Pilgrimage to the Holy Saints and Shrines of N. Italy
October 12–19, 2026
$2,999 - includes ground travel
and airfare
Join Fr. Charlie Gallagher
and Fr. Ray Schmidt on a pilgrimage to visit some of the most amazing holy saints and sites of Northern Italy!
Fr. Charlie Gallagher Fr. Ray Schmidt
Explore the extraordinary Catholic shrines, beloved saints, and timeless treasures of Northern Italy on this inspiring pilgrimage. From the vibrant Christian heritage of Padua to the historic basilicas of Milan, Verona, and Venice, you will immerse yourself in the rich spiritual legacy that has shaped the Church for centuries. This journey offers the opportunity to venerate remarkable saints—such as St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. John Bosco, St. Anthony, St. Mark the Evangelist, and St. Gianna Beretta Molla—while admiring some of Italy’s most magnificent churches and sacred sites. Join us for an unforgettable experience celebrating the profound Catholic tradition that thrives in the heart of Northern Italy.
Visit: The Abbey of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune, The Frassati Summer Residence, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. John Bosco, St. Dominic Savio, St. Joseph Cafasso, St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, Sacra di San Michele, Sanctuary of the Nativity of Mary, Bl. Chiara Luce Badano, St. Catherine of Genoa, Shrine of Our Lady of the Guardian, St. Augustine, St. Boethius, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Duomo di Milano, St. Ambrose, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Zeno, St. Josephine Bakita, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Luke, St. Justina, St. Lucy, and St. Mark the Evangelist.
The Spiritual Impact of Pilgrimage on St. Thérèse of Lisieux
“Before my journey to Rome I had not felt any special devotion to this Saint, but on visiting the house where she was martyred, and on hearing her proclaimed ‘Queen of Harmony’, I felt more than devotion to her; I felt real love as for a friend. She became my chosen patroness as well as the keeper of my most intimate thoughts....”
— St. Thérèse of Lisieux, describing the grace she received at age 14 during her pilgrimage to Rome and her visit to St. Cecilia’s home (The Story of a Soul).
"... I saw splendid monuments; I studied the countless wonders of art and religion; and better than all, I stood on the very soil trodden by the Apostles and bedewed with the blood of Martyrs, and my soul grew strong by contact with those holy things.”
— St. Thérèse of Lisieux, recalling her 1887 pilgrimage to Rome with her father Louis, her sister Céline, and a diocesan group (The Story of a Soul)
Your trip includes
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Round-trip airfare from Dulles International Airport
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Non-stop flights
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Motorcoach transportation from DC area parish of priests' choice to Dulles and back.
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All airport taxes and fuel surcharges
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Carefully selected First-Class hotels, chosen for comfort, location, and reliability
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Hotel accomodations:
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1 night: Oct 13, Augustus Hotel, Pollone/Biella, IT
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1 night: Oct 14, Park Hotel, Mondovi, IT
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2 nights: Oct 15-16, H2C Hotel, Milanofiori, Assago, IT
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2 nights: Oct 17-18, Savhotel Mantegna Padova, Padua, IT
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Single supplement, while available, for an additional $700
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Transfers as per itinerary
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Breakfast and dinner daily
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Wine and mineral water with dinners
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Transportation by air-conditioned motorcoach
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Tour escort throughout
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Assistance of professional local guide in Venice
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Sightseeing and admission fees as per Itinerary
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Mass daily and spiritual activities
Not included:
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Lunches and beverages not mentioned
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Travel Insurance
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Tips to your guide & driver. (est. $100 total)
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Church donations (budget $2.00-$5.00 per Mass)
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Passports, visas, and any required travel documentation
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NOTE: Participation in this active pilgrimage requires the ability to walk 10,000–12,000 steps per day, unassisted, at an average pace across uneven surfaces, including steps and cobblestones.
Please note our planned flight schedule below
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE: $2,999
SINGLE OCCUPANCY PRICE: $3,699
Price reflects cash discount
PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
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A 50% deposit is due at time of registration
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Final payment/balance is due on or before June 1, 2026
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Registration after June 1, 2026 requires payment in full at time of bookng
PAYMENT METHODS:
We accept major credit cards, checks, money orders, and ACH transactions. There is an additional 3% fee for each credit card transaction.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
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All payments are 100% refundable if a cancellation request is received in writing before June 1, 2026
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All payments are 50% refundable from June 1, 2026 to 30 days prior to departure
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There are no refunds for cancellation requests received after 30 days prior to departure
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Processing fees will be deducted from refunds of payments made by credit card
Travel Insurance
Although travel insurance is optional, it is strongly recommended. We encourage you to purchase it at the time of registration in order to qualify for Cancel for Any Reason coverage.
