Saint Monica, Padre Pio &
The Holy Sites of Italy`
8-11 Days
8 days/7 nights - TBD
11 days/10 nights - TBD
Couples, Friends, and Solos
Jul 02 - 10th, 2027
Jul 02 - 13th, 2027
All breakfasts and (5)dinners
All breakfasts and (7)dinners
Premier Hotel & Meals
Saint Monica, Padre Pio & the Holy Sites of Italy: A Rome & Puglia Pilgrimage
Travel to Rome and Puglia for a 7-10 day spiritual journey of the soul, hosted by Sister Melissa Mastrangelo. Begin with four classic days immersed in the Eternal City's holy sites, sounds, and food — the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Basilica San Clemente, and Piazza Venezia fill the soul between pilgrimage stops, with countless pizza and gelato shops along the way. Make a pilgrimage to St. Monica, the Patron Saint of Mothers, at San Agostino, also home to Caravaggio's Pilgrim's Madonna, before visiting St. Vincent, Moses & Peter in Chains, the Borgia Stairs, St. Ignazio's famous dome, the Arch Basilicas, and the Holy Stairs. Marvel in the majesty of Mass at St. Peter's Square & Basilica, walk beside the Holy Doors, and soak in the splendor of the Sistine Chapel — all paired with the best Italian food and wine of your life in small, authentically-local trattorias. From Rome, travel to Puglia for three days of jubilation, visiting St. Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo and his birthplace in Pietrelcina, viewing his incorruptible body, and learning about his holy stigmata in the spectacular modern Sanctuary. See the astounding UNESCO St. Michael the Archangel cave on Mt. Gargano, savor the incredible tastes of Puglia, and save time for shopping before heading home overflowing with fulfillment — or extend the journey three more blessed days into Abruzzo, witnessing the world's first Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano, Veronica's Veil in Manoppello, a meal at a Trabocco "restaurant on a pier" in San Vito Chietino, and a final day of shopping in the medieval hill town of L'Aquila.
Highlights
Travel to Rome and Puglia for a 7-10 day spiritual journey of the soul, guided by Sister Melissa Mastrangelo.
Enjoy 4 classic days of spiritual sites, sounds, and food from the Eternal City, including the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Basilica San Clemente, Piazza Venezia, and countless pizza and gelato shops.
Make a pilgrimage to St. Monica, the Patron Saint of Mothers, at San Agostino, also home to Caravaggio's famed Pilgrim's Madonna in the heart of Rome
Visit St. Vincent, Moses & Peter in Chains, the Borgia Stairs, St. Ignazio's famous dome, the Arch Basilicas, and the Holy Stairs, each leaving a mark on your soul.
Enjoy the best Italian food and wine of your life in small, authentically-local, thoughtfully-chosen trattorias.
Marvel in the majesty of Mass at St. Peter's Square & Basilica, walk beside the Holy Doors, and soak in the splendor of the Sistine Chapel.
Travel to Puglia for 3 days of jubilation, visiting St. Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo and his birthplace in Pietrelcina, viewing his incorruptible body, and learning about his holy stigmata in the spectacular modern Sanctuary.
See the astounding UNESCO St. Michael the Archangel cave on Mt. Gargano, enjoy the incredible tastes of Puglia, and save time for shopping.
Optional extension: Stay 3 more blessed days in Abruzzo to witness the world's first Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano and Veronica's Veil in Manoppello.
Optional extension continued: Visit sparkling San Vito Chietino on the sea, dine at an unforgettable Trabocco "restaurant on a pier," and spend a final celebratory day of shopping in the medieval hill town of L'Aquila, the beating heart of Abruzzo.
Who’s Your Host?
Captain Joe Sacchetti is a U.S. Army Ranger-qualified paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne and author of Guts, Smarts & Love, who served 2 tours in Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star for actions in combat.
Today, Joe serves as President of the Lumen Institute's Philly Chapter where he leads Catholic businessmen in their journey towards spiritual prosperity. With his love of travel, Joe also serves the role of Pilgrimage Minister to several Catholic churches in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, bringing groups of people on tours to follow along the footsteps of the Saints.
A Track & Field All-American and Welterweight Boxing Champ in the 82nd Airborne, Joe escorted the Olympic torch through his Pennsylvania hometown in 1980 on the way to Lake Placid as a kid, and from that moment knew he wanted to see the world!
After MIT’s Business Exec Ed program, Joe started Highroads Traveler to make sophisticated global travel easily accessible to small groups of 20 by “hosting” them, now via Legacy Collectibles.
It’s rare to mesh the world of combat vet and sophisticated traveler, yet Joe is on a journey to be the world’s first Army Ranger to visit every country on the globe. 160 out of 227 so far, and it’s much more than stamping a passport.
Connecting with people around the globe in their language makes every trip more fun. From European roots, Joe is comfortable in half a dozen or so, and always learning more.
Playing music is another fantastic people connector so he & his wife Domenica always keep an eye out for a piano to gather round at happy hour. It doesn’t take much nudging from her to get Joe to play either!
Why “Hosted?”
Go with a Pro.
