Join Unity Catholic High School, Minneapolis MN

A Spring Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi

March 7 – 15, 2025

$2600 LAND-ONLY  (Airfare to be arranged April 2024)

This pilgrimage features eight nights in Rome and one day-trip to Assisi. Daily Mass – the cornerstone of each day – will be complemented by a rich touring program that will immerse the pilgrims in the incredible history, heritage and relics of our Catholic Faith. Highlights include an Audience with the Holy Father in Saint Peter’s Square, the Papal Basilicas of Rome, the Catacombs, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon, the Basilicas of Saint Francis and Saint Clare in Assisi and the incorrupt body of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Roundtrip airfare from Minneapolis and centrally-located accommodations will be arranged. A ProRome tour manager will accompany the group throughout the course of the pilgrimage, and private bus transportation, Catholic tour guides, all tours, tickets and gratuities, and daily breakfast and an additional daily meal are included in the price.

 

THIS TRIP IS LIMITED TO 50 PILGRIMS AND IS EXPECTED TO FILL QUICKLY. REGISTER NOW BELOW. 

Trip Highlights

A Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square, the Scavi Tour of St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museums are included, as are visits to the tombs of Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Francis, Saint Clare, Blessed Carlo Acutis, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and so many more.

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St. Paul Outside the Walls

Welcome to Rome! Our trip begins with a visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls, the second largest Catholic church in the world and the burial site of St. Paul. After our tour, we will check into our religious guesthouse, the CIAM. We will conclude the day with an evening walk to St. Peter’s Square.

St. Peter's Basilica

We will enjoy an entire day dedicated to St. Peter’s Basilica. After a guided tour of the magnificent basilica, we will go below ground to take part in the Scavi Tour. We will conclude our day with an opportunity to climb to the Cupola of St. Peter’s for perhaps the best view in all of Rome!

St. Mary Major & Assisi

Our third day in Rome will be spent praying at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Lateran, and the Catacombs. The following day, we’ll depart for Assisi, where we’ll enter into the lives of Sts. Francis and Clare, and venerate their tombs. We’ll pray at the incorrupt body of Bl. Carlo Acutis before returning to Rome.

Papal Audience & Ancient Rome

Our last three days in Rome will be very full, starting with a Papal Audience and a tour of Vatican Museums. Then we will enter into the Catholic Counter-Reformation while touring the Centro Storico. Finally we’ll finish with Ancient Rome, visiting the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

Planning Checklist

Register

In order to register simply fill out the registration form. Your place on the trip is then secure.

Purchase Travel Insurance

We will send you an insurance quote as soon as you register. We strongly suggest that everyone purchase travel insurance.

Upload Passport Information

Apply as soon as possible. NB - Passports that expire within six months of the travel dates are not valid to enter Europe.

Welcome Boxes

ProRome Tours will send your school welcome boxes to be distributed to all trip participants. Our welcome boxes include name tags and luggage tags.

Zoom Meeting

At a later TBD date, ProRome Tours will host a preparatory Zoom meeting for all pilgrimage participants.

Final Trip Information

Two weeks before the trip ProRome Tours will email each pilgrim the final trip information, which will include the final detailed itineraries, the rooming lists, the e-ticket numbers for your flights (if booked through ProRome) and any other pertinent trip information.  

TRIP DETAILS

Pricing, Payments & Cancellation

Payments

Below is the payment schedule.

$200 / due @ registration

$1200
due September 6, 2024
$1200
due November 1, 2024

Regular Price

See brochure for full list of inclusions.

$2600 / per-person, LAND-ONLY

Eight Nights Lodging in Religious Guesthouses
All Tours & Entrance Fees
ProRome Tour Manager
Private English-Speaking Guides
Private Bus Transportation
Daily Continental Breakfast
Daily Lunch or Dinner
Three courses, pre-selected menus
All Gratuities & Mass Offerings

Cancellation

If you cancel, this policy applies.

Our Policy

100 Days or More before Tour
Full refund less $200.00 deposit
100-75 Days before Tour
50% Refund
Within 75 Days of Tour
No Refund

Additional Trip Information

Registration, Payments and Cancellation

In order to register please click on the “Register Now” button at the top of this webpage. We will then process your registration and contact you by email with more information.

For questions regarding cancellation, please refer to our Terms and Conditions found here: https://prorometours.com/terms-conditions/

Flight Information

Please see the brochure for the detailed flight information. Seats will be assigned at check-in in the economy cabin of the airplane. Once checked bag, one carry-on and one personal item is allowed for each traveler. 

