Tour 34-B Shrines of Spain, Fatima Retreat & Medjugorje 22 days  
Barcelona, Montserrat, Manresa, Zaragoza, Toledo, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela, Lisbon, Fatima, Medjugorje

About Medjugorje
On June 25, 1981, in the mountain village of Medjugorje in Herzegovina, Our Lady appeared to six children. She identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, and continues to appear to several of the visionaries. Her mission is to promote peace with God and mankind, through her Son, Jesus. Mary's own words to the children explained, "I have come to tell the world that God exists." 206 Tours has been arranging pilgrimages to Medjugorje since 1985.  We have assisted over 250,000 people many claiming to be at such peace and to have experienced spirituality like they have never felt before.  For those who have never been, if you hear the "calling" - please call us.



YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:

crossbullet
Round-trip air from New York (special Add-on Airfares from all US gateways)
bulet All Airlines Fuel Surcharges & Airport Taxes
bulet 20 nights accommodations in first class hotels as follows: (or similar)
      ~ 3 nights: Hotel Berna, Barcelona
      ~ 2 nights: Hotel Moratin, Madrid
      ~ 2 nights: Hotel Compostela, Santiago de Compostela

      ~ 1 nights: Marques de Pombal or Hotel Mundial, Lisbon, Portugal
      ~ 5 nights: Santa Maria