Christmas in Italy Pilgrimage
December 20-27, 2027
ITALY
“Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy!” (Luke 2:10)
Join us for an extraordinary journey to Rome and Florence at Christmas for a peaceful, joyful time in the places where St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. John Paul II walked and bore witness to the Gospel!
Christmas is a wonderful time to be in Rome. The entire city seems to light up with a special joy, and there is even more peace than usual. Little red and white lights flicker on kiosks set up in the lovely Piazza Navona, and the Vatican erects a larger-than-life manger scene in St. Peter’s Square, right next to the ancient obelisk at its center. Roman grandparents stroll with their grandchildren through the piazzas and streets of Rome to view nativity scenes and small displays of local handcrafted toys and other gifts. We will join them. People throughout Rome tend to be more courteous to one another “in the spirit of the season,” and the entire city can actually seem to become a small village. We, too, will become “Roman villagers” at Christmas.
Throughout Italy, every church constructs a presepio (or presepe) — a Nativity tableau which may even include “living” crèche scenes with real people and animals — ranging from charmingly simple to stunningly elaborate. Some include hills, trees, lakes, rivers, angels suspended by wires, the Christmas star and reproductions of an entire village or the countryside of Bethlehem. Always, the straw-filled manger remains empty until the night of Natale — the birth of Christ.
Added to all this is the irreplaceable wealth of experience and insight of your pilgrimage hosts, Deborah Tomlinson, the president of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages, and Dr. Robert Moynihan, the founder and editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, and the unique beauty and grace each of your fellow pilgrims will bring to your journey. It may well be your most unforgettable Christmas!
Featured Experiences
St. Peter’s Basilica
Experience the sacred Christmas Eve Mass with Pope Leo, celebrating the birth of Christ through beautiful music, timeless readings and the majesty of the liturgy.
Florence & the Duomo
Discover the beauty of Renaissance Florence and its magnificent Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, where we will have the special opportunity to attend Mass.
The Scavi
Descend beneath St. Peter’s Basilica into the ancient Vatican necropolis and visit the sacred site traditionally identified as the tomb of St. Peter.
St. Mary Major
One of Rome’s four major basilicas, St. Mary Major is home to the revered icon Salus Populi Romani and relics traditionally associated with Christ’s manger.
Christmas in St. Peter’s Square
Experience the Vatican at Christmas, with its magnificent Nativity scene and Christmas tree, and join Pope Leo for the Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing.
- Stay 7 nights in Rome — Unpack once and settle in—no moving hotels or repacking your suitcase throughout your stay
- Attend Christmas Eve Mass with Pope Leo
- Visit all the major Basilicas of Rome: Basilica of St. Peter, Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and Basilica of St. Mary Major
- Visit the only two Marian apparition sites in Rome
- Visit the only Eucharistic Miracle in Rome
- Walk through Baroque Rome with the Christmas lights and Christmas markets along the way
- Take a day trip to Florence and tour the iconic Churches and sites with one of Florence’s best guides
- Venerate the holy icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Tour the Scavi beneath St. Peter’s Basilica
- Attend the Angelus and the Urbi et Orbi Christmas Blessing with Pope Leo
- Attend daily Mass, including Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and at the iconic Duomo (Cathedral) of Florence
- Visit the “first” Vatican, where St. Peter himself lived for seven years
- Meet friends of Inside the Vatican magazine during our days together on pilgrimage
- Plus, many unexpected stops and encounters along the way
Day 1: Monday December 20, 2027
Arrival: Welcome to Italy!
Upon your arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, your private driver will greet you as you exit the secure area and transfer you to our hotel in Rome, our home for the next seven nights. Settle in, unpack, and enjoy the ease of staying in one place throughout your pilgrimage.
We will gather for lunch before making our first visit to St. Peter’s Square, where Bernini’s great colonnades stretch out like welcoming arms, drawing pilgrims toward the heart of the Vatican—St. Peter’s Basilica.
There will be time to rest and unpack before we return to St. Peter’s Basilica for Mass, followed by a welcome dinner together.
Overnight: Rome | Lunch and dinner included.
Day 2: Tuesday, December 21, 2027
Rome
After breakfast, we will attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by an extraordinary journey beneath the basilica on a tour of the Scavi.
The Scavi Tour takes pilgrims deep beneath St. Peter’s Basilica into the ancient Roman necropolis on Vatican Hill. Along remarkably preserved streets and tombs dating from the 1st to the 4th centuries, we encounter the earliest layers of Christian Rome.
Excavations begun in 1939 during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII uncovered evidence supporting the ancient Christian tradition that this was the burial place of St. Peter the Apostle, martyred in Rome. The tour culminates at the site identified as Peter’s tomb, directly beneath the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica — a profoundly moving place at the very heart of the Church’s history.
After our time at the Scavi, we will experience the festive side of Rome with a visit to Christmas World at Villa Borghese, one of Europe’s largest Christmas celebrations. We will also walk through Baroque Rome, beautifully illuminated for the Christmas season, enjoying its decorated streets, piazzas and Christmas markets. Dinner will be on your own before returning to our accommodations.