You’ve saved up and are ready to take the trip of a lifetime. Do you really have time to plan all the details and get it all perfect? If yes, great! Yet for most, pretty much no way. And how about when you get there making your way to the best hotels, sites and restaurants? Most say… daunting. Our solution – let’s go together and make your greatest trip ever.
“Taste, touch and see what the world has to offer” is Joe & Domenica’s mantra, and now you’re invited to come share the journey to the best places in the world with their small-group hosted tours.
Day by Day
Day 1
Rome- Arrive in the Eternal City and check into your hotel, then step straight into Rome's timeless energy. Visit the Trevi Fountain, its baroque sculptures and cascading waters as breathtaking as the legends surrounding it toss a coin over your shoulder for the tradition that supposedly guarantees your return to Rome someday.
From there, make your way to the Spanish Steps, one of the city's most iconic gathering places, where locals and pilgrims alike pause to take in the view from the top.
Wander into Basilica San Clemente, a remarkable church built in layers a 12th-century basilica sitting atop a 4th-century church, which itself sits atop an ancient Roman house and pagan temple. Descending through its levels feels like descending through centuries of faith itself.
Continue on to Piazza Venezia, the bustling square anchored by the massive Vittorio Emanuele II Monument, before letting the evening unwind with your first taste of authentic Roman pizza and gelato a fitting, joyful welcome to Italy.
Day 2
Rome- Make a deeply personal pilgrimage to St. Monica, the Patron Saint of Mothers, at the Basilica of San Agostino. Standing before her relics is a powerful moment, especially for mothers and families carrying intentions and prayers for loved ones — St. Monica's own story of persistent, faithful prayer for her son (who would become St. Augustine) resonates across sixteen centuries.
The basilica is also home to Caravaggio's celebrated Pilgrim's Madonna, a masterpiece of light and devotion.
In the afternoon, visit St. Vincent, Moses & Peter in Chains, home to Michelangelo's towering statue of Moses, one of his most powerful sculptural achievements.
From there, ascend the ornate Borgia Stairs and marvel at St. Ignazio's famous painted dome, a masterwork of trompe-l'oeil illusion that makes a flat ceiling appear to soar into open sky. Visit the Arch Basilicas before climbing the Holy Stairs, believed by tradition to be the very steps Christ ascended during His Passion in Pontius Pilate's palace many pilgrims climb them on their knees in prayer, an experience that leaves a profound and lasting mark on the soul.
Day 3
Rome- Today is set aside for savoring Rome at a gentler, more reflective pace. Enjoy the best Italian food and wine of your life in small, authentically-local, thoughtfully-chosen trattorias, tucked away from the tourist crowds in neighborhoods where recipes have been passed down for generations.
This is a day for lingering meals, unhurried conversation, and quiet reflection on the sacred sites already visited Rome has a way of settling into your bones once you finally slow down enough to let it.
Whether that means a long lunch over handmade pasta, an afternoon espresso in a quiet piazza, or simply wandering without an agenda, today is built for rest and gratitude before the pilgrimage's most anticipated day arrives.
Day 4
Rome- Marvel in the majesty of Mass at St. Peter's Square & Basilica, the spiritual and physical heart of the Catholic Church and the largest church on Earth. Walk beside the Holy Doors, opened only during Jubilee years and Holy Years as a powerful symbol of pilgrimage, grace, and mercy.
Step inside the Vatican Museums and arrive at the crown jewel of the visit: the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's ceiling and Last Judgment fresco remain as awe-inspiring today as they were over 500 years ago.
Standing beneath that ceiling, surrounded by centuries of devotion and artistic genius, is often described by pilgrims as one of the most moving moments of the entire trip — a fitting, breathtaking close to your time in Rome before Puglia awaits.
Day 5
Puglia- Travel to Puglia with jubilation in your heart, leaving Rome behind for the sun-drenched region on Italy's southeastern coast. Arrive in San Giovanni Rotondo, home to the Sanctuary of St. Padre Pio, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.
Stand before his incorruptible body, preserved and displayed for the faithful, and learn about his holy stigmata, the wounds of Christ that Padre Pio bore for over fifty years, drawing millions of pilgrims seeking his intercession, healing, and blessing.
The scale and modern architecture of the Sanctuary itself is striking, a soaring contemporary structure built specifically to receive the massive crowds that continue to visit decades after his death — a testament to how deeply his life of suffering and holiness touched the world.
Day 6
Puglia- Continue your Padre Pio pilgrimage with a visit to Pietrelcina, his humble birthplace, tucked into the Campanian hills. Here, the pace slows considerably — narrow streets, modest stone houses, and the small church where he was baptized offer a quieter, more intimate glimpse into the life of the man before he became known throughout the world as a living saint.
Spend the day in prayer and reflection, tracing the roots of a boy from a poor farming family whose faith would go on to transform millions of lives across the globe. It's a humbling contrast to the grandeur of San Giovanni Rotondo, and many pilgrims find this quieter day just as meaningful.
Day 7
Puglia- See the astounding UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel, built into a natural cave on Mt. Gargano.
This has been a site of pilgrimage since the 5th century, making it one of the oldest continuously venerated Christian shrines in Western Europe — tradition holds that the Archangel Michael himself appeared here, consecrating the cave as holy ground.
