restrictions or other documentation required. Stays within the EU can be up to 90 days (can be spread over multiple visits) within any 180-day period.

Please note your passport must be valid for three months after your return from Italy.

Full details of entry requirements and any required vaccinations will be detailed in your final paperwork 14 days before departure.

For the latest and most up to date travel advice including entry requirements please consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office travel advice website.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Health & wellbeing

For travel within the EU you should ensure that you have the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is free of charge. You can apply for the GHIC card by calling 0191 218 1999 or applying on line at…

www.nhs.uk/ghic

The level of cover offered by the GHIC card varies by country visited and is only applicable in state-run health facilities. In some countries coverage may just be a partial contribution.

Adequate insurance cover will be required for all hospital emergencies and doctors’ visits.

Clothing

Dress is casual throughout the holiday. You may wish to take one or two smarter items for the evenings. Casual clothing is recommended in the day-time with evenings being smart/casual. As the sightseeing visits require a certain amount of walking, we suggest you take a pair of comfortable shoes with a good sole for the cobbled streets.

Mobility

There is a certain amount of walking (and stairs) involved on a daily basis on this holiday so please make sure you pack comfy footwear for this so that you are prepared. Your Local Guides will keep you updated on a daily basis with what to expect the following day. If you are finding it difficult to keep up, then please make sure you tell your Local Guide and Group Leader who can help you to find places to rest and relax and then you can re-join the group at a later stage.

Some streets in towns and villages that you will visit will be cobbled. We suggest you take a pair of comfortable shoes with good grips or trainers. For your guided walking tours in Rome and Assisi you must be prepared to be on your feet for up to 90 minutes without the need to sit down and walk two to three flights of stairs unaided.

The McCabe Educational Trust

The McCabe Educational Trust is an independent registered charity which was set up in 1991 to support Christian communities. To date the Trust has distributed more than £4 million in grants. McCabe Pilgrimages supports the Trust directly by contributing to the administrative and running costs, thus ensuring all pilgrim donations are able to go directly to the important projects supported by the MET. In 2026 McCabe Pilgrimages will once again invite all pilgrims to make a voluntary donation of £20. In addition, McCabe will also donate £20 for every pilgrim who travels with us - regardless of whether they choose to donate - effectively doubling the impact when you do. This scheme is voluntary and confidential with nobody put under any pressure to participate.

Travel insurance

Ensuring that your holidays are appropriately protected is one of our main priorities. That’s why we have specifically chosen Holiday Extras as our *preferred travel insurance provider to ensure that you are protected before and whilst you are travelling. Holiday Extras offer McCabe Travel guests favourable rates for single trip, multi-trip and annual policies.

For more information or to obtain a quote click below for their website

https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-insurance

Or call them on 0800 083 3551 to speak to a friendly advisor.

Please quote AG628 upon calling to receive the best rates

Full financial security

All money paid to McCabe is fully secure. Holidays including flights are covered by our ATOL license from the Civil Aviation Authority, and holidays without flights are protected by our membership of the ABTOT bonding scheme. If a pilgrimage is cancelled, for instance through lack of numbers or for political considerations, McCabe will promptly refund all monies paid.

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.

You can read McCabe reviews on the AITO website here

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Dates

Upcoming Pilgrimages

We have no tours scheduled to this destination at present. Please contact us if you would like to lead or join a tour.

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