Women’s Fellowship Trip to Italy Hosted by Cassie Blanko

Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City, where layers of history, faith, and daily life unfold side by side. On arrival, make your own way to the hotel and take time to settle in, rest, and gently adjust to the rhythm of the city. This first afternoon is intentionally unstructured, offering space to pause after travel and prepare your heart and mind for the journey ahead.

In the evening, the group gathers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant specialising in traditional Roman cuisine. This shared meal marks the beginning of your pilgrimage style experience, creating space for introductions, connection, and reflection on the days to come.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Gioberti or Similar

🍽️ Included Meals

• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Arrival in Rome
• Welcome Dinner

Today leads you into the ancient heart of Rome, where empire, early Christianity, and everyday Roman life intersect. A guided visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum brings powerful context to the world in which the early church took shape, inviting reflection on faith, courage, and perseverance amid persecution.

The journey continues to the Arch of Titus, followed by a visit to the Basilica of San Clemente. This remarkable multi layered church reveals centuries of worship built one upon another, offering a tangible reminder of faith passed down through generations. In the late afternoon, shift from reflection to creativity during a hands on Roman cooking class, where you will prepare classic pasta dishes and enjoy the meal together.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Gioberti or Similar

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Guided Visit to the Colosseum
• Guided Visit to the Roman Forum
• Visit to the Arch of Titus
• Visit to the Basilica of San Clemente
• Roman Cooking Class

This morning is devoted to one of the spiritual and artistic centres of the Christian world. A guided visit through the Vatican Museums reveals centuries of faith expressed through art, architecture, and devotion, culminating in the Sistine Chapel and the grandeur of St Peter’s Basilica.

The afternoon and evening are free to absorb the experience in your own way. You may choose quiet personal reflection, journaling, or prayer, or wander nearby streets and along the Tiber River. Optional ideas include exploring Castel Sant’Angelo, browsing Roman boutiques, or enjoying a relaxed dinner at your own pace.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Gioberti or Similar

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Guided Visit to Vatican Museums
• Visit to the Sistine Chapel
• Visit to St Peter’s Basilica
• Free Time in Rome

Begin the morning in St Peter’s Square with the option to attend the Pope’s General Audience, a deeply moving experience that brings together pilgrims from around the world. For those who attend, this gathering offers a moment of shared worship, reflection, and spiritual connection, followed by time for photos, quiet contemplation, and conversation with fellow travellers.

For those not attending the audience, the morning is free to explore Rome independently. You may wish to wander the historic centre, visit the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, or Piazza Navona, or spend time in Trastevere’s narrow lanes and local cafés. In the afternoon, come together for a ceramics workshop with a local artisan, where you will learn traditional techniques and create a meaningful keepsake inspired by your time in Italy.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Gioberti or Similar

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Free Time in Rome
• Ceramics Workshop with Local Artisan

ℹ️ Optional Activities (Organised Locally)

• Papal Mass at St Peter’s Square
  Tickets to the Pope’s Wednesday public mass are free but subject to availability. Every effort will be made to secure tickets, however attendance cannot be guaranteed.

Today marks the transition from Rome to southern Italy. Travel south through rolling countryside, olive groves, and farmland before the landscape opens to the Bay of Naples and the dramatic coastline of the Sorrentine Peninsula, with views of Mount Vesuvius appearing along the way.

Arrive in Sorrento, a clifftop town known for its warm atmosphere, coastal views, and lemon scented streets. After checking into the hotel, the evening is free to explore at your own pace, enjoy a seaside walk, attend a local evening Mass if you wish, or relax and reflect as the sun sets over the water.

🏨 Accommodation

• So’ Lifestyle Hotel Sorrento or Similar

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Transfer from Rome to Sorrento
• Free Evening in Sorrento

Begin the day with a guided exploration of Sorrento’s historic centre, discovering artisan workshops, lively piazzas, and everyday local life shaped by tradition and community. Continue along one of Italy’s most iconic coastal roads toward Positano, with panoramic viewpoints along the way.

After a guided stroll through Positano, enjoy free time to relax by the beach, explore boutique lined streets, or take in the scenery at your own pace. In the late afternoon, board a private sunset boat cruise along the Sorrento coastline, including time to swim in a quiet cove before returning to the hotel in the evening.

🏨 Accommodation

• So’ Lifestyle Hotel Sorrento or Similar

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Guided Walking Tour of Sorrento
• Scenic Coastal Drive
• Visit to Positano
• Sunset Boat Cruise

Today is designed for flexibility and personal choice. Optional suggestions include relaxing beach time, or a scenic Vespa ride through the coastal hills for those with the appropriate experience and permits. Others may prefer a slow morning, journaling, prayer, or simply enjoying the coastal views.

In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. This final shared meal offers space to reflect on the journey, celebrate new friendships, and bring the experience to a meaningful close.

🏨 Accommodation

• So’ Lifestyle Hotel Sorrento or Similar

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Free Day on the Amalfi Coast
• Farewell Dinner

ℹ️ Optional Activities (Organised Locally)

• Amalfi Coast Vespa Ride
  To participate, guests must carry both their home country driver’s licence and a valid International Driver’s Permit. Prior motorbike or scooter experience is recommended. Please note that coastal roads are narrow and winding, and traffic can be heavy at times.

Enjoy a final breakfast and some quiet moments to reflect on the journey before departure. This last morning offers time to say goodbye to the coast, share final conversations with fellow travellers, and carry forward the spiritual insights, connections, and memories formed throughout the experience.

At a scheduled time, a scheduled group transfer will take you to Naples Airport for onward flights. You depart with a sense of completion, renewed faith, and a journey that continues well beyond Italy.

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Scheduled Group Transfer to Naples Airport

ℹ️ Departure

• Please note that a scheduled group transfer to Naples Airport will be provided on the final day. Guests are welcome to depart at any time that suits their onward travel plans, however those choosing to leave outside the scheduled transfer will need to organise their own independent transportation.