Your flight arrives in Amsterdam at 6:00am. You connect to KLM 1651 to Florence, departing at 8:40am and arriving at 10:40am. A private coach will take us for a scenic overlook of the city an a celebratory welcome lunch at Terrazze Michelangelo. After lunch, we will check in to our hotel where you'll have some time to rest and settle in before we gather at St. James Episcopal Church for opening worship and reflections. Overnight at Hotel delle Nazioni, Florence.

Expecting that many travelers have visited Florence before, today’s schedule offers a morning tour focused on connections with St. Francis including Santa Trinita and Santa Croce churches. In the afternoon, you can explore Florence at your leisure. (Advance tickets are recommended for the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, and interior of sites related to the Duomo.) You can enjoy lunch and dinner at any of the city’s lovely restaurants. Overnight at Hotel delle Nazioni, Florence.

Today we’ll explore nearby Siena, a beautifully preserved medieval city in Tuscany, renowned for its stunning Gothic architecture, deep-rooted history, and as the home of Saint Catherine of Siena, a revered 14th-century mystic. We’ll have a half-day walking tour including the Basilica of San Domenico (housing Catherine’s relics), the Siena Cathedral, the Piazza del Campo, and many of Siena’s medieval streets. After lunch (on your own), you’ll be free to explore those streets and find your own favorite corner of Siena. Return to Florence for a casual pizza dinner (included) and overnight at Hotel delle Nazioni, Florence.

We’ll depart in the morning for Assisi, stopping at La Verna, where St. Francis received the stigmata. After time for lunch (on your own) we’ll visit the La Verna Sanctuary.  While the direct walk to the Sanctuary is about 15 minutes up a steep hill, we will take a more indirect route, spending about two hours hiking to the top. There is a bus available for those who do not want to hike. We will arrive by 3pm, in time to join the brothers for the procession from the church to the Chapel of the Stigmata. Following our time at La Verna, we’ll proceed to Assisi. Dinner (included) and overnight at Asisium Boutique Hotel, Assisi.

For our time in Assisi, we will begin each day with morning worship and a conversation around key themes in the life and ministry of St. Francis and St. Clare. Today provides an introduction to their lives and call to the monastic life. We explore these themes further with visits to the San Damiano Church where Francis first heard God call him to “Go and repair my church.” The church later became the convent for Clare and her young order of nuns. After lunch (included), we will have a walking tour of Assisi’s Medieval center including the end with a visit to St. Francis Basilica, the final resting place of this humble saint. Return to the hotel for dinner (included) and overnight at Asisium Boutique Hotel, Assisi.

We’ll have a restful morning before joining the San Leonardo Anglican congregation for the morning Eucharist. After lunch (included), we’ll visit the Ermeo di Carceri, a sanctuary where St. Francis and his followers retreated from the city. You have the option to hike from Assisi, for an hour and a half, or take a minibus to the top. Return to Assisi in the late afternoon for dinner (on your own) and overnight at Asisium Boutique Hotel, Assisi.

Francis and Clare committed themselves to lives of radical simplicity and service to others. In the morning we will explore these themes together both in their historical context and as they relate to our lives today. In the morning, we will visit the Basilica of Rivotorto, in the valley just below Assisi, where Francis and his early followers lived together in poverty and walked to the nearby hospitals to serve the lepers. We’ll then walk 2km through the countryside to the churches of San Rufino d’Arce and Mary Maddelena. Here we will have an opportunity to visit with the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Susa to learn how they are carrying out the mission of St. Francis today. After a picnic lunch (included) we will visit Santa Maria degli Angeli. Under the dome of this magnificent basilica sits the humble stone church where Francis carried out most of his ministry in Assisi. Those who wish can return to medieval Assisi via the 3km pilgrim path; others can use the coach. Dinner on your own. Overnight at Asisium Boutique Hotel, Assisi.

We depart Assisi for a visit to the Umbrian countryside and reflection upon Francis’ love of the natural work and care for creation. In the mid-morning, we arrive in Greccio, where St. Francis staged the first living Nativity at the Santuario Eremo di Greccio. The use of live animals in a nativity was significant as an expression that all creatures are part of God’s care and have a role in God’s plan. We’ll spend time at the church and have an opportunity to visit the International Nativity Museum, housed in the church. We’ll then visit a local winery for a tour, tasting, and festive lunch. We return to Assisi in the early evening for free time in the city and dinner on your own. Overnight at Asisium Boutique Hotel, Assisi.

Francis is often regarded as a reformer of the medieval Roman church; however, he also sought Rome’s blessing and received their financial support for his ministry. Today we will explore themes of reform and consider how we embrace personal change or press for institutional change in our world today. Today will will finish our visits in Assisi with the Basilica of St. Clare. This basilica was built after Clare's death to accommodate her growing order and the many pilgrims who came to venerate her relics. You'll have the afternoon free in Assisi before we regather for closing worship and dinner (included) on our last night in Assisi. Overnight at Asisium Boutique Hotel, Assisi. 

We’ll have an early breakfast at the hotel before departing for Rome. We will depart Assisi around 7am, travel to Rome, and depart Rome on Delta flight 231 at 12:20pm, arriving at JFK at 4:10pm. Flight numbers and times are subject to change.