Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 - Tuesday 24 November Arrive Assisi

We will depart in the afternoon from Dublin to Rome and where we will be greeted by our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We will then drive to the four star Fontebella Palace Hotel in Assisi, stopping enroute for our evening meal.


DAY 2 - Wednesday 25 November Basilica of St. Francis, Tomb of St. Carlo Acutis

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we will begin our pilgrimage in Assisi with Mass in the Basilica of St Francis and afterwards admire the famous frescoes before spending time in prayer at the tomb of the founder of the Franciscan Order.

After free time for lunch we will visit the Basilica of St. Clare where we will venerate the original San Damiano Cross and have time for prayer at the tomb of St. Clare. Our day will continue with al visit to the Sanctuary of the Spoliation which is also the resting place of the first millennial Saint and another great follower of Francis of Assisi, Saint Carlo Acutis.

There will be an opportunity for prayer and personal sightseeing before returning to the Fontebella Palace Hotel where we will have time to relax before dinner.


DAY 3 - Thursday 26 November Eremo delle Carceri, Chapel of the Porziuncola

This morning, after breakfast, we will travel to the Eremo delle Carceri di Assisi where the pilgrimage group will celebrate Mass together. This ancient Franciscan site on Mount Subasio is in the heart of a wood with centuries-old holm-oaks. Here St Francis of Assisi came with his companions to spend time in prayer.

An optional short camino-style walk of approximately 5 kilometres out from Assisi will be organised for interested pilgrims starting from the vicinity of the Eremo delle Carceri di Assisi (weather and under-foot conditions dependent). Those deciding not to undertake the camino-style walk will be transported to Assisi by bus where they will meet the walkers on their arrival.

In the afternoon we will drive to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. During this special year for Franciscans, as we remember the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, we will visit the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis realised his true calling and the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died on the 3 October 1226 - a truly sacred place for Franciscans. Pope Leo XIV visited the Basilica on the occasion of the closing of the 81st General Assembly of the Italian Episcopal Conference on 20 November 2025. He more recently celebrated Mass in the Basilica on Thursday 6 August last, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, as part of the 2026 International Franciscan Youth Meeting.

There will be an opportunity for prayer and personal sightseeing before returning to the Fontebella Palace Hotel where we will have time to relax before dinner.


DAY 4 -Friday 27 November La Verna

This morning, we will drive to La Verna, one of the best known of the Franciscan shrines as the place where St. Francis received the Stigmata. We will celebrate our pilgrimage Mass here and afterwards enjoy a tour of the sanctuary which will include a visit to the Relics Chapel where are carefully preserved items belonging to St Francis including a piece of rope, his walking stick and a relic of the Saint's blood.

Our pilgrimage Mass today will be offered for All the Faithful Departed as we come towards the end of the month of November, traditionally dedicated by the Church as a time of special remembrance, prayer, and devotion for those who have passed to their eternal reward.

Our tour will conclude at The Chapel of the Stigmata which lies over the place where St Francis received the Stigmata on 14 September 1224. We will have an opportunity for prayer and personal sightseeing before returning to the Fontebella Palace Hotel where we will have time to relax before dinner and enjoy a social evening together.


DAY 5 - Saturday 28 November Convent of San Damiano

We will begin our final full day of pilgrimage in Assisi with a visit to the Church and Convent of San Damiano. Located in a beautiful setting just outside the walls of Assisi, it is the place where St. Francis received his miraculous calling in 1205 and where St. Clare died in 1253 - an important stop on a pilgrimage to the Franciscan Holy City. We will celebrate our pilgrimage Mass here.

The remainder of the day will be at leisure for private prayer and reflection, last-minute shopping or sight-seeing before returning to the Fontebella Palace Hotel where, again, we will have time to relax before dinner and prepare for our return journey home the following day.


DAY 6 - Sunday 29 November Greccio

Having walked in the footsteps of St Francis for the past number of days during this important anniversary year for the Franciscan community worldwide, we will gather for our final breakfast together this morning. Having checked-out from the Fontebella Palace Hotel, we wil travel to Greccio where, in December 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi devised the first living Nativity scene . The Nativity scene tradition continues there to this day. We will celebrate the final Mass of our pilgrimage together either in Assisi before departure or in Greccio which will happily coincide with the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the season of prayerful waiting and preparation for Christmas.

There will be time at leisure for lunch and to explore Greccio before we drive to Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport for our return flight to Dublin, with a rest-stop for light refreshments etc (at own expense) along the way.


HOTEL FONTEBELLA

Located within an ancient 17th-century mansion in the historic centre of Assisi, it features Renaissance architecture and panoramic valley views. The Basilica of Saint Francis is just a very short distance away as are caf�s, restaurants and shops. There is also a caf� in the hotel.


IMPORTANT NOTE

Please note Assisi is an ancient, hill-top town. The narrow streets of the town mean that tourist coaches cannot enter, and a number of inclines need to be negotiated to arrive on foot into the centre of the town of Assisi.

Once inside the town, further inclines will need to be negotiated to arrive at the following points of interest
- Basilica of St. Francis
- Basilica of St. Clare
- Tomb of St. Carlo Acutis
Such inclines, in addition to the ancient, cobbled streets, mean that Assisi is not suitable for wheelchair users or mobility aids. As a result there are no official local facilities for hire of either wheelchairs or mobility aids.