Set within one of Rome’s most beautiful historic parks, Villa Borghese is transformed for the season with illuminated pathways, traditional Christmas markets, artisan shops and festive displays. The elegant setting of this historic Borghese estate makes it an especially memorable place to experience the beauty and joy of Rome at Christmas.
Overnight: Rome | Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 3: Wednesday, December 22, 2027
Rome
This morning, we will make our way to the Vatican for the Papal Audience with Pope Leo, joining pilgrims from around the world for this special encounter with the Holy Father.
Following the audience, we will visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas and the traditional burial place of St. Paul the Apostle.
Built over the tomb of St. Paul, the basilica has been a place of pilgrimage since the earliest centuries of Christianity. Here we will have time to pray near the Apostle’s tomb and reflect upon the extraordinary missionary whose witness carried the Gospel to the heart of the Roman world.
We will then continue to Tre Fontane (Three Fountains), the ancient site traditionally associated with the martyrdom of St. Paul.
According to tradition, when St. Paul was beheaded, his head struck the ground three times, and a spring arose at each place — giving Tre Fontane its name. Today, this peaceful monastic sanctuary offers pilgrims an opportunity to encounter the story of St. Paul’s final witness and martyrdom.
Nearby, we will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Revelation, connected with the extraordinary story of Bruno Cornacchiola and the reported apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1947.
In the quiet grotto where the apparitions are said to have occurred, we will learn the remarkable story of Cornacchiola’s conversion and the message of the Virgin of Revelation. It remains a treasured place of prayer and Marian devotion for the faithful of Rome.
Overnight Rome | Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 4: Thursday, December 23, 2027
Florence
Today, we will travel to Florence aboard one of Italy’s high-speed trains — a true Italian experience! Sit back and enjoy the journey as we speed through the beautiful Italian countryside toward Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance.
Known as Firenze in Italian, Florence is one of the world’s great cities of art, architecture and faith. Its magnificent churches and sacred masterpieces reveal the profound influence Christianity had on the Italian Renaissance.
We will visit some of Florence’s most iconic sacred sites:
- The Baptistery of St. John — one of the oldest religious buildings in Florence, renowned for its magnificent bronze doors, including Ghiberti’s celebrated Gates of Paradise.
- The Basilica of Santa Croce — a magnificent Franciscan basilica and the burial place of some of Italy’s most influential figures, including Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.
- The Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) — Florence’s magnificent cathedral, crowned by Brunelleschi’s celebrated dome. Here, in the heart of Florence, we will attend Holy Mass.
One of Tuscany’s finest guides, born and raised in the region, will lead us through the streets of Florence, bringing the city’s history, faith, art and culture to life as we walk through its historic center. Along the way, we will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and the picturesque Ponte Vecchio spanning the Arno River.
There will also be time to enjoy Florence on your own — perhaps stopping for lunch at a local trattoria, browsing the shops and markets, or simply wandering the beautiful streets of this remarkable Renaissance city.
In the late afternoon, we will board our high-speed train back to Rome, returning in time for dinner.
Overnight Rome | Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 5: Friday, December 24, 2027
Christmas Eve in Rome
Today, Christmas Eve, we will experience Rome as the Eternal City prepares to celebrate the birth of Christ.
We will visit the beautiful Nativity scenes near the Vatican, where the tradition of the presepe comes alive in remarkable displays depicting the birth of Jesus. The Nativity holds a special place in Italian Christmas tradition, dating back centuries and inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, who created the first living Nativity in Greccio in 1223.
The afternoon will be yours to spend at leisure. Enjoy time for prayer and reflection, explore Rome’s beautifully decorated streets and piazzas, or simply rest and prepare for the sacred celebration ahead.
This evening is one of the most anticipated moments of our pilgrimage. We will enter the magnificent Basilica of St. Peter to attend Christmas Eve Mass with Pope Leo.
Surrounded by the beauty and majesty of St. Peter’s, we will celebrate the birth of Christ through the sacred liturgy, beautiful music and timeless Scripture readings. To be gathered with the Holy Father and faithful from around the world, in the heart of the Catholic Church on Christmas Eve, will be a profound and unforgettable experience.
Buon Natale — Merry Christmas!
Overnight Rome | Breakfast and Lunch included
Day 6: Saturday, December 25, 2027
The Celebration of the Birth of Christ!
Today, we celebrate the great feast of Christmas — the Nativity of Our Lord!
We will begin this joyful day with Holy Mass in English at the Basilica of Santo Spirito in Sassia, Rome’s renowned Divine Mercy church near the Vatican. After Mass, we will make our way to St. Peter’s Square, where we will join the faithful gathered from around the world for Pope Leo’s Christmas Urbi et Orbi message and apostolic blessing.
Following the blessing, we will celebrate together over a special Christmas lunch at one of our favorite restaurants near the Vatican.
In the afternoon, we will enjoy a walking tour through the beautiful streets and piazzas of Baroque Rome, including a visit to the Basilica of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte and its extraordinary Chapel of the Madonna of the Miracle.
