Italy

Jubilee Year in Rome and the Vatican City – in conjunction The Tablet

Prices from £1,945 pp

Single Supplement £215

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As Pope Francis described it, the Jubilee year is a "gift of grace" to be experienced through "pilgrimages, indulgences, living testimonies of faith."

This comprehensive programme of sightseeing offers the opportunity to take part in this great celebration of faith.

During a jubilee, the opening of the Holy Doors is one of the main rituals symbolising the offering of an “extraordinary path” toward salvation. We walk through the Holy Doors of the four papal basilicas: St Peter’s Basilica, St Paul’s Outside the Walls, St Mary Major and the Cathedral of Rome, St John Lateran. Our guesthouse, strategically located few meters away from St Peter’s Square, offers us the opportunity to easily attend the Wednesday Papal Audience or leisurely walk to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel during our free time in Rome. This inspiring pilgrimage takes us along us the Via Appia Antica to discover the underground burial sites and places of worships for the early Christian community; with our local guide we appreciate the grandeur of ancient Rome by walking past the Roman Forum, Coliseum and visiting one of the hidden gems of Rome, the Basilica of San Clemente and its underground layers of history encapsulating the stunning phases of the ancient city. Our visit also include the medieval quarter of central Rome and sites such as Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. 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 (D)

Fly from London to Rome. On arrival, we meet our Italian tour manager and transfer by coach to our accommodation.

Five night stay at the guesthouse, Casa Ravasco San Pietro, located few meters away from St Peter’s Square and the Vatican City. Dinner in a local restaurant.
St Peter’s Basilica & the Medieval Quarter (B, D)

Today we pass through the Holy Door of the Basilica of St Peter and have a guided tour including the Michelangelo’s Pieta, the artwork of Bernini and the tombs of several popes, including St John Paul II.

In the afternoon, we transfer 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. This evening we dine in a local restaurant.
Papal Audience and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian (B, D)

This morning is free to wander at your leisure and visit other places of interest. Alternatively, you will have the opportunity to attend the Papal Audience (if His Holiness is in Rome at the time) in St Peter’s Square (tickets will be provided by our manager). 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.
Basilicas di Santa Maria Maggiore & San Giovanni in Laterano and the Holy Stairs(B, D)

After breakfast, 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. This afternoon is free to wander at your leisure and visit other places of interest.
Classical Rome (B, D)

We drive to one of the hidden gems of Rome, the Basilica of San Clemente, built over the site of a C4th Titular Church.

We visit the 12th century Basilica and see its magnificent mosaics and early renaissance frescoes, the underground 4th century church and the lowest level by entering the 1st century area with its Mithraic temple. We then walk past the Coliseum and the Roman Forum to appreciate the grandeur and immense scale of ancient Rome and finish at the masterpiece of the Capitoline Hill, the Piazza Campidoglio, beautifully designed by Michelangelo.
Return to the UK (B)

We transfer to Rome Airport for our return flight to London.

Essential Information

We stay at the guesthouse, Casa Ravasco San Pietro, situated a few minute walk from the Vatican City and St Peter Square.

The tour includes daily breakfast and dinners in local restaurants.

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.

All entrance fees are included as well as gratuities; these will be disbursed locally to those who help us on our journey.

Our team in Italy

Our dedicated McCabe Tour Leader is there solely for our guests. They will escort all excursions and be available in the hotel for any queries and offer local advice, hints and tips for you to get maximum enjoyment of your time with us. They will also lead worship on some occasions, for those who wish. On each excursion we also enjoy the services of expert local guides who bring these wonderful Italian treasures to life.

Your journey

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

Length of flight to Rome: two hours and 40 minutes

Flight times maybe subject to change and are confirmed with your final paperwork.

Your accommodation

CASA PER FERIE RAVASCO - SAN PIETRO

Just a few hundred metres from St. Peter's Square, alongside the Vatican walls and within walking distance of the Basilica and Vatican Museums. This small hotel has just 38 rooms so there is no city hotel hustle and bustle. The hotel also has its own chapel with daily worship. The hotel is simple but comfortable and has an excellent location.

Hotel facilities: a restaurant with breakfast buffet, elevator to all floors and a panoramic terrace giving you a breathtaking view of "the most beautiful square in the Western world", here you can sit and feast your eyes on this scenery.

Your hotel room: spacious rooms with air-conditioning/heating, television and complimentary WiFi.

Hotel bathrooms: private bathroom with shower, washbasin and hairdryer.

View the hotels website from the link below.

Hot Hotel (casaravascosanpietro.com)

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.

Climate

In Rome in May and September the average daily maximum temperature during your stay should be around 24 to 26 degrees centigrade and early mornings and late evenings temperatures can drop to 16 degrees. In November the temperature range is still mild from 10 degrees in the morning and evening to a daily high of 18 degrees. Rainfall is usually a short shower on just a few days of each month.

Clothing

Dress is casual throughout the holiday. You may wish to take one or two smarter items for the evenings. Cool 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 with the aim of helping inspiring people we meet on some of our pilgrimages. As ‘the haves’ encounter the ‘have nots’ the Trust has become a practical tool for one to help the other.

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.

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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