Archdiocese of Philadelphia Optional Tours

Archdiocese of Philadelphia – Optional Tours Survey

The following afternoon tours are OPTIONAL. All tours have already been budgeted, so if you opt to not participate there will be no refund or credit. Please note that if you DO NOT respond to this survey we will presume that you are attending.

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Friday, April 25 – Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Day Overview The morning features a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, which is roughly 2 hrs in duration, with 3 hrs on foot. After free time for lunch there will be the OPTIONAL tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

Optional Afternoon Tour This tour is not for the faint of heart. Expect very large crowds, 3 hrs on foot and a few miles walking through narrow corridors – all required to enter the Sistine Chapel.

Not attending? Spend time in the nearby beautiful Borgo Pio neighborhood for shopping and fun, or return to the hotel to relax.

Would you like to attend the Vatican Museum tour?

Yes

Not sure yet, so get me a ticket.

Saturday, April 26 – The Catacombs of St. Sebastian

Day Overview The morning features a tour of St. Mary Major, roughly 2 hrs on foot. The group then proceeds to a country restaurant, located near the Catacombs. After lunch there will be an optional tour of the Catacombs.

Optional Afternoon Tour The Catacombs tour is roughly 60 minutes in duration and takes you two levels underground, with passageways and low ceilings. Those with claustrophobia should reconsider.

Not attending? There is a great gift shop and archeological park (the Appia Antica) nearby for those who don’t go underground.

Would you like to attend the Catacombs tour?

Yes

Not sure yet, so get me a ticket.

Monday, April 28 – The Historical Center

Day Overview The morning features a tour of the Cathedral of Rome, the Holy Stairs and the Holy Relics, which is roughly 3 hrs in duration, with 2 hrs on foot. After free time for lunch there will be an OPTIONAL tour of the Historical Center.

Optional Afternoon Tour The Historical Center tour is roughly 3.5 hrs in duration, with 3 hrs on foot. Highlights include the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Sant’Ignazio, the Pantheon, and the Piazza Navona.

Not attending? Enjoy your last afternoon in Rome on your own. Please note that if you choose not to attend there will other time to see these sites, as the hotel is not too far and a cab can reach them quickly.

Would you like to attend the Historical Center tour?

Yes

Not sure yet, so get me a ticket.

If you are human, leave this field blank.

Giovanna Delapaz

Wonderful experience and outstanding guide who was very informative and helpful. I am trying to remember the church we visited that had chapels within the church that were paid for by France, Spain and other countries. Can you help me? I had a vision there and need to know the name of the church. Tour Guide, Gabriel would know.

Terri LaFever

ProRome Tours, LLC provided the most wonderful experience for my husband and I. We were truly blessed to have had Gabe Salibi as our tour manager. He is absolutely amazing. The passion and spirit in which he provided us so much information made the whole trip that much richer. We had a few challenges as a group and he was the most compassionate and accommodating to those in need. As with other groups we also had a few changes to our Itinerary due to the Papal conclave, however, the change Gabe made put us in St. Peter's Square on 5/8/2025 (our last night) for us to witness Pope Leo XIV elected as the first American Pope. We will be forever grateful for this opportunity! Thank You so much ProRome Tours, LLC. A fabulous and most memorable trip!!!

Jennifer Grimmer

Phenomenal pilgrimage experience with the most knowledgeable, professional and passionate tour guides, most especially Bernardo Gonzalez who is very dedicated to leading his Pilgrims closer to Christ in every moment of their pilgrimage! MUST enroll today for a life altering and uplifting experience 🙏🏻💕 "Quo Vadis?" As Bernardo would ask... Where are you going?

Maria Sawick

OUTSTANDING TOUR COMPANY. Tour guides are masters in history, theology and apologetics. They far surpassed by my expectations and I will whole heartely d endorse them to all considering a pilgrimage company of excellence.

Anne Shannon

My tour of Rome with ProRome was excellent! The tour guides were totally fluent in Italian, incredibly knowledgeable about both historical and religious sites. They were extremely organized and confident leaders of a large group. I will NEVER forget this amazing trip with ProRome.

Theresa Evans

I truly can't say enough about ProRome Tours! They planned and executed the pilgrimage of a lifetime—perfectly. Due to the passing of Pope Francis and the postponement of Blessed Carlo Acutis’s canonization, the team had to completely replan our itinerary—months of preparation redone in just three days. I didn’t know what to expect, but the trip turned out to be absolutely incredible. They really pulled through. Our tour guides, Bernardo and Brendan, were phenomenal—deep wells of knowledge in architecture, Ancient Rome, Church history, and more. Both are faithful and reverent Catholics, which was a gift to witness and made the experience even richer. They made me feel safe, informed, and confident throughout our travels in Rome and Assisi. I also want to highlight the excellent communication from Michele and Emma in the months leading up to the trip. They were attentive, helpful, and kind. It’s clear that ProRome isn’t just a tour company—it’s a ministry. I hope to travel with them again. This experience was truly a blessing.

Clara Murphy

Was a great experience! I know our group was a little difficult because of having some elderly people who had a hard time keeping up, but our tour guide Lucy was very patient and helpful and did a great job of getting us everywhere in good timing (especially with the hectic reschedules due to Pope Francis’ death) and explaining the history.

Jim Mearns

ProRome provided an amazing pilgrimage for us. I was part of a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi for the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis. ProRome went above and beyond all expectations when one week before our trip Pope Francis died and the canonization was postponed indefinitely. But, in an amazing, behind the scenes hard work effort ProRome created a magnificent alternative pilgrimage for us. We would attend the viewing and then the funeral for the Holy Father. This was a very spiritually defining moment for so many of us on this trip. We also had the opportunity to attend Mass at St. Mary Major in Rome in the side altar next to the burial place of Pope Francis. Our tour guides were experts in the history of Rome, the Vatican and Assisi. They had many stories, as well as information about the unique architecture of each place we visited. ProRome is more than a tour company, it is a pilgrimage planning company that provides as much spiritually edifying experiences as it provides historical experiences. If I could give ProRome a 10 out of 5 I would!

Ross Warlock

The pilgrimage that ProRome took our group on was awesome. As someone that despises traveling, they made the chaos that was the death of Pope Francis, on our first day, bearable and exciting. Loved the experience and will definitely go again.

Friday, April 25 – Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Saturday, April 26 – The Catacombs of St. Sebastian

Monday, April 28 – The Historical Center

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