Pilgrimages in Europe
Your journey begins with the impressive capital of Italy, Rome. This city is an open-air museum with its glorious buildings such as the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, the Pantheon, etc. You will also see Rome from its Catholic point of view with the Vatican, St. Peter’s Square, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Clement’s Basilica, and other places of worship.
Then you will take the road to Pietrelcina which is the birthplace of Padre Pio. The latter is known to be the first priest and one of the few men to whom tradition attributes stigmata, he was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 2002 under the name of St. Pius de Pietrelcina. Your trip continues to San Giovanni in Rotondo where you will participate in the Sanctuary pilgrimage.
You will also visit the church of Saints Legonini and Domitian in Lanciano, where the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano took place around the year 700. The Manopello Sanctuary will amaze you with the veil of Manoppello (Volto Santo), an image of Jesus Christ printed on a fabric. This image would have served as a model for later representations of the Holy Face.
In the city of Assise, a guided tour of the Basilica of Saint Francis has been set and you will visit high places of worship such as the Basilica of St. Clare, St. Damian’s Chapel or the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels of Assise. Back in Rome, your pilgrimage comes to an end.
