SACRED ITALY
September 7th-19th, 2026
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT BY JANUARY 5th.
The saints have taught us that when a man or woman of God walks this earth, their very presence sanctifies the land, the buildings, and everything they touch—for all time. When we visit holy places, we are not only blessed by their living vibrations; we also have the opportunity to let those vibrations permeate our consciousness, opening a doorway to higher states of awareness.
On this sacred pilgrimage to Italy, we will have the opportunity to visit and dive into the life of Italy’s beloved Saint Francis of Assisi. We will experience meditating where he first experienced the stigmata, the caves on the hillside where he and his brothers would commune with God, where he preached, lived, and even where his body is kept.
We will also have the opportunity to visit places of Padre Pio, in the south of Italy. Padre Pio was a modern-day mystic who, like Saint Francis, received the wounds of Christ. He cured illnesses, experienced visions, was known to bilocate, spoke in languages he never studied—the list goes on. The holy vibrations of his hometown and crypt are not to be missed! We will also have the blessing of visiting places of several other saints, such as Saint Peter at the Vatican, the incorrupt body of Saint Catherine of Siena, St. Clare of Assisi, Saint Joseph of Cupertino, the actual house of Mother Mary, and last but not least, the cave of Saint Michael, where he would appear in the flesh. A place so holy, it is said that Saint Francis and Padre Pio would not enter, for they felt unworthy.
Our home base will be at the Ananda Community, just above the town of Assisi. A pilgrimage spot unto itself, we will be able to partake in yoga, meditations, kirtans, satsangs, and visit what has become a holy shrine of Swami Kriyananda’s home, where he lived and left his body 12 years ago.
Pilgrimage has the power to transform you in ways that words cannot describe. If you feel called to join us on this sacred journey, we welcome you with open arms.
Interested?
If you are interested in attending this pilgrimage we would love to hear from you. To express interest or ask questions, email friends@anandawashington.org.
Photo Gallery
Your Guides
From left: Vahini and Jaidhara. On the right, Shiva and Narya will be join as guides for the Padre Pio and the Saint Michael Cave segment of the pilgrimage.