Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

Saturday, 2nd May - Arrive Assisi

This afternoon, we will depart from Dublin to Rome and upon arrival meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We will drive to the Green Heart of Italy, stopping for dinner enroute before our arrival in Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of Carlo Acutis.

We will check into our rooms in the Domus Pacis, located in the valley below the town of Assisi, within walking distance of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Sunday, 3rd May

Chapel of the Porziuncola - Eremo delle Carceri - Convent of San Damiano

This morning we will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and during our tour of the basilica will see the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis realised his true calling and accepted Clare into the Order, the Rose Garden and the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died on the 3rd of October 1226. During this special year for Franciscans, as we mark the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, this is a fitting place from where to begin our pilgrimage and a truly sacred place for Franciscans .

We will return to our hotel for lunch and in the afternoon drive to Eremo delle Carceri, an ancient Franciscan place situated on the forest clad slopes of Mount Subasio where Francis and his followers would retreat for periods of prayer. In the eight centuries of Franciscan history, hundreds of friars stayed here before embarking upon trips to spread the Gospel. We wil be met by a local friar who will tell us more of the history of this picturesque spot where Francis would have immersed himself in prayer.

Our next stop this afternoon will be the nearby 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. Awaiting our arrival will be a friar who will tell us more of Clare and her time spent at the convent with her Order of Poor Clares.

Monday, 4th May - Tomb of Carlo Acutis, Guided walking tour of Assisi

This morning 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. Within walking distance of the basilica lies the Sanctuary of the Renunciation, today the resting place of the first millennial canonised and another great follower of Francis of Assisi, St. Carlo Acutis. The name Carlo Acutis became known throughout the world when in October 2020, in the presence of his parents and siblings, he was beatified in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The young Carlo had the capacity to enjoy life in a simple way, and just like Francis was not impressed by material things. In this place of great significance, we will celebrate Mass and later hear more of the life of Carlo and his great devotion.

After free time for lunch we will embark on a walking tour of the medieval town of Assisi. As we walk along the cobbled streets of the town, we will learn of the life of both St. Francis and St. Clare and how they chose a life of poverty and prayer. Our day will conclude in the Basilica of St. Francis where we will admire the famous frescoes and pray at the tomb of the founder of the Franciscan Order. The remainder of the afternoon at leisure will give us the opportunity for shopping and personal sightseeing.


Tuesday, 5th May - Sanctuary of La Verna

Today 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 Mass 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 tour will conclude at The Chapel of the Stigmata which lies over the place where St. Francis received the Stigmata on the 14th of September 1224. Upon our return to Assisi, we will have time at leisure before dinner.


Wednesday, 6th May - Return homei

After morning Mass, we will depart Assisi and drive to Fiumicino airport for our return flight to Dublin, having walked in the footsteps of St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Carlo Acutis during this important anniversary year for Franciscans.


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.