Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:

Day 1 | Monday, October 23: Depart for Lisbon
Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Day 2 | Tuesday, October 24: Arrive Lisbon
Upon landing at the Lisbon Portela Airport, you will make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Then, you will proceed to the Arrival’s Hall where you will be greet-ed by your tour guide and/or driver. You will be escorted to the vehicle which will take you on a sightseeing tour of the coastal city of Lisbon. This tour begins at the city’s oldest cathe-dral, the Lisbon Cathedral. This Romanesque structure truly emanates the ancient culture and history that Lisbon holds. The tour continues on to St. Jerome’s Monastery, built to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for guiding Vasco da Gama on his voyage that linked Europe and Asia. In this Monastery, you will clearly observe the maritime theme that commemorates the Portuguese triumph during the Age of Exploration (15th-17th centuries). The next stop is St. Anthony’s Church. Although this patron Saint of lost things is known as St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), he was originally born in Lisbon, Portugal. This Church is built upon the site of St. Anthony’s birth, and is also where St. John Paul II visited in 1982. The former Pope stopped at this Church, on his way to Fatima, to pray to Our Lady in thanksgiving. St. John Paul II recognizes Our Lady as saving him from being killed when he was shot one year prior, in 1981. Following, you will visit the Belem Quarter that contains the iconic entry way to the Lisbon harbor, the Belem Tower. While at this important structure of history, you will view many beautiful sculptures such as depictions of, St. Vincent and Our Lady of Safe Homecom-ing. The tour continues as you will have the opportunity to view the “25th of April Bridge”, inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco, California. The Ponte 25 de Abril is the oldest bridge that connects the Tagus river of Lisbon. Our tour culminates with a visit to the Discoveries Monument. This memorial commemorates the Great Explorers who, as a result of their explorations, brought Portugal to a standing of wealth and power during the Age of Discovery. This ship prow shaped structure stands at the point where the Great Explorers began their expeditions. In addition to these sites, the drive of your tour will include a “pass-by” view of the Basilica of the Star, the Rossio Square, Commerce Square, and the Marquee of Pomba Square. After a fun-filled day of sightseeing, you will enjoy a welcoming dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 3 | Wednesday October 25: Lisbon - Santarem – Fatima
Today, your group will travel about forty-five miles north to the old city of Santarem. In Santarem, your group will visit and attend Mass at the Church of St. Stephen, which holds the oldest (13th century) recorded Eucharistic Miracle: The Miracle occurred when a woman yearned to change the ways of her unfaithful husband and consulted a sorceress. The sorcer-ess agreed that she would cure the husband’s infidelity in exchange for a consecrated Host. The woman committed the sacrilege, but when she exited the Church, the Host began to bleed. It bled so much that her fellow parishioners thought she had cut her hand. The wom-an ran home and hid the bleeding Host in a trunk. When her husband arrived home, the wife told him what she had done, and later that night there was a light emanating from the trunk. She and her husband began to kneel before the trunk. The following morning, the husband and wife brought the Host to the parish priest It was then moved to the Church of St. Ste-phen where another miracle occurred; the miraculous Host was originally put in a wax con-tainer however, when a priest opened the tabernacle to view the Host, the container was found broken, and the Host was found enclosed in a crystal pyx. Following your visit to this miraculous site, your group will board the bus and transfer to Fatima (approximately forty-five minutes).You will arrive in time for dinner at your hotel, and a restful overnight.

Day 4 | Thursday, October 26: Fatima
Today will surely be a memorable experience as you pray and meditate upon one of Our Blessed Mother’s apparition sites. Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children; Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9). These apparitions occurred monthly from May until October of 1917. Historically, as the entire world was in true turmoil, Our Lady’s most prominent message during this time was to pray for world peace. The destruction of the world at that point in history was also mentioned by Our Lady in her messages of Fatima, and more specifically, in her second secret to the children. Our profoundly reflective day begins with Mass at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. This simple, yet modern, Chapel is the site of where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Following Mass, your tour of Fatima begins at the stunning neoclassical Church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima. This Sacred space contains the tombs of Francisco and Jacinta, as well as, a Monument that com-memorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Due to Our Lady’s consistency in Her messages to pray the Rosary, this Basilica also features fifteen altars that are dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. Upon arriving at this Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that were received here. Following this visit, your tour will continue to the Hamlet of Aljustrel, the home of the three shepherd children; and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s August 1917 apparition. Next, your tour culminates as you and your fellow pilgrims experience Christ’s unconditional love by participating in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacre. The “Sacred Way” marks the path taken by the shepherd children of Fatima to their first apparition with Our Lady. It is composed of fourteen small Chapels in commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord. The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, can be found below in the Chapel of Calvary, dedicated to St. Stephen of Hungary. Your night will conclude with private devotions, and a candlelight procession, requested by Our Lady (1917). Enjoy dinner and a comfortable night’s rest in Fatima.