You have two options for purchasing travel insurance:
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Purchase directly from Faye through our website after submitting your application
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Purchase a policy from your own insurance provider
Follow this LINK to view our Travel Protection Plan details.
You don’t want to think about things going wrong when you’re preparing for a long-awaited trip. But life is unpredictable—plans change, illnesses and injuries happen, luggage gets lost, and even severe weather can disrupt your plans. Having the right travel protection ensures you can travel with confidence, knowing you’re covered no matter what comes your way.
We’ve partnered with Faye to provide reliable travel insurance coverage for your pilgrimage. Please use the link below to receive a fast and easy quote.
For more information on why Faye, click HERE.
Itinerary
Dulles International Airport
Day 1
After a pilgrimage Mass at an Archdiocese of Washington parish, transfer by motorcoach to Dulles International Airport to catch an evening nonstop flight for an early morning arrival at Geneva Airport.
Day 2
Arriving in Geneva early in the morning, we meet our motorcoach and begin a breathtaking journey through the Alps, traveling along the Aosta Valley and the historic Great St. Bernard Pass, a route used by pilgrims, monks, and travelers for centuries. This scenic drive offers sweeping mountain vistas and a powerful sense of continuity with the Church’s long pilgrimage tradition. Along the way, we stop at the Abbey of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune, one of the oldest continuously operating monasteries in the West, founded in the 6th century. Here, pilgrims have time for prayer and reflection at this remarkable site, which has been a center of Christian worship for over 1,500 years. A leisurely lunch is included before continuing onward into northern Italy.
In the afternoon, we arrive in Pollone, nestled at the foothills of the Alps, for an extended visit to the summer home of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Spending several hours at this deeply personal place allows pilgrims to encounter Frassati’s life of joy, faith, service to the poor, and love of the mountains in a tangible and moving way. Time here is set aside for Mass, guided reflection, quiet prayer, and exploration of the home and surrounding grounds that shaped his spirituality. The day concludes with a short drive to our hotel for dinner and overnight, offering a peaceful end to a spiritually rich and visually stunning day of pilgrimage.
Chillon Castle, Great St. Bernard Pass
Sacra di San Michele
Day 3
After breakfast, we depart for Turin and travel to the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, home of the world-renowned Chapel of the Holy Shroud. Here, pilgrims will celebrate Mass and visit the resting place of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, whose witness of joyful holiness continues to inspire Catholics worldwide. Inside the chapel, a full-sized replica of the Holy Shroud allows time for prayer and contemplation before this powerful icon of Christ’s Passion. We then continue to the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation, one of Turin’s oldest and most beloved churches, where pilgrims venerate St. Joseph Cafasso, the spiritual director of St. John Bosco and a model of priestly zeal and compassion.
Our journey then leads to the heart of Salesian spirituality at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, where we honor St. John Bosco, St. Dominic Savio, and St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, founders and saints who transformed the lives of countless young people through education, mercy, and love. Depending on timing, we may also visit the nearby Cottolengo House, founded by St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, a remarkable village-hospital complex dedicated to serving the poor, disabled, and abandoned. After lunch at a local restaurant, we travel outside the city to the breathtaking Sacra di San Michele, a dramatic cliff-side abbey dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel and one of the most iconic spiritual landmarks in northern Italy. After our visit, we continue south to our hotel for dinner and a restful evening.
Day 4
After breakfast, we depart for a short drive to the Sanctuary of the Nativity of Mary, a peaceful Marian shrine that invites pilgrims to begin the day in prayer and reflection. We then continue to Sassello, where we visit the cemetery and tomb of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, a modern witness to holiness whose life of joy, courage, and unwavering faith has inspired young people around the world. Time is set aside here for quiet prayer and personal reflection at her resting place before continuing onward toward the Ligurian coast.