Please note that it IS NOT possible to use points or Miles towards your group airline ticket.

Dress Suggestions

You’ll find that the Italians dress incredibly well and you’ll want to dress up yourself. That being said, comfort is paramount. We will be walking a lot. The most important thing to keep in mind is your feet.

Tip: Worn-in walking shoes – preferably water proof – will serve you faithfully. Moleskin and baby powder might also come in handy!

Weather and Packing

The Weather 

You can expect cool weather in Italy in mid March. High temperatures will average in the low-60s, with lows in the low-40s. It would be wise to pack a light jacket for the chillier days. Do expect a few rain showers throughout the course of the trip. 

Packing 

Please remember to bring one rain jacket and at least two pairs of shoes – a pair for more formal occasions and a pair for touring. Although we’ve eliminated as much walking as possible, Italian city-centers are more often than not pedestrian only. We will be walking (on average) three to six miles each day. Make sure your “tour shoes” are broken-in and comfortable. 

Tip: Many seasoned travelers pack the essentials in their carry-on bag, in case their luggage happens to get lost or delayed. 

Group Meals

The Meals

Daily breakfast and daily dinner are included in the tour package. The main meal of the day – dinner – has been pre-arranged and selected by ProRome. You can expect three or four bountiful courses – an antipasto – literally “before the meal,” a main course, and a desert. Beverages OTHER THAN water and house wine are not included. 

Tip: If you are allergic to something simply inform the tour director at the beginning of the trip. 

Dietary and Health Restrictions

There are no dietary restrictions. Vegetarian or vegan, gluten-free or celiac, we work only with restaurants and caterers who have ample options for you.

Regarding health, please review a clause from our Terms and Conditions.

ProRome Tours expects you to make a realistic assessment of your health. All Participants are expected to be in active good health, to enjoy traveling as part of a group, and to be ready to experience cultural differences with grace. Walking and climbing stairs are required in many hotels and airports, to board the aircraft, and as part of many excursions. Prior to traveling, we highly recommend visiting your personal physician for a check-up, so that you may discuss your ability to participate in this type of journey. For the latest recommendations on specific health precautions for the areas you will visit, consult your physician and the Centers for Disease Control. Any physical condition requiring special attention, diet, or treatment should be reported in writing when the reservation is made. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate Participants with special needs; however, we cannot accommodate wheelchairs. If you require a slower pace, extra assistance, or the use of a cane or walking stick, arrangements will be made for private touring at each destination, if necessary, at the discretion of our Tour staff. Any extra cost for such arrangements will be the responsibility of the Participant. If you would like to forgo some of the scheduled sightseeing to rejuvenate and relax, please feel free to do so at any time.

Placing Calls in Italy

If you are calling from an American phone number, you must dial the international “dial out” code first, which is “00”, or simply the “+” symbol. You must then dial the country code (USA is 1, Italy is 39), followed by the number. 

NB – Remember to CONTACT YOUR SERVICE provider a few days before the trip and activate international calling on your phone.

Luggage Service at Hotels

Porterage is not included in the price. If you require a porter to deliver your luggage to your room, please inform your tour manager prior to arrival at the hotel.

Country-Specific Information

Quick Facts 

  • Official Name: Italian Republic 
  • Population: 60.36 Million 
  • Capital: Rome 
  • Language: Italian 
  • Type of Government: Republic 
  • Money: Euro 
  • Time Zone: 6 hours ahead of EST
  • Most Popular Sport: Soccer (“Football”) 
  • Best Club Team: AS Roma!
  • Industries: Tourism, Manufacturing, Import/Export (Wine, Olives) 

Basic Italian 

  • Buongiorno: Good morning/good afternoon 
  • Buona Sera: Good afternoon/evening 
  • Ciao – Hi or Bye 
  • Arrivederci: Goodbye 
  • Per favore: Please 
  • Grazie mille – Thank you very much 
  • Prego – You’re welcome 
  • Mi Scusi – Excuse Me 
  • Mi dispiace: I’m sorry 
  • Yes/No: Si/No 
  • I am American: Sono Americano (Americana if a female) 
  • Do you speak English?: Parla inglese?
  • I don’t understand: Non capisco 
  • How much?: Quanto costa? 
  • Where is…?: Dov’è…? 
  • Bathroom: Toilette 
  • Tea: Té 
  • Coffee: Caffé, Cappuccino, Caffe Latte, Caffe Macchiato 
  • Cheers!: Salute! 
  • Restaurant check/bill: Il conto, per favore!
  • Have a nice day!: Buona giornata!
  • Have a nice evening!: Buona serata! 
  • Numbers 1-10: Uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci! 
  • The Week: Lunedi, Martedi, Mercoledi, Giovedi, Venerdi, Sabato, Domenica 
  • Happy Birthday!: Buon compleanno!

Visas and Passports 

Visas to Italy are not required for U.S. citizens. If you hold a passport from another country, please check with your local consulate about requirements for travel to Italy. All passengers traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Please carry proper identification (your passport) on you and do not leave it in your suitcase or hotel room. European law requires you to carry your passport with you at all times. 

Currency – The Euro 

The official currency of Italy is the Euro.  1 euro is roughly $1.17 (as of September 28, 2021). Credit cards are accepted in shops and restaurants. However, smaller shops will ask you to pay in cash or have a minimum amount required to use a credit card. You should always carry some cash on you for small purchases such as postcards, gelato or a refreshing drink. 

Budgeting and Shopping 

The following budget guidelines are just approximate values or starting values for meals and are per person. Actual prices will vary widely by restaurant and city within a country but below are some averages as provided by our experienced personnel. 

  • The approximate cost of a soft drink/mineral water/coffee is €3-5. 
  • An average lunch consisting of a salad or sandwich and a soda or water starts at approximately €15. 
  • Dinner at a mid-range restaurant starts at approximately €30. 

Please note that soft drinks and mineral water are often as expensive, if not more expensive than wine or beer. Sales tax or VAT (value added tax) is included on price tags. To obtain VAT refunds (which may take up to three months to process), special forms usually have to be stamped by Customs; please ask for a tax-free shopping form with each purchase and follow the instructions for completion. Customs import charges on items shipped home are not included in purchase prices. 

Electrical Outlets 

Italy runs on 220V. Like the rest of Europe, the plugs are two round prongs. If you have a cell phone, you will need to bring an adapter for the plugs. Here is a link to one on Amazon for less than $10.00 

Crisis Management

The following scenarios are typical “crisis” situations that may occur while on tour Italy and how to best prevent and manage them. Please read. If you would like to read our full plan please download it here: https://prorometours.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ProRome-Crisis-Management-Plan-.pdf

You Get Lost

This is a common occurrence. First of all, stay put. Most folks who get really lost do so by running in the wrong direction! Your tour manager will find you if you stay put. If you have a cell phone, please call your tour manager, or any other group member you may be in contact with. If you cannot dial “+” on your phone, dial “00” followed by “1”, followed by the number. If after 30 minutes you are unable to reach your tour manager and cannot find the group, proceed to the nearest Taxi stand and have a cab take you back to the hotel. The hotel address can be found below. If you do not see a cab stand nearby, enter the nearest hotel and ask the concierge to call you a cab. Upon arrival at the hotel please call your tour manager and let him know that you have returned to the hotel. 

You Lose Your Phone, Wallet or Passport 

Nine times out of ten, this can be prevented. Theft is not uncommon in Rome, so remember to keep your valuables as protected as possible. Fanny packs under the shirt are ideal. If you use a purse or backpack, hold it in front especially in crowds. Be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on those around you as well. If you do lose your phone, wallet or passport, inform your tour manager immediately. We will then inform the local authorities and say a prayer to St. Anthony! The US embassy in Rome can turn around new passports within a few hours, but expect a hefty fee – 500 euro!

You Get Injured 

Again, nine times out of ten we can prevent personal injuries by following rules and guidelines that are put in place. That includes never standing while the bus is moving, only crossing the street at crosswalks, and wearing sturdy walking shoes and keeping your eyes on the road. If you do experience an injury, inform your tour manager immediately. If necessary, we will arrange emergency transportation to the nearest hospital for care.

Dehydration and Fatigue

It is crucially important to begin hydration at least three days prior to departure, and to increase your electrolyte intake as well. Touring in autumn can be deceiving, because while you may not feel thirsty in 60 degree weather, your body will nonetheless require lots of water. Always carry a water bottle with you. If you do experience dizziness, a fever or sudden fatigue, notify your tour manager immediately and sit still. If necessary, we will arrange emergency transportation to the nearest hospital for care.

Trip Patron

As our trip patron, we will pray to St. Paul before and during our trip, asking the patron saint of missionaries and evangelists for his protection and intercession for our pilgrimage. St. Paul, pray for us!