Rome — Faith & Stone
The Splendor of Rome
October 25–31, 2026 | Limited to 30 travelers
Rome is not a city you visit. It is a city you enter.
The stone underfoot has been worn by pilgrims, emperors, and ordinary people for twenty centuries. The paintings in its churches were made for those churches — Caravaggio's masterpieces hang in the same walls, in the same light, where he placed them four hundred years ago. The catacombs beneath the Appian Way hold the bones of the earliest Christians, people who buried their dead in faith before Christianity had a building to meet in.
When you slow down enough, the city stops being a destination. It becomes a teacher.
The Itinerary
Seven days in Rome, built around four areas of encounter.
The Catacombs & San Clemente
A half day that begins underground. The Catacombs of San Callisto on the Appian Way, where early Christians buried their dead and practiced their faith in secret. The afternoon at the Basilica of San Clemente — one of Rome's most quietly extraordinary sites, where you descend through a medieval church, an early Christian place of worship, and a first-century Roman structure, each one built directly on the last.
The Vatican
A private guide takes you through the Vatican Museums with intention — the Gallery of Maps, the Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel with time to understand what you're looking at, not just to see it. The visit continues directly into St. Peter's Basilica. Skip-the-line access throughout.
The afternoon at the Doria Pamphilij Gallery, where his paintings hang alongside Velázquez and Raphael in the rooms of a noble Roman palace. A private guide throughout.
Caravaggio’s Rome
A half day following Caravaggio through the churches of Rome's historic center. San Luigi dei Francesi — the Calling of Saint Matthew, still on the wall where it was unveiled in 1600. Sant'Agostino. Santa Maria del Popolo.
Doria Pamphilj Gallery
A half day of rest, followed by the Doria Pamphilj Gallery — one of Rome's greatest private art collections, with more Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Raphael in the rooms of a noble Roman palace.
The Three Major Basilicas
A full day with a private guide tracing the arc of early Christianity through Rome's great churches: St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over the tomb of the Apostle; St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome and the official seat of the Pope; and Santa Maria Maggiore, with its early Christian mosaics and connection to Marian devotion. The Holy Stairs at St. John Lateran are nearby.
Who This Is For
People who take history seriously. Travelers who want context, not just access. Anyone who has wondered what it would feel like to see Rome the way it deserves to be seen — slowly, with a guide who understands what you're looking at and why it matters.
What my travelers share isn't a life stage. It's a disposition — depth over speed, meaning over itinerary, presence over documentation.
The group is limited to thirty.
What's Included
— Six nights at Metropole Roma — 4-star, centrally located, breakfast daily
— Private transfers from and to Fiumicino Airport
— All guided experiences in the itinerary, with private English-speaking guides and skip-the-line access where applicable
— All entrance fees for included sites
— Concierge support throughout the trip
What's Not Included
— International flights
— Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
— Meals beyond daily breakfast
— Personal expenses
Pricing
— $3950 per person double occupancy
— $5850 per person single occupancy
— $800 deposit per person to reserve; full payment due August 1, 2026
— Rates and itinerary subject to change based upon availability.
Begin with a conversation.
You don't need everything mapped out. Share what you're considering — a question, a hesitation, whether October works — and we'll explore it together.
For more information and registration, visit https://www.christchurchde.org/rome-pilgrimage-post/.
