ITALY: Rome and Assisi

with Stella Mar Pilgrimages

September 26 to 30, 2020

With optional Medjugorje pilgrimage add-on (Sept 30 to Oct 7, 2020)

Special Guest: Denison Witmer

Singer/songwriter Denison Witmer’s beautiful music is featured in our films Apparition Hill, Where There Is Darkness, and the upcoming Mary’s Meals documentary. In Apparition Hill, Denison’s beautiful song about St. Francis of Assisi, titled Little Flowers, plays during the film’s most poignant scene (listen below). Also see the music video for Denison’s song Augustine, which he wrote for Where There Is Darkness, below. Denison has been working on a full album about the life of St. Francis of Assisi, and this trip will be a special way to prepare for the album’s release.

Group leaders for this special trip include Sean Bloomfield, Cimela Kidonakis, and other team members from Stella Mar Films, plus Marija Paulic (co-founder of the Croatian Mir Center and owner of the The Two Hearts Hotel in Medjugorje). Space is very limited as we intend for this trip to be a more intimate pilgrimage for everyone, so we recommend that you register early.

ITALY ITINERARY

SEPTEMBER 25th (Friday) | USA – ROME: Depart USA on a transatlantic flight(s) to Rome, Italy.

SEPTEMBER 26th (Saturday) | ROME: Arrive Rome. Transfer to your hotel. Holy Mass. Dinner and overnight.

SEPTEMBER 27th (Sunday) | ROME – ASSISI: Breakfast. Morning transfer to St Peter’s Basilica to attend Pope Francis’ “Angelus” prayer and blessing. Free time for Lunch. Holy Mass. Transfer to Assisi. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

SEPTEMBER 28th (Monday) | ASSISI – ROME: Breakfast. Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, and the Basilica of St Claire. After lunch, visit San Damiano Church where Jesus came to life from the crucifix and spoke to Francis, and then on to the Cathedral Church of San Rufino to pray at the baptismal font where Francis and Clare were baptized. Transfer to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels to visit and have Mass in the Portiuncola Chapel where Jesus and Mary appeared to St. Francis. Transfer to Rome. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

SEPTEMBER 29th (Tuesday) | ROME: Breakfast. Vatican Gardens Tour behind the Pope’s residence with our private guide, tour of Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Free time for lunch. Afternoon tour of Rome’s Basilicas, including St. Mary Maggiore and St. John Lateran, Santa Scala (Holy Steps of Pilate) and short stop at the Roman Coliseum. Dinner and overnight.

SEPTEMBER 30th (Wednesday) | ROME – DEPART TO MEDJUGORJE OR USA: Breakfast. Enjoy some free time for shopping and personal activities. Holy Mass. Afternoon transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino airport. For those traveling with us to Medjugorje, we will catch a 6:00PM flight to Split, Croatia. Upon arrival, transfer to Medjugorje for dinner and overnight.

THE ITALY PACKAGE INCLUDES:

All airfare and taxes
4 nights accommodations in 4 star hotels in Rome and Assisi
4 nights accommodations at Mirjana Soldo’s guest house
Breakfast and dinner daily at top restaurants
Bottled water, wine and soft drinks with dinner
Airport transfers in Italy
English speaking tour guide
All touring and sightseeing as specified in the itinerary
Daily Holy Mass
Entrance fees where applicable
All local taxes and airline fees.
Not included: tips, lunches, travel insurance.

ITALY + MEDJUGORJE (recommended)

Continue the pilgrimage with our Sept 30 to Oct 7 trip to Medjugorje. With this combination, you’ll travel to Medjugorje directly from Italy with the Stella Mar team.

Starting price for Italy+Medjugorje Package with airfare from the USA: $4,195

Single room supplement for Italy+Medjugorje Package: $680

ITALY+MEDJUGORJE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

All of the package details listed in the Italy-only pilgrimage, plus:
3 nights accommodations in double rooms at the Two Hearts Hotel in Medjugorje
4 nights accommodations at Mirjana Soldo’s guest house
Breakfast and dinner daily
Bottled water, wine and soft drinks with dinner
Airport transfers in Croatia (to and from airport)
English speaking tour guide (Miki Musa)
All touring and sightseeing as specified in the itinerary
Daily Holy Mass
Meetings with visionaries and parish priests in Medjugorje
All local taxes and airline fees.
Not included: tips, lunches, travel insurance

*See our Medjugorje trip page for more details about the Sept 30 to Oct 7 trip to Medjugorje!

VIDEOS AND MORE

Music Video for Augustine by Denison Witmer

as seen in our film Where There Is Darkness

We traveled to Rome and Assisi with Denison Witmer while filming Where There Is Darkness and Cross Mountain, and some of the footage is featured in this music video.

Denison Witmer in Assisi with Stella Mar Films

LITTLE FLOWERS (featured in Apparition Hill)

Learn more about the St. Francis and Assisi connection to Where There Is Darkness

St. Francis Connection to Fr. Rene