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Rome, Vatican & Assisi · To the Heart of the Church

7N/8D: St. Peter's, the four papal basilicas and the town of St. Francis

4.8244 reviews
7 Nights / 8 Days(7N/8D)
Italy & Vatican City, Lazio & Umbria
easy pace
Great for family, senior, couples

Destinations: Rome → Vatican City → Assisi

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Overview

About this Rome, Vatican & Assisi trip

A spiritual journey to the Eternal City and the gentle hills of Umbria. Join the Holy Father's Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square (when the Pope is in Rome), pray at the tomb of St. Peter, and walk through the Vatican Museums to the Sistine Chapel. Pass through the doors of all four papal basilicas — St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls — climb the Scala Santa on your knees, and descend into the Catacombs of St. Callixtus where the early Christians buried their martyrs. Then take the train to Assisi for two nights in the hill town of St. Francis and St. Clare: the Basilica of St. Francis with Giotto's frescoes, San Damiano, the Porziuncola and the Eremo delle Carceri. A spiritual director accompanies the group, with daily Holy Mass arranged.

Papal audience, Vatican Museums, Rome's major basilicas and the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Stay: 3-star (4-star upgrade available)
Transport: Flights from Hyderabad, Rome metro/coach, Italian rail to Assisi
Best time: April to June and September to October; avoid August heat and the Easter/Christmas rush unless travelling for the liturgies
Departures: 8 upcoming dates

Why pilgrims choose our Rome & Assisi tour

Papal General Audience tickets requested for the whole group
Skip-the-line Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's with a licensed guide
All four papal basilicas, the Scala Santa and the Catacombs
Two unhurried nights in Assisi, not a rushed day trip
Daily Holy Mass with an accompanying spiritual director
Schengen visa documentation support and Indian dinners

Trip highlights

Papal audience
St. Peter's Basilica
Sistine Chapel
Scala Santa
Catacombs of St. Callixtus
Basilica of St. Francis
Porziuncola

Itinerary

Day-by-day plan for Rome, Vatican & Assisi

8 days, planned end to end

D1
- Fly Hyderabad to Rome (one stop)
- Transfer to hotel near Termini or the Vatican
- Evening walk to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
- Welcome dinner
D2
- Skip-the-line Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter's Basilica: Michelangelo's Pietà and the tomb of St. John Paul II
- Prayers at the Confessio over the tomb of St. Peter
- Optional climb of the dome
D3
- Wednesday General Audience with the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square
- Castel Sant'Angelo and the Tiber
- Optional Scavi (necropolis) tour — limited, booked months ahead
- Evening Mass
D4
- St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome
- Scala Santa — the Holy Stairs
- St. Mary Major and the icon Salus Populi Romani
- St. Paul Outside the Walls and the tomb of St. Paul
D5
- Catacombs of St. Callixtus on the Appian Way
- Quo Vadis church
- Colosseum (exterior) and the Roman Forum
- Santa Maria in Aracoeli and evening Mass
D6
- Train to Assisi (about 2 hours)
- Basilica of St. Francis: upper church Giotto frescoes and the saint's tomb
- Basilica of St. Clare and the San Damiano crucifix
- Overnight in Assisi
D7
- San Damiano, where Francis heard the call to rebuild the Church
- Eremo delle Carceri on Mount Subasio
- Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Porziuncola chapel
- Evening procession or Mass in Assisi
D8
- Morning Mass in Assisi
- Train or coach to Rome Fiumicino
- Last-minute shopping for rosaries and devotional items
- Fly home to Hyderabad

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Read this before you book — no surprise add-ons later.

Included

Return economy flights Hyderabad–Rome (one stop)
5 nights 3-star hotel in Rome and 2 nights 3-star hotel in Assisi, twin sharing
Daily breakfast and dinner (Indian dinners on three evenings)
Licensed English-speaking guide in Rome and Assisi
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel skip-the-line tickets, Catacombs entry
Papal audience ticket request (free, issued by the Prefecture of the Papal Household)
Rail tickets Rome–Assisi and coach transfer to Fiumicino
Daily Holy Mass arrangements with a spiritual director
Schengen visa documentation support and travel insurance up to age 70

Not included

Schengen visa fee and VFS charges
Lunches
Rome and Assisi city tourist tax (paid at the hotel, about EUR 2–7 per person per night)
Scavi tour, St. Peter's dome climb
Tips for guides and drivers
GST and TCS as applicable

Stay & travel

Hotels & transport

Hotel category

3-star (4-star upgrade available)

Twin-sharing rooms with daily breakfast unless stated otherwise. Single rooms and upgrades on request.

Transport

Flights from Hyderabad, Rome metro/coach, Italian rail to Assisi

Airport and station pick-ups, sightseeing and inter-city transfers are arranged by our ground team.

Overnight stops: Arrive Rome · Vatican Museums & St. Peter's · Papal Audience · Papal Basilicas · Catacombs & Ancient Rome · Rome to Assisi · Assisi · Departure

Route

Route map

6 stops from start to finish

HyderabadStart
2RomeStop 2
3Vatican CityStop 3
4RomeStop 4
5AssisiStop 5
RomeFinish

Plan ahead

Best time & what to pack

Best time to visit

April to June and September to October; avoid August heat and the Easter/Christmas rush unless travelling for the liturgies

Things to carry

Passport valid for 3 months beyond return, with your Schengen visa
Clothes covering shoulders and knees — strictly enforced at St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel
Comfortable walking shoes for cobbled streets
Light scarf or shawl for women
Sun hat and water bottle
Light jacket for Assisi evenings
Rosary, Bible and personal prayer book
Money belt — Rome has pickpockets on buses and in crowds

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do Indians need a visa?

Yes. Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa, applied through the Italian visa centre (VFS) about 6–8 weeks before travel. We provide the itinerary, hotel bookings, insurance and a covering letter for the file.

Is meeting the Pope guaranteed?

The Wednesday General Audience is open to all with free tickets, which we request for the group. It does not run when the Holy Father is travelling or during summer breaks, and private meetings are not possible.

What is the dress code at the Vatican?

Shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women; sleeveless tops, shorts and short skirts are refused at the door of St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel.

Is daily Mass possible?

Yes. Our spiritual director celebrates Mass daily, including at side altars in St. Peter's or at a Rome basilica and in Assisi, subject to booking slots.

How much walking is involved?

Rome involves 6–10 km of walking a day on cobbles, and the Vatican Museums alone take about 3 hours on foot. Wheelchairs are available at the Vatican; tell us about mobility needs early.

Reviews

What travellers say

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Policy

Cancellation & refunds

Refund by days before departure
When you cancel	Refund
30+ days before departure	90% refund
15–29 days before	75% refund
7–14 days before	50% refund
Less than 7 days	No refund

Cancel 30+ days before departure: 90% refund · 15–29 days: 75% · 7–14 days: 50% · under 7 days: no refund. Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7–10 working days. Cancel any time from My Trips — the refund is calculated instantly.

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