We arrive in Genoa for lunch, followed by Mass at the Church of St. Catherine of Genoa, where pilgrims encounter the spiritual legacy of one of the Church’s great mystics and reformers. Later in the afternoon, we travel up the hillside to the Santuario di Nostra Signora della Guardia, dramatically perched above the city and offering sweeping views along with a profound Marian devotion deeply rooted in local faith. In the evening, we transfer to our hotel in Assago for dinner and overnight, concluding a day that beautifully weaves together Marian devotion, modern sanctity, and the rich spiritual heritage of northern Italy.
Sanctuary of the Nativity of Mary
Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro
Day 5
After breakfast, we depart for Pavia, home to the revered tomb of St. Augustine at the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro. This profoundly important stop offers pilgrims the opportunity to pray at the resting place of one of the Church’s greatest theologians and Doctors, whose writings continue to shape Catholic thought, moral theology, and spirituality throughout the world. Time is set aside for quiet reflection on Augustine’s dramatic journey of conversion, his deep love for truth, and his enduring witness to God’s mercy and grace, making this a spiritually rich and contemplative beginning to the day.
We then continue to visit the burial site of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a modern saint whose joyful faith and heroic witness to the dignity and sanctity of human life speak powerfully to our own time. In the afternoon, we travel into Milan to encounter its most significant sacred landmarks, beginning with the magnificent Duomo di Milano, one of the largest and most awe-inspiring cathedrals in the world and closely associated with St. Charles Borromeo, whose reforming spirit shaped the Church during the Counter-Reformation. We also visit the ancient Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, founded by Milan’s patron saint and steeped in early Christian history and tradition. Following a full day of prayer, learning, and discovery, we return to our hotel in Assago for dinner and overnight, preparing spiritually and physically for the next stage of our pilgrimage.
Day 6
After breakfast, we depart for Verona, a city rich in Christian history, where we visit the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, one of the finest examples of Romanesque church architecture in northern Italy. Here we honor St. Zeno, the beloved bishop and patron saint of Verona, known for his pastoral zeal, humility, and joyful faith. Time is set aside for prayer and reflection within this remarkable basilica, whose ancient crypt and sacred art offer a powerful connection to the early Church and centuries of Christian devotion.
We then continue north to Schio to visit the parish church associated with St. Josephine Bakhita, whose extraordinary life bears witness to forgiveness, human dignity, and trust in God amid suffering. Pilgrims are invited to reflect on her journey from slavery to sainthood and her enduring message of hope and mercy. In the evening, we proceed to Padua for dinner and overnight accommodations, offering a restful conclusion to a day shaped by powerful examples of sanctity and faith drawn from both the early and modern Church.
Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore
Day 7
After breakfast, we spend the morning in Padua, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in northern Italy. Our visits include the Basilica of St. Anthony, where pilgrims may pray at the tomb of one of the Church’s most beloved saints and powerful intercessors. We also visit sites associated with St. Luke the Evangelist, whose relics are venerated in Padua, and St. Justina, an early Christian martyr whose magnificent basilica stands as a testament to the courage and faith of the early Church. Together, these sacred places offer a rich morning of prayer, history, and reflection on the foundations of Christian witness.
In the afternoon, we transfer to Venice, crossing the lagoon to encounter the unique beauty and spiritual heritage of this remarkable city. Here we visit the church associated with St. Lucy, honoring her steadfast faith and sacrifice, followed by time at St. Mark’s Basilica, where the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist rest beneath its dazzling mosaics. Pilgrims then enjoy some free time to explore Venice at their own pace, soaking in its atmosphere before returning to the hotel for our final dinner together, a fitting conclusion to a journey marked by prayer, fellowship, and profound encounters with the saints.
Day 8
Depart Venice on a mid-morning nonstop flight to Washington Dulles. After landing, a coach bus will meet the group and return you to the parish from which you set out, completing your pilgrimage together.
AMDG Travel Disclaimer
From time to time, local religious or national holidays, weather, traffic conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances may require adjustments to the sequence of activities or result in the omission of certain sites or events. While every effort will be made to operate the itinerary as planned, the itinerary should be understood as an indication of the planned schedule rather than a binding guarantee of specific stops or events. Hotels listed on the itinerary have been carefully selected and contracted in advance for this pilgrimage. However, due to availability changes, operational requirements, or circumstances beyond our control, it may occasionally be necessary to substitute a hotel. In such cases, AMDG Travel will secure accommodations of equivalent or higher quality, consistent with the overall standard, location, and character of the pilgrimage.