Day 5 | Friday, October 27: Fatima – Salamanca
Your group will depart Fatima and head to Salamanca, following a full breakfast at the hotel (transfer will be approximately four hours). Salamanca is a small city in the Castilla y Leon region, and is known for its large University and prominent culture. While in Salamanca, your
group will visit the most noteworthy sites such as; the grand Plaza Mayor, an iconic square filled with food, shopping and city events; La Clerecía, a Church and college of the Jesuit Order that was constructed in the seventeenth century; La Casa de las Conchas, currently a public library but also, a monument noted and decorated by its shells, which symbolizes the ever-famous pilgrimage to Santiago (El Camino); the University of Salamanca, the oldest University in Spain and the third oldest in Europe; the two joint Salamanca Cathe-drals (old and new), one of which is of a Gothic/Romanesque style and the other is of a Renaissance style, respectively; the Roman Bridge, extends along the River Tormes, is a national monument and among one of Salamanca’s sturdiest bridges; La iglesia de San Marcos, constructed in the Romanesque style and contains breathtaking paintings that portray many scenes of Our Lady’s life; La iglesia de San Martin, a Church devoted to St. Martin de Porres, who is the patron saint of mixed-race people and all those seeking interracial harmony. Following this eventful day, you will return to your hotel for a deli-cious meal with your group and an overnight at your hotel in Salamanca.

Day 6 | Saturday , October 28: Salamanca - Alba de Tormes - Ávila – Burgos
This morning, after breakfast, you will board the bus and enjoy a short transfer (approximately twenty minutes) to the village of Alba de Tormes. This town is home to the Carmelite Monastery that Saint Teresa founded in 1571. Upon arrival in Alba de Tormes, your group will celebrate Mass at this Monastery where the saint died and was buried. Following Mass, you will have the opportunity to visit the small museum dedicated to St. Teresa of Ávila, which also holds her incorrupt heart and left arm. Your group will enjoy free time for lunch on your own, and continue to the medieval city of Ávila (approximately one hour). Upon arrival in Ávila, you will immediately notice the perfectly preserved elev-enth-century walls that surround the old town. The conservation of architecture in this city, to which St. Teresa was born, deems its Shrines, convents and Churches necessary to visit on any Catholic pilgrimage. During your visit to Ávila, you will have the opportunity to visit the Catedral de Ávila, whose artwork and architecture encompasses the Rom-anesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles; la Basilica de San Vicente, of which stands on the site of the martyrdom of St. Vincent; the Incarnation Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun and most interestingly, received advice from St. John of the Cross to reform the Car-melite order; el Convento de Santa Teresa, built upon the home of St. Teresa and contains the relics of hers and of St. John of the Cross; el Convento de San Jose, the first monastery created by St. Teresa as a response to her own incessant question, “What can I do for the Church?” After walking in the footsteps of St. Teresa, your group will transfer to Burgos (approximately two hours and forty minutes). Upon arrival in the historic capital of Old Castile, you will enjoy dinner with your group. Following dinner, you will have the oppor-tunity to explore the city of Burgos, and admire its magnificent limestone, gothic-style Cathedral. Late this evening, you will return to your hotel for a restful overnight.

Day 7 | Sunday, October 29: Burgos - Loyola – Lourdes
Following breakfast, your group will transfer from Burgos to Loyola (approximately two hours) to visit the birthplace of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit Order. St. Ignatius dedi-cated himself to becoming a soldier of the Christian faith, and as a result of many tribula-tions, he wrote the ever-famous Spiritual Exercises. In Loyola, you will see the 17th centu-ry Basilica that is dedicated to this remarkable Saint. The Basilica is part of a series of buildings that surrounds the “Holy House,” the birthplace of St. Ignatius. When you visit these Holy places, you will also have the opportunity to pray at the most venerated room, where St. Ignatius prayed and began his conversion. After meditating on the life of this founder of the Jesuit Order, you will enjoy free time for lunch and board the bus for the next destination. You will transfer through the spectacular Pyrenees Mountains, to Lourdes (approximately four hours and forty minutes).Upon arrival in Lourdes, you will check-in to your hotel and enjoy a splendid dinner and peaceful overnight.

Day 8 & 9 | Monday and Tuesday, October 30 and 31: Lourdes
Over the next two days, you will wake up in a small town that is nestled within the Pyre-nees Mountains. During your time in Lourdes, you will pray and meditate in yet another site of Our Lady’s apparitions. Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858, and an-nounced herself as “The Immaculate Conception”, near the Grotto of Massabielle. At the first two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady and left without any exchange of words. During the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized God’s love for us, penance and the necessity of performing acts of penance for sinners. Throughout your time in Lourdes, you will have the opportunity to attend Mass at the Grotto of where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette; watch a video presentation that explains, in detail, the story of Lourdes; drink water from the miraculous spring that has healed many; and sub-merge yourself in the healing baths. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to experi-ence Christ’s unconditional love as you meditate upon the “life size” Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. Also, while in Lourdes, you will walk in and medi-tate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. Your group will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette; and the “Cachot,” an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverish family lived. In the evening, you will have free time to attend the Blessed Sacrament Procession before dinner (April-October only). These processions are lit by candlelight and guided by the Most Holy Rosary. Following this prayerful experience, you will return to your hotel for dinner and a restful overnight.

Day 10 | Wednesday, November 1: Return Flights Home
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, your group will leave by motor coach and transfer to the Toulouse, Pau or Lourdes airport for return flights home.

Options:
† Single Supplement / Solo Traveler: $649
† Upgrade to Business Class Trans-Atlantic:
       One-way: $1,750
       Round-Trip: $3,500
       First Class: available upon request
† Children Discount (under 12): available upon request

Additional Information & Travel Tips:

What to Know Before You Go to Fatima, Spain and Lourdes

Any questions? Contact Katherine: 800-206-TOUR (8687) or [email protected]

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Candelight Procession, Lourdes, France