Shrines of Northern Italy & Rome - Faith-Based Travel
Shrines of Northern Italy & Rome - Faith-Based Travel
9 Days
Visiting: Milan, Turin, Pavia, Padua, Pomposa, Ravenna, Rome, Castel Gandolfo
Tour operator:
Tour code:
5360-2024
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$2071
$1945 (USD)
Operator discount: -$126
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.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Milan,Italy
Location: Milan
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
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: Milan, Turin
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: Turin, Pavia, Padua
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, Pomposa, 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, Rome
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
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: Castel Gandolfo, Rome
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.
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.
Accommodation
Ramada Plaza Milano
The Hotel Ramada Plaza is an innovative property boasting 167 spacious, soundproofed rooms. All rooms offer Free Wi-Fi and are equipped with air conditioning, wooden floors, hairdryer, satellite TV, kettle and a selection of teas and coffee. The two on site restaurants serve Italian and international cuisine for lunch and dinner and the hotel also offers a fitness center and a seasonal outdoor pool. The metro is 500 meters away which offers great links to Milan's main Cathedral.
Holiday Inn Corso Francia
A 130-room modern hotel with spacious common areas. There is a 24-hour mini-gym on site, an airy restaurant and a lobby bar. The old city center is a short ride away from the metro station located opposite the property and there is easy access to the main motorway. Turin Sandro Pertini Airport is only 25 km away.
Hotel NH Padova
NH Padova hotel (formerly known as NH Mantegna) is an easy walk from Padua's historic center, and just 900 meters from the city's main train station. The hotel itself is a modern affair that blends comfort with cutting-edge design. It was originally named after the painter Andrea Mantegna and is dotted with reproductions of his work. The hotel's 190 rooms are stylishly appointed and the in-house restaurant offers stunning city views and a daily breakfast buffet, as well as incredible food and wine from all over Italy with specialities from the local region. There's also a stylish lounge bar for late-night cocktails.
AC Marriott
This high quality urban hotel has 98 air-conditioned guest rooms, fully-equipped with a satellite TV, Free Wi-Fi, a minibar, hairdryer and exclusive amenities. The in-house restaurant offers menus combining modern dishes with the traditional Venetian cuisine and the AC Lounge Bar provides a wide range of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. Guests can also enjoy the Fitness Center or relax in the shared Lounge. The Hotel is located just 30 minutes from Venice and Marco Polo Venice Airport, close to Padova's city center and the central train station.
NH Ravenna
Set in the historic center of the city close to the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and within walking distance of Ravenna's main attractions, this pleasant property boasts 84 guestrooms with modern furnishings and comforts including satellite TV, in-room safe, hair dryer, minibar, and free Wi-Fi. The property comes with a 24-hour bar and an informal restaurant featuring a wide selection of both traditional Italian cuisine and local specialties.
Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia
Ibis Styles Rome Aurelia with its colorful and joyful style features a restaurant serving healthy local specialties, a bar where happy hour with Italian aperitifs and cocktails can be enjoyed and a cozy garden. All 229 modern guest rooms are functionally equipped including air-conditioning, flat screen TV with international channels and Free high-speed Wi-Fi- internet access. Located in a quite area just a few miles from the Vatican Museums and St. Peter¿s Square & Basilica, a metro station is available within walking distance.
Check out our Q&As
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Tuesday - Wednesday
Jun 11, 2024 - Jun 19, 2024Thursday - Friday
Aug 29, 2024 - Sep 06, 2024Saturday - Sunday
Sep 14, 2024 - Sep 22, 2024Thursday - Friday
Oct 03, 2024 - Oct 11, 2024Thursday - Friday
May 01, 2025 - May 09, 2025Wednesday - Thursday
Jun 11, 2025 - Jun 19, 2025Thursday - Friday
Aug 28, 2025 - Sep 05, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 22, 2025Thursday - Friday
Sep 25, 2025 - Oct 03, 2025Thursday - Friday
Oct 02, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025Book with Confidence
-
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 60 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 65 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 64 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.