It was here in 1842 that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Alphonse Ratisbonne, a Jewish man who was strongly opposed to the Catholic faith. Our Lady appeared to him as she is depicted on the Miraculous Medal, and the encounter led to his remarkable conversion to Catholicism.
The apparition helped spread devotion to the Miraculous Medal throughout Italy, and the chapel became a beloved place of Marian pilgrimage. It holds another special connection to the Church’s saints: St. Maximilian Kolbe celebrated his first Mass here on April 29, 1918.
We will also visit the beautiful Chapel of Mater Admirabilis, near the Spanish Steps. The chapel is home to the beloved image of Mater Admirabilis — Mother Most Admirable — and offers a peaceful place for prayer amid the heart of Rome.
We will conclude our Christmas Day together with dinner in Rome, celebrating the joy of Christ’s birth and a remarkable day in the Eternal City.
Overnight Rome | Breakfast, Christmas Lunch, and Dinner included
Day 7: Sunday, December 26, 2027
The Sacred Churches of Rome
On this day after Christmas, we begin with Holy Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of Rome’s four Papal Basilicas and a church with a particularly beautiful connection to the Nativity of Our Lord.
Here we will venerate the relics traditionally associated with the manger of the Christ Child, preserved beneath the basilica’s high altar. We will also pray before the beloved Salus Populi Romani — Protectress of the Roman People, the ancient Marian icon that has held a special place in the spiritual life of Rome for centuries.
Following Mass, we will continue our pilgrimage through some of Rome’s most ancient and sacred churches — places that connect us to the Apostles, the earliest Christians, the Blessed Mother and the Passion of Christ.
We will visit the ancient Basilicas of St. Praxedes and St. Pudentiana, associated with two sisters from one of Rome’s earliest Christian families. According to tradition, their father, St. Pudens, was a Roman senator converted and baptized by St. Paul, who stayed in the family home while in Rome. Pudens is also mentioned by St. Paul in his Second Letter to Timothy.
At St. Praxedes, we will encounter one of Rome’s extraordinary early Christian churches, renowned for its magnificent Byzantine mosaics and the Column of the Flagellation, traditionally believed to be part of the pillar at which Christ was scourged.
The Basilica of St. Pudentiana, considered among Rome’s most ancient Christian places of worship, preserves the memory of the earliest generations of the Church in Rome and is also associated with a Eucharistic miracle traditionally dated to 1610.
A short distance from St. Mary Major, we will visit the Church of St. Alphonsus, home of the original icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Entrusted to the Redemptorists by Pope Pius IX, this beloved image of Our Lady has inspired devotion throughout the world.
Our pilgrimage continues to the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome and the oldest and highest-ranking of Rome’s four Papal Basilicas. For centuries, it served as the residence of the popes and remains one of the most important churches in Christendom.
Nearby, we will visit the Holy Stairs — the Scala Sancta. According to ancient tradition, these are the steps Jesus ascended in Jerusalem during His Passion before Pontius Pilate and were brought to Rome by St. Helena. Pilgrims have climbed these sacred steps on their knees in prayer for centuries.
We conclude at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme — Holy Cross in Jerusalem, one of Rome’s great churches of pilgrimage. Here we will have the opportunity to pray before and venerate relics traditionally associated with the Passion of Christ, including fragments of the True Cross, thorns associated with the Crown of Thorns, a nail, and a portion of the Titulus Crucis — the inscription associated with the Cross of Christ.
From the manger of Bethlehem to the Passion of Christ, this day takes us through the heart of the story of our salvation, preserved in some of Rome’s most sacred churches.
Overnight Rome | Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 8: Monday, December 27, 2027
Arrivederci Roma!
After breakfast, your private driver will transfer you from our hotel to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for your return journey home. Your individual airport transfer will be scheduled according to your flight departure time.
As our Christmas pilgrimage comes to an end, we say farewell to Rome — to the tomb of St. Peter, the sacred places where we have prayed, the beautiful liturgies we have celebrated, and the fellow pilgrims with whom we have shared our faith and these extraordinary days together.
We return home carrying with us the memories of Christmas in the Eternal City. Until we meet again on pilgrimage… Arrivederci, Roma!
Breakfast included
Tour Details & Guidelines
Important Information
- Deposit: A $750 non-refundable deposit per person is required at the time of booking. The deposit secures your place on the pilgrimage and will be applied toward the total pilgrimage cost.
- Walking: This pilgrimage requires some walking. We estimate walking up to 2 miles cumulatively throughout each day. We will do our best to mitigate this for those in need with private drivers and taxis; there may be times when this is not possible.
- Terms and Conditions: Before you book your trip with us, please read our Terms and Conditions carefully
- Discounts: Use EARLY when you register on or before Saturday, February 27, 2027, to receive a $150.00 discount. Contact us to inquire about any applicable discounts.
Contact Information:
- Phone: +1(202) 536-4555
- Mon-Fri : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm ET.
- Email: Pilgrimages@InsideTheVatican.com.
- WhatsApp: +1(540) 631-4392