EWTN radio host's new book takes readers on a trip through Italy’s famous and ‘off the beaten path’ sites during Jubilee of Hope
ANN ARBOR — Teresa Tomeo wants to take you on a trip through Italy.
But if you can’t book a pilgrimage through Corporate Travel, or you have already been and you’d like to read up on Italian Catholic pilgrimage sites, Tomeo has the ultimate travel guide for you.
“Italy’s Shrines and Wonders: Discovering Sacred Spaces, Fascinating Places, and Destinations off the Beaten Path,” is Tomeo’s latest book published by EWTN. The book, published before Pope Francis' April 21 passing, is meant to be an insider guide for anyone preparing to go on a pilgrimage to Italy, or just to learn more about the country’s Catholic heritage, Tomeo explained in an interview in early April.
Tomeo and her husband, Deacon Dominick Pastore, have been leading pilgrimages through Northville-based Corporate Travel since 2003, during which time Tomeo came across several “ah ha” moments that inspired her to write the book.
“For Catholics, Italy hits you first with the raw beauty of the shrines, the wonders, the art, and nature, and then there is the spiritual component when you stop and think about the depth and creativity of our Catholic faith and our God,” Tomeo told Detroit Catholic. “It is truly overwhelming and awe-inspiring.”
Beyond just leading pilgrimages in Italy, Tomeo has been doing travel coaching since 2019, giving people the best tips on how to get the most out of their time on pilgrimage, and it is those experiences that make the bulk of the content in “Italy’s Shrines and Wonders.”
“I gained so much knowledge about the various shrines and regions of Italy in general that I wanted to put as much of it as possible in a unique guidebook for anyone interested in learning about Italy,” Tomeo said.
Like any good travel guide, “Italy’s Shrines and Wonders” explores the famed holy sites and religious landmarks of the county, including some of Tomeo’s own personal favorites.
“Perhaps it’s because I’m getting old and tired of all the noise in our world, but I have come to truly appreciate places such as Umbria in central Italy, as well as the northern region of Piedmont, especially the rolling hills of these areas,” Tomeo said. “It really allows for ‘La dolce far niente,’ the 'sweetness of doing nothing,' which is something very important to embrace while moving through such a beautiful country. We need to slow down, relax, and reflect on what we’re seeing if we’re going to grow from the travel experience.”
“Italy’s Shrines and Wonders” goes beyond just naming and detailing famed pilgrimage sites, but delves into the stories of real-life pilgrims and the dramatic experiences they have encountered while walking in the footsteps of Italy’s numerous holy men and women.
“Readers will learn not only about the places they stay, visit, pray, and dine, but they will truly learn about life in this amazing place through our own story of traveling to areas of our heritage,” Tomeo said.
Tomeo worked with Corporate Travel president John Hale to document some real-life experiences of pilgrims that are included in the book.
“John graciously spent a great deal of time interviewing two prominent local Catholics as well as a young woman from Dearborn who went on pilgrimage and was inspired to enter the convent,” Tomeo said. “The book also has recipes in each chapter, and the book is filled, cover to cover, with jaw-dropping photos from all across ‘the boot.’”
Catholics might have ideas of holy places in Italy to visit, from St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City to Turin’s cathedral or Assisi, but Tomeo also includes “places off the beaten path.”
“I’m extremely fond of our Catholic saints and 'off the beaten path' shrines such as Greccio in Lazio and La Verna in Tuscany, two important places in the middle of the wilderness built by St. Francis of Assisi,” Tomeo said. “The first is where he established the live creche, and the second location is Tuscany, a peaceful hermitage where he received the stigmata.”
Other famed places in the book include Todi, Umbria, where Blessed Jacopone gave the church the Stabet Mater, the Civita Bagnoregio in Lazio, knowing as the "Dying City," nicknamed so because the city is shrinking due to the volcanic hill on which it sits and is the birthplace of St. Bonaventure, and Spoleto, Spello and Norcia, historic towns in Umbria that have a strong connection to Sts. Francis, Scholastica and Benedict.
The entire book radiates with pride for Italian-Catholic heritage and spirituality, something in which Tomeo and her husband take great pride, but people from all backgrounds can appreciate.
“Italians don’t live to work, they work to live,” Tomeo said. “In other words, they never take life or the beauty God has given them in their country for granted. They don’t rush through meals. They savor time with family and friends as a daily part of their lives — not just holidays and holy days. Work is a means to appreciate all that our Lord has given us, and when they celebrate the holy days, every part of the celebration has meaning.”
With the Jubilee Year of Hope taking place in 2025, Tomeo adds any pilgrim looking to take advantage of the special graces offered this year by going on a pilgrimage to the Eternal City will see “Italy’s Shrines and Wonders” as a must read.
“This is a very helpful book for anyone traveling for the Jubilee Year, as it has a great deal of information on the saints being canonized this year,” Tomeo said. “But it is also for anyone, even those with no plans to travel to Italy, as it is the perfect tool for a lonely ‘armchair’ pilgrimage. It will help any reader appreciate the beauty of the earth, and most importantly, our Catholic faith.”
