Overview
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Small Group Discovery
Each Cosmos faith-based vacation is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Cosmos escorted vacation, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
Save £150 per couple
Book a 2021 Cosmos tour before 28th February and you’ll save £150 per couple.
See offer details2021 Tour itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Total meals included:
- 13 breakfasts, 7 dinners
ARRIVE IN MILAN, ITALY.
Day1
Check into your hotel and spend free time exploring this busy city on your own before meeting your tour companions and Tour Director for an included welcome dinner at your hotel.
Meals included:
- Dinner
MILAN
Day2
Dedicate the morning to Milan's most important Catholic churches: ST AMBROSE BASILICA and the DUOMO.Celebrate M Mass and admire the treasures of the Basilica and the Duomo with a Local Guide.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
MILAN–TURIN.
Day3
Turin is known in the Catholic community worldwide as the home of the Holy Shroud, only available to the public on very special occasions, and St. John Bosco, the priest who founded the Salesian religious institute. Your visit includes the HOLY SHROUD MUSEUM, the BASILICA OF ST. MARY AUSILIATRICE, and the CAMERETTE DI DON BOSCO. 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
Meals included:
- Breakfast
TURIN–PAVIA–SIRMIONE–PADUA
Day4
Pavia is home to 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 and monks who still live a traditional life of seclusion and prayer. On the way to Padua, you’ll also stop in Sirmione, a charming village on Lake Garda, with a medieval peninsula protected by walls and a bridge connecting it to the mainland.
Today's Distance: 245 mi / 395 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
PADUA–POMPOSA–RAVENNA
Day5
Attend morning M Mass at ST. ANTHONY BASILICA in Padua and enjoy a visit with a local guide, followed by a short city sightseeing 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
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
RAVENNA–ROME.
Day6
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 monuments. All buildings—the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the NEONIAN BAPTISTRY, the BASILICA OF SANT’APOLLINARE NUOVO, the CHURCH OF SAN VITALE, and the ARCHBISHOP’S CHAPEL OF ST. ANDREW—were constructed in the 5th and 6th centuries. They show great artistic skill, including a wonderful blend of Greek-Roman tradition, Christian iconography, and oriental 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
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ROME
Day7
Today you have the unique chance to attend the PAPAL AUDIENCE in the Vatican (subject to availability). Afterwards, enjoy an included city tour with a local guide to see the BASILICA OF ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS, where St. Paul was buried after his martyrdom, ST. JOHN LATERAN BASILICA, the Cathedral of Rome and the seat of its Bishop (the Pope) famous for the Holy Stairs. Said to have led Jesus to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate, the stairs were transferred to Rome by St. Empress Helena. Finally, visit ST. MARY MAJOR BASILICA, where a reliquary contains wood from the Holy Crib. Attend M Mass here before returning to your hotel.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ROME.
Day8
Visit the PAPAL SUMMER RESIDENCE in Castel Gandolfo. Wander through its GARDENS, an opportunity to reflect and meditate in quiet and relaxing surroundings. Walk through the rooms where many Popes have spent the summer months in the cooler countryside on the hills outside Rome. Later, you can join the optional excursion that will take you back to St. Peter’s to discover the treasures of the Vatican museum, or you can spend time at leisure enjoying the many monuments of Roman heritage.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ROME–PIETRELCINA–SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
Day9
Dedicate the morning to an orientation of Imperial Rome with a local guide. Then, start your journey southward to stop in quaint Pietrelcina, to visit the house where the beloved St. Pio was born, and continue towards San Giovanni Rotondo on the eastern coast, the Saint’s home from 1916 until his death in 1968.
Today's Distance: 255 mi / 410 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO. EXCURSION TO MONTE SANT’ANGELO
Day10
Attend M Mass this morning at SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE (Old Church), then visit the FRIARY of St. Pio, including his tomb, cell, confessional, and ST. PIO'S PILGRIMAGE CHURCH (New Church). Afterwards, take a short drive to the nearby SHRINE OF MONTE SANT’ANGELO, one of Christendom’s most celebrated shrines and where St. Michael the Archangel appeared in 490, 492, and 1656.
Today's Distance: 43 mi / 70 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO–LANCIANO–LORETO–ASSISI AREA.
Day11
Visit ST. FRANCIS’ church in Lanciano, home of the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle, and attend morning M Mass. Continue to the LORETO SANCTUARY, including the HOLY HOUSE, where, according to tradition, angels transported the home of the blessed Virgin Mary. Arrive at the hilltop village of Assisi, home of St. Francis and St. Clare.
Today's Distance: 298 mi / 480 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ASSISI
Day12
Today, learn more about St. Francis, patron saint of animals and the environment. Attend early morning M Mass at ST. FRANCIS BASILICA, famous for its 14th-century Giotto paintings depicting the life of St. Francis. Meet your Local Guide and visit the UPPER and LOWER BASILICAS of St. Francis and the BASILICA OF ST. CLARE, founder of the Order of Poor Clares. Next, visit the BASILICA of Santa Maria degli Angeli, situated at the foot of Assisi’s hills and protecting the Porziuncola, where St. Francis is said to have founded the Order of Friars Minor in 1209, and the Cappella del Transito, where the Saint died in 1226.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ASSISI AREA–CASCIA–ROME
Day13
Travel to Cascia this morning, situated in Umbria and home of St. Rita, the “Patron Saint of Impossible Causes.” Visit the SANCTUARY and see the Major Basilica, the chapel that houses the tomb of St. Rita. Also, see the Minor Basilica, home of the Eucharistic Miracle that is commemorated each year with the Feast of Corpus Christi. Return to Rome for a final overnight stay.
Today's Distance: 149 mi / 240 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ROME
Day14
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Things to note
Departure September 14 Anniversary of St Pio's Passing - No Papal audience on this departure.Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
Starhotels Business Palace
Superior First-Class
An icon of industry transformed into a landmark of luxury. This 247-room hotel is set inside a converted early 1900s factory and facilities include a fully-equipped fitness room which boasts a panoramic view of the city, two verdant internal courtyards and a lounge bar with a billiards table. A rich menu and a wide selection of wines featuring intriguing labels from Italian vineyards can be enjoyed in the restaurant and Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout.
Location
Via privata Pietro Gaggia, 3, Milano, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Fitness Room
- Pool
- Concierge desk
- Currency Exchange
- Laundry Available
- Business Center
- Bar/Lounge
- Luggage Storage
- Restaurant On-Site
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- In-Room Safe
- Alarm Clock
- Coffee Maker
- Window Opens
- Internet Access
- Room Service
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Smoking Rooms
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Mini-bar
- Wake-Up Calls
- Phone
- Climate Control
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
Holiday Inn Corso Francia
First-Class
A 130-room modern hotel with spacious common areas. There is a 24-hour mini-gym on site, an airy restaurant and a lobby bar. The old city center is a short ride away from the metro station located opposite the property and there is easy access to the main motorway. Turin Sandro Pertini Airport is only 25 km away.
Location
Piazza Massaua, 21, Turin, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Bar/Lounge
- ATM
- Luggage Storage
- Fitness Room
- Laundry Available
- Free WiFi
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Mini-bar
- Television
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Cable/Satellite
- Internet Access
- Hair Dryer
- Phone
- Climate Control
- Coffee Maker
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Room Service
- Complimentary Toiletries
Hotel NH Padova
First-Class
NH Padova hotel (formerly known as NH Mantegna) is an easy walk from Padua's historic center, and just 900 meters from the city's main train station. The hotel itself is a modern affair that blends comfort with cutting-edge design. It was originally named after the painter Andrea Mantegna and is dotted with reproductions of his work. The hotel's 190 rooms are stylishly appointed and the in-house restaurant offers stunning city views and a daily breakfast buffet, as well as incredible food and wine from all over Italy with specialities from the local region. There's also a stylish lounge bar for late-night cocktails.
Location
Via Niccolo Tommaseo, 61, Padova, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Business Center
- Fitness Room
- Restaurant On-Site
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
- Free WiFi
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Climate Control
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Room Service
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Desk
- Window Opens
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Mini-bar
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- In-Room Safe
- Alarm Clock
- Air Conditioning
- Wake-Up Calls
- Complimentary Toiletries
NH Ravenna
Moderate First-Class
Set in the historic center of the city close to the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and within walking distance of Ravenna's main attractions, this pleasant property boasts 84 guestrooms with modern furnishings and comforts including satellite TV, in-room safe, hair dryer, minibar, and free Wi-Fi. The property comes with a 24-hour bar and an informal restaurant featuring a wide selection of both traditional Italian cuisine and local specialties.
Location
Piazza Mameli 1, Ravenna, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Business Center
- Concierge desk
- Restaurant On-Site
- Laundry Available
- Bar/Lounge
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Phone
- Room Service
- Internet Access
- Mini-bar
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Cable/Satellite
- In-Room Safe
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Climate Control
- Desk
- Television
Club House
Superior Tourist-Class
Hotel Club House is located in a quiet area behind Rome's Via Aurelia, 100 m from Rome's Cornelia Metro Station and 3 stops away from the Vatican City (2 from the Vatican Museums). All 105 guestrooms boast simple but elegant design furnishings in warm colors and Italian woods and offer air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and satellite TV. Breakfast is a buffet of fresh cakes and pastries and the in-house bar serves a range of refreshing wines, exotic cocktails, and snacks.
Location
Via Andrea Alciato, 14/16, Rome, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Concierge desk
- Luggage Storage
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Mini-bar
- Climate Control
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- Room Service
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- Television
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
Pineta Palace
Moderate First-Class
The Hotel Pineta Palace is a 4-star hotel in Rome, located not far from Vatican City.
Location
Via San Lino Papa, Roma, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Ice Machine
- Currency Exchange
- Restaurant On-Site
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
- Fitness Room
- Business Center
- Elevator
- Parking/Valet
- Concierge desk
- Bar/Lounge
- Gift Shop
Room Facilities
- Mini-bar
- Wake-Up Calls
- Desk
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Air Conditioning
- Phone
- Window Opens
- Cable/Satellite
- Alarm Clock
- In-Room Safe
- Internet Access
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- Television
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Hair Dryer
Parco Delle Rose
First-Class
This family-run, 205-room hotel boasts a large outdoor area with an Olympic-size swimming pool, a wonderful sun terrace and a room with a grand piano. The in-house restaurant offers both traditional and international cuisine and Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the property.
Location
Viale Also Moro, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Pool
- Luggage Storage
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant On-Site
- Laundry Available
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Room Service
- Alarm Clock
- Cable/Satellite
- Mini-bar
- Hair Dryer
- Television
- In-Room Safe
- Climate Control
- Window Opens
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Wake-Up Calls
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Phone
Casa Leonori
First-Class
Casa Leonori is located in Santa Maria degli Angeli, facing the Subasio Hills on which lies the Assisi Basilica. This 60-room hotel is set in its own courtyard and boasts a a gourmet restaurant and spacious communal areas. The adjacent courtyard offers a nice alternative to relax with its green and peaceful location. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property.
Location
Via G. Borsi, 11 / 13, Santa Maria Degli Angeli, Assisi, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Elevator
- Restaurant On-Site
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
Room Facilities
- Window Opens
- Room Service
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Alarm Clock
- Air Conditioning
- Television
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Climate Control
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Wake-Up Calls
- In-Room Safe
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
