ROME CHRISTMAS PILGRIMAGE 2023, 2024, 2025

 I lead a Rome Christmas Pilgrimage every year.  If you can’t make it this year come next year and/or the years thereafter.  The dates will be the same.  This is helpful information for those who need to give advanced notice at work.

This is a 3-day Pilgrimage from December 24 through December 26.  Lodging begins on December 23 along with afternoon Aperitivo and Dinner.  The Feast of the Seven Fishes, usually a Christmas Eve event, will be presented on either December 23 or December 24, depending on how Rome restaurants prepare it this year.  This Feast is life changing and a staple event at Christmas Eve.  Either way, dining begins on December 23, whether it’s the Feast of the Seven Fishes or Aperitivo and Dinner.

For 2023 we will follow the Pontifical North American College (PNAC) calendar I posted separately.  PNAC reports that the Vatican Calendar is updated now only a few days in advance.  So we have more information from PNAC on events scheduled to occur.  

For Christmas Eve we have a choice of Midnight Mass services at 7:30 PM at St. Peter’s Basilica, 11:55 PM at the Pantheon, and 5:00 PM Christmas Novena and 11:15 PM Kalenda songs and Holy Mass at La Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.  We can spend the day of Christmas Eve visiting important Presepi in Rome, starting with the Presepi at St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Presepi outside and inside the Basilica, and the 100 Presepi from around the world outside in the Colonnades.

For sure we will visit this historical Local Living Presepe, this was the efforts of the local community coming together to represent how Christmas lived among them.  We just need to give notice of our visit:


https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0Z6MJYsb0j/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==


Christmas Day begins with Mass at Santo Spirito in Sassia, a Church that is a short walk from St. Peter’s Square.  After Mass we will walk to St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’s Urbi et Orbi address.  After lunch we should check out Christmas markets in Rome and visit more Presepi across Rome.  The Basilica is closed on Christmas Day.

OR on CHRISTMAS DAY we can attend MASS at LA BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE.  There is a 10:00 AM HIGH MASS AND 5:00 PM SOLEMN VESPERS.  SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE ALSO TYPICALLY OFFERS MASS at 7, 8, 9 and 12 NOON and 6 PM every day.

OR AND THIS NEWS JUST APPEARED ON MY FACEBOOK FEED — ROME HAS EVEN MORE CHOICES OF MASSES WE CAN ATTEND DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, plus CONCERTS!  SO IF YOU ARE TOGETHER WITH ME OR ON YOUR OWN IN ROME THIS CHRISTMAS, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE LINK I ADDED BELOW!


📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/p/y79P69EZxNtKsFPD/?mibextid=WC7FNe


And look at this Link for English Masses in Rome at Christmastime:  

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0mbNCnsmAeYhEaYKQVK4g1xtAfFGrpWsL5VcKQyEEtd8sB3nT7vfzpwGsZfXi8wa4l&id=100064680129603


The Day after Christmas begins with 11:00 A.M. Mass at La Chiesa di Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome.  December 26 is St. Stefano’s Feast Day and a Station day for his Church.  After lunch we can continue on with CHRISTMAS MARKET SHOPPING and visiting more Presepi across Rome.  The Pope offers an Angelus at 12:00 Noon in St. Peter’s Square.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS ARE PLENTIFUL IN ROME!  From December 1, 2023, to January 7, 2024, CHRISTMAS WORLD AT THE VILLA BORGHESE PARK OPENS, at the race track.  From November 11, 2023, to January 7, 2024, CHRISTMAS VILLAGE at CINECITTÀ WORLD opens with a CHRISTMAS SHOW at 11 AM.  PIAZZA NAVONA CHRISTMAS MARKET OPENS December 1, 2023, to January 6, 2024, when LA BEFANA MAKES AN APPEARANCE!  

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL IN ROME!  We can walk on VIA DEL CORSO and stop at BAR CIAMPINI for their famous HOT CHOCOLATE AND PANNA.  PIAZZA DI SPAGNA is awash in decorations and we can stop at the best McDonald’s in Rome nearby!  We can walk through TRASTEVERE and enjoy the Christmas decorations and stop at BAR SAN CALLISTO for MARITOZZO!  So so very much to enjoy in Rome!  There is a LIGHT SHOW AT ROME’s BOTANIC GARDENS from November 16, 2023, to January 7, 2024.

I arrange all transportation beginning on December 23.  Lodging and dining begin on December 23.  For the next 3 days I arrange for Breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Lodging goes from December 23 through December 26.  You arrange your own flight reservations and air fare.  Cost of this Pilgrimage is 500 Euro per person per day for four (4) days.

I’m hoping that for Christmas Day or the day after we can experience Lentils and Cotechino.  Usually a New Year’s Eve dish signifying good fortune and prosperity, I’ve had it at Christmas time and it creates such a warm, cozy and happy atmosphere, I’d love for us to share in that too.  If we can do cooking lessons once a day at this time of the year I will schedule those in for lunch or dinner.