Enjoy the incredible tastes of Puglia — its olive oils, burrata, and orecchiette pasta are among the finest in Italy and save a little time for shopping, picking up local ceramics, olive oil, or religious keepsakes to bring home. Head home overflowing with fulfillment after a blessed journey... or continue on to Abruzzo for three more days of pilgrimage.
Day 8
Puglia- Spend your final day in Puglia at a gentler pace, giving the pilgrimage room to breathe after the emotional weight of San Giovanni Rotondo, Pietrelcina, and Mt. Gargano. Enjoy a leisurely morning exploring one of Puglia's charming towns — perhaps the whitewashed streets of a nearby borgo, or a slow coastal drive along the Adriatic, taking in the region's sun-bleached beauty at your own pace.
Savor a long, unhurried Puglian lunch featuring the region's celebrated cuisine — orecchiette pasta, fresh burrata, and olive oils pressed from centuries-old groves — paired with local wine. Use the afternoon for final shopping, picking up handmade ceramics, olive oil, or religious keepsakes tied to Padre Pio to bring home as lasting reminders of this leg of the journey.
As the sun sets over Puglia, take a quiet moment to reflect on the profound days spent walking in Padre Pio's footsteps, before continuing north into Abruzzo tomorrow for the pilgrimage's final chapter.
Day 9
Abruzzo- Travel to Lanciano to witness the world's first Eucharistic Miracle, dating back to the 8th century, when a doubting monk is said to have watched the consecrated host and wine physically transform into human flesh and blood during Mass — the relics remain preserved and venerated in the town's basilica to this day, subjected to modern scientific study that has only deepened the mystery.
From there, continue to Manoppello to see the Holy Face of Manoppello, a delicate veil believed by many scholars and pilgrims to bear the miraculous, unpainted imprint of Christ's face.
Day 10
Abruzzo- Visit the sparkling coastal town of San Vito Chietino, perched dramatically above the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea. This charming stretch of coastline, often called the "Costa dei Trabocchi," is dotted with centuries-old wooden fishing platforms that once supported entire fishing families, using an ingenious system of nets, pulleys, and stilted wooden walkways to catch fish without ever setting out to sea.
Today, many of these historic Trabocchi have been lovingly restored and transformed into extraordinary restaurants, and you'll dine at one of the finest — a rustic wooden platform extending directly out over the water, waves crashing beneath your feet as you're served course after course of the freshest seafood imaginable, paired with local Abruzzese wine.
It's a dining experience unlike anything else in Italy: part meal, part maritime history lesson, and entirely unforgettable. Take time before or after your meal to stroll along the coastline, breathe in the salt air, and take in views that stretch endlessly across the Adriatic.
Day 11
Abruzzo- Spend your final day in the spectacular medieval hill town of L'Aquila, the beating heart of Abruzzo and its historic regional capital. Wander through stone streets and grand piazzas that have witnessed centuries of history, including the town's remarkable resilience and restoration following the devastating 2009 earthquake — a powerful, living reminder of faith and perseverance that fits beautifully into the spirit of this entire pilgrimage.
Browse L'Aquila's artisan shops for one last round of celebratory shopping — look for local saffron, handcrafted lace, and traditional Abruzzese ceramics, all specialties of the region. Enjoy a final leisurely lunch in one of the town's historic squares, savoring the last flavors of Abruzzo before the journey draws to a close.
As the day winds down, take a quiet moment to reflect on everything this pilgrimage has held: the sacred stairs and relics of Rome, the incorruptible body and humble birthplace of Padre Pio, the ancient cave shrine on Mt. Gargano, and the miracles and coastal beauty of Abruzzo. Depart for home carrying a soul overflowing with fulfillment, grace, and memories that will last a lifetime. God bless your journey.
What's Included
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All Breakfasts, Selected Lunches, Selected Dinners
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Bon Voyage gift(s) for your International Tour
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Expertise and service from your Highroads Traveler Host, Joe
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Additional regional guides and experts on several trips
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Comprehensive Trip Detailer with all-you-need-to-know info
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Guided tours at historic sites and select attractions as noted in the Trip Detailer
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All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
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Special events, including wine tastings and select attractions as mentioned in the Trip Detailer
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Park and other entry fees
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Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Trip Detailer
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Select coach transfers
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Baggage transfers
Not Included:
Leader gratuities, transportation to and from your Highroads Traveler trip start & end locations, and on-your-own meals & activities.
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Gallery & Testimonials
As an Army Ranger for 25 years, I served as Joe Sacchetti‘s 2nd-in- command during Desert Storm, and there is nowhere in the world that I wouldn’t follow him, He cares about people. If I had the money, I would go on every trip he takes.
Master Sergeant Al A. , 45th anniversary D-Day (1994) Jump Team, Army Ranger, Green Beret, Bronze Star, Master Parachutist
We first met Joe on the island of Martinique while he was leading his group on a New Year’s trip. Ooh la la, he lives life like a true Frenchman! C’est Bon, such joeux de vie!
Christian C. , Sergeant, French Maritime Marines
