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Shrines of Northern Italy & Rome - Faith-Based Travel

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Operated by Cosmos
Tripcode: 5360
Overview
Destination:
Italy
Start:Milan, Italy
Finish:Rome, Italy
Duration:9 days
Type:Group tour (max 48)
Travel Period
August 2025 - September 2025
9 Day Tour from Milan to Rome
Catholic heritage in Italy extends well beyond the Vatican. On this tour, discover the inspiring Catholic Italian icons of northern Italy as well as the Catholic treasures of Rome. 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 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.
All This. Included
The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travelers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!


Standard inclusions
  • Buffet breakfasts daily, 3 dinners
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Itinerary
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ARRIVE IN MILAN, ITALY
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. (D)

MILAN
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 [M] Mass and discover the treasures of the Basilica and the Duomo with a Local Guide. (B)

MILAN–TURIN
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 [M] Mass.
Today's Distance: 90 mi / 145 km (B)

TURIN–PAVIA–PADUA
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 live a life of work, seclusion, and prayer.
Today's Distance: 245 mi / 395 km (B,D)

PADUA–POMPOSA–RAVENNA
Attend morning [M] Mass and visit the spectacular 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 (B)

RAVENNA–ROME
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 (B,D)

ROME
This morning, attend the Papal Audience (subject to availability) for the chance to see the Pope and receive the Papal Blessing. Later, with a Local Guide, visit two of Rome’s major Papal Basilica’s. First visit the Basilica of St John Lateran, the cathedral church of Rome where the Pope has his seat as Bishop of Rome. Experience the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), transported from Jerusalem to Rome around 326 AD by St. Helena, Emperor Constantine’s mother. These 28 marble steps are traditionally ascended in a kneeling position with a prayer recital dedicated to Jesus Christ. Then, visit the impressive St. Mary Major Basilica, where a reliquary contains wood from the Holy Crib, and attend [M] Mass.* (B)

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.

ROME
A different, quite unique experience is offered today. We will take an included excursion to Castel Gandolfo, a quaint village in the hills outside Rome, to visit the Papal summer residence and its manicured gardens with a Local Guide. This is a unique chance to see the rooms that have been occupied by many Popes over the centuries. Enjoy the opportunity to reflect and meditate in the garden’s quiet and relaxing surroundings. En-route back to Rome, stop and visit the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls. Later this afternoon, enjoy time to relax in Rome or select an optional excursion, perhaps with a deeper look at Roman history by exploring the early Christian site of secret worship and burials in the underground catacombs.*
Today's Distance: 50 mi / 80 km (B)

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.

ROME
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

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Travellers

Operator
Cosmos

For more than 60 years, Cosmos has done something remarkable: Bringing the world to people; and people to the world. By pioneering value touring holidays, Cosmos enjoys a long and storied history of turning travel dreams into reality. We make possible “never thought I would” or “never imagined I could” moments by making travel attainable and easy. And in doing that, we help you expand your horizons, clear your head and open your heart to the world around you. Cosmos understands that adventure is waiting for us – all of us – out in the world. And there simply is no better time than the present to discover new sights, new sensations and new experiences. That’s why we pride ourselves in turning “what if” moments into “I did” realisations by providing wayfarers and wanderers unparalleled access to the globe with value-centric holidays in 67 countries, on six continents. Let the unexpected begin. Let awe-inspiring take over. Adventure is knocking. Cosmos travellers are answering by exploring the world that’s always within reach.

Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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8 nights
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