Remember we will visit the original manger in a Reliquary at La Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.  It is under the main Altar of that Church.  This will be a primary focus of this Pilgrimage.  I’ve witnessed groups break out in song when they see it, it is that Inspiring.

Email sandra.panici@hotmail.com or text me on Messages or WhatsApp at 01139 338 744 7764 for Account Details.  0039 is area code if texting from Europe.  I live in Rome.




Note that your payment also covers donations where appropriate, as visitors we leave footprints everywhere we go and I’m mindful to cover maintenance costs of our presence.  Otherwise if you are so moved to contribute donations, you are invited to do so.

Sandra Panici, The Roman Pilgrim in Person 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DOGS ARE WELCOME ON MY PILGRIMAGES!

Image
 YES, many of you have asked about allowing your dogs to join my Pilgrimages and the answer is YES YOU CAN, dogs are WELCOME.   To facilitate a harmonious Pilgrimage I recently spent an entire week with the DOG DADDY in Phoenix AZ where I attended his 5-day TRAIN THE TRAINERS Course.   I can help your dog with LEASH WALKING, CORRECTING for STOPPING AND SNIFFING, PULLING, JUMPING, LUNGING AND BARKING.  I can help your dog learn basic OBEDIENCE COMMANDS, SIT, DOWN, STAY, LEAVE IT AND COME.  Basically I practice BALANCED TRAINING, a COMBINATION OF CORRECTION AND POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT.  I rely mainly on LEASH PRESSURE and VARIOUS REDIRECTION PACES.   I would need to meet your dog BEFORE the Pilgrimage begins.  My guests arrive in Rome the day before so there will be time for me to address behavioral issues before we all get together. If your dog is HUMAN AND/OR DOG FEAR REACTIVE/AGGRESSIVE, I can help with REDIRECTION AND DESENSITIZING.  HO...
Read more

ROME OF THE TRANSPORT!

Image
MY PILGRIMAGES ARE NOT  WALKING PILGRIMAGES.  I USE RELIABLE COURTEOUS PRIVATE TRANSPORT.  OR ROME CITY CABS WHERE NECESSARY.  I DON’T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON WALKING AND WAITING FOR CITY BUSES, MOST OF WHICH ARE LATE AND TOO CROWDED ANYWAY. MY PILGRIMAGES ARE INTENSE, COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH, AND REQUIRE THE BEST USE OF TIME TO GIVE YOU THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.  PRIVATE TRANSPORT IS BEST BECAUSE IT’S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO GET A TAXI IN ROME EVEN USING THE APPS.  WE COVER A LOT OF GROUND, EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO CLUSTER OUR ACTIVITIES SO AS NOT TO REPEAT AND DOUBLE BACK OVER ROUTES. My Transport Sources: NCC Vega, Cristiana Musumeci, +39 366 307 6401 text her on WhatsApp, www.nccvega.com, Rome transport service; Ivano, +39 338 240 6629,  and Marcello Bartoletta, +39 328 302 0069 text him on WhatsApp,  Enrico also on WhatsApp at +39 347 751 6536,  and Alessandro Mocci is on WhatsApp at +39 392 921 7140, all are from Expats Living in Rome;...
Read more

A PILGRIMAGE TO LIFE-SIZE SKELETON ART OF ANCIENT AND BAROQUE ROME

Image
THE MEMENTO MORI ERA, LATIN FOR REMEMBER YOU DIE !  THE 17th CENTURY WAS A RELIGIOUS ERA DEFINING THIS LIFE AS TRANSITORY AND ONLY A PREPARATION FOR ETERNAL LIFE. COST IS A FLAT 500 EURO, UNLESS THE GROUP IS SO LARGE OUR DRIVER HAS TO UPGRADE.  THERE ARE 10 CHURCHES WE HAVE TO VIEW SO IT’s AN INTENSE BUSY PILGRIMAGE.  WE WILL VISIT AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH MY VERY FAVE LIFE-SIZE SKELETON ART OF ALL TIME, at SAN PIETRO IN VINCOLI.  THIS CHURCH REACHED BY AN OUTSIDE UP STAIRWAY OFF VIA CAVOUR OR NEARBY COLLE OPPIO HILL AND THE COLOSSEO. JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO GET SOME RELIEF FROM A FULL BLOWN SKELETON, WHAMMY, THERE’s BIG BONY LEGS AND FEET STICKING OUT FROM BEHIND THE MARBLE COFFIN AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENTIRE WHOLE LIFE-SIZE SKELETON EVEN THOUGH YOU CANNOT PROVE WHAT’s BEHIND THE TOMB!  1707 SCULPTURE BY PIERRE LE GROS THE YOUNGER FOR CINZIO ALDOBRANDINI.  FULL BLOWN WINGS AND THE UBIQUITOUS HOUR...
Read more