Pilgrimage: The Road To Rome

Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome

Original version

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One

BBC One South East

Pilgrimage

Documentaries

Factual: Travel

Religion & Ethics

Seven celebrities tackle a modern-day pilgrimage that promotes tolerance for all cultures.

Celebrities take a journey of a lifetime. They all have different faiths and beliefs - will stepping in ancient footsteps on a spiritual journey broaden minds?

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One London

London

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One Channel Islands

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One North West

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

BBC One Oxfordshire

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One South HD

BBC One South West HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One North West HD

BBC One West HD

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One East HD

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

BBC One South East HD

BBC One Yorkshire HD

BBC One East Midlands HD

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Lee Ingleby

Joaquim Badia

Barbara Masullo

Chris Kenyon

Philip Diprose

Caroline Matthews

Colm Martin

Toni Williamson

Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome: Episode 2

Episode 2

The Road to Rome

BBC Two - Pilgrimage, The Road to Rome, Episode 2

Stephen K Amos tells the group that as a gay man he struggles to find a religious home.

Stephen K Amos tells the group that as a gay man he struggles to find any kind of religious home.

In this second episode, it is day four, and Stephen, Greg, Brendan and Les wake up in a yurt. They are all staying in a hostel on a Roman road in a tiny village in the Tuscan Appenines, and they are beginning to realise how important the simple life is to the pilgrim experience – especially when a donkey appears in the kitchen to try and eat their breakfast.    

They start heading further into Tuscany and just beyond Monteriggioni come across a welcome rest stop. It is a ‘donativo’, run by Marcello from the front garden of his home, and pilgrims donate whatever they can for their food and drink. Marcello is a retired hairdresser and while he cuts Greg’s hair, Greg – who has recently retired as an international athlete – asks for his advice. Greg is feeling apprehensive as he navigates the process of searching for the next chapter in his life.  

Later that afternoon the pilgrims move onto Bagno Vignoni - the famous Roman baths - and Greg and Brendan take the plunge in the public pool. Greg, a lapsed Jehovah’s Witness, shares the problems he has with faith with atheist Brendan. Meanwhile, at the top of the hillside, Dana, Stephen, Les and Katy visit the Roman bath formerly used by popes, and explore the history of St Catherine of Siena, who also used to  stay here.

The group travel on to the medieval city of Viterbo. From here, they have to walk every step of the final 100km to Rome. But before they take to the road, some of the group, including Lesley, who is Jewish, and Mehreen, a Muslim, opt to receive a pilgrim blessing to send them on their way, from the deacon of the Church of the Pilgrim. It triggers a vigorous discussion about the boundaries of their faiths and beliefs. 

They also take time while they are in Viterbo to visit Immaculata. She is famed for her knowledge of the Via and what it takes to be a true pilgrim. At her hostel, she also encourages a particular ritual – asking visiting pilgrims to bring a stone from home which is a personal, symbolic reminder of someone special. The gesture is particularly emotional for Stephen, who has had a recent bereavement, and tells how the pilgrimage has helped release his grief and pain.  

The following day, day seven of their pilgrimage, they set off on their first leg of the 100km. Despite getting lost, twice, after 13km they arrive at their B&B. Over dinner, Stephen instigates a group discussion about religion because he feels, as a gay man, he is not accepted by any religion or faith. Dana, a practicing Catholic, admits it is a contentious issue but finds it particularly hard to defend her church, as it is currently in such tumult.

Over the next couple of days, the pilgrims make their way to the medieval town of Capranica. But Katy has made a fatal mistake – she has put on wet socks, and is now suffering with blisters. It doesn’t bode well.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Eight celebrities of differing beliefs tackle part of an ancient pilgrimage to Rome.

Eight celebrities of differing faiths and beliefs don backpacks and walking boots to tackle part of an ancient pilgrimage to Rome, where a private audience with the Pope awaits.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Pilgrimage

The Road to Rome

Episode 2

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One South East

About BBC One