Pilgrimages to Tuscany
November 2 - November 9, 2024
For over thirty years Msgr. Don has made an annual trip to Tuscany, and in his retirement has found great joy in sharing it with others through his pilgrimage retreats.
As a pilgrimage, you visit ancient sacred places, like those where St. Francis lived, taught and became one like Christ. You visit a region of Italy that has been uniquely gifted with artists, inventors, and saints. You walk in cities that existed a thousand years before Christ, feast on food and wine, savor in the beauty of the countryside, and rest in the affection of Italian hospitality.
As a retreat, through Msgr. Don’s daily teaching and meditation you are led on an inner journey seeking greater understanding of who you are, who God is, and the freedom and peace your union with him creates. The retreat is about awakening to what is real and living a full and authentic life.
Your Pilgrimage Experience
We spend seven nights in a luxury 16th-century hotel, Torre Santa Flora, located on the Arno river in Subbiano, a small village north of Arezzo. In addition to daily tours of unique and sacred places of significance, we celebrate Masses in the Chapel of the Sacred Corporal in Orvieto; in St. Paul’s, the oldest Church in Assisi which is not open to the public; and in La Verna, the monastery where St. Francis received the stigmata. And the heart of the experience is the daily spiritual teaching by Msgr. Don.
We dine at the hotel restaurant and carefully selected local places to experience Tuscan cuisine. Throughout the week we enjoy live performances of Italian opera by Priscilla Coblentz, an accomplished opera singer, as well as a special evening at Msgr. Don’s farmhouse for a private concert.
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• $4,620 per person for single occupancy
• $4,224 per person for double occupancy
* A portion of the cost supports the ministry of Pastoral Reflections Institute and is tax-deductible
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• 7 nights stay in luxury accommodations*
• All meals except for one lunch
• Ground transportation and fees for daily tours
* Space is limited to 19 pilgrims and the rooms are assigned first come first serve
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• Airfare
• Transportation between airport and hotel
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• Full refunds will be granted if your trip cancellation occurs more than 60 days prior to the retreat.
• If you cancel less than 60 days from the retreat, your deposit is non-refundable.
Pastoral Reflection Institute (PRI) has only canceled two retreats to date, but if we must cancel, you may transfer your full retreat payment to another retreat or you may request a refund of your registration fee. PRI is not responsible for any of your expenses incurred in preparation for a canceled retreat (airfare, loss of work, etc.). Since unexpected things do happen, we recommend that you purchase travel insurance once you have made your reservation for a retreat.
Pilgrim Reflections
“The spiritual gifts of our week cannot be overestimated. The amazing thing is how wonderfully interwoven with the spiritual were the gifts of friendship, history, nature, and culinary delight. It was unforgettable, life-changing, a closer walk with God and each other.”
“Thank you for the invisible things that made the week in Tuscany a memory we will guard and savor”
“Five Star / A+ / ‘10’ ... A Peaceful, life changing event. Balanced, rewarding and meaningful.”
Tuscany Pilgrimage Itinerary
Pilgrimage schedule subject to change
Arrival Day
Arrival and check-in at Hotel Torre Santa Flora in Subbiano, a province of Arezzo.
Wine reception and welcome dinner at our hotel.
Our hotel was originally built by the Benedictines as a place of rest for pilgrims and their animals.
day 2 • travel day
Breakfast and lunch at hotel.
Orientation, Mass & Teaching
Day trip to Arezzo
Tour of city & largest antique fair in all of Europe. Dinner at Locando di San Pier Piccolo in Arezzo.
day 3 • travel day / mass
Breakfast at Hotel
Day trip to Orvieto
Mass & Teaching at Chapel of the Sacred Corporal, which holds the famous blood-stained cloth confirming the physical presence of Christ in the consecrated host. Lunch at La Badia.
Wine reception & light supper at our hotel.
day 4 • lecture day 1
Breakfast & lunch at hotel.
Meditation & Teaching
Free afternoon. Optional informal discussion with Msgr. Don.
Wine reception.
Dinner at Msgr. Don’s favorite local spot - Taverna Dei Briganti.
day 5 • travel day
Breakfast at hotel.
day trip to assisi
Mass & Teaching at the Church of St. Paul, where many believe St. Francis and his family worshipped. Lunch on your own. Touring of St. Francis & St. Clare Basilicas. Tour of Santa Maria di Angeli.
Dinner at hotel.
day 6 • lecture day 2
Breakfast & lunch at hotel
Meditation & Teaching
Free Afternoon. Optional informal discussion with Msgr. Don
Msgr. Don’s farmhouse for cocktails & private concert.
Dinner at hotel.
day 7 • travel day / mass
Breakfast at hotel
Day trip to La Verna
Day trip to La Verna: Mass and anointing at the Chapel of San Lorenzo, built on the site where Saint Francis received the stigmata in 1224.
Lunch at monastery, followed by tours.
Wine reception and closing dinner and ceremony at hotel.
DAY 8 • departure day
Breakfast at hotel.
Checkout by 11:30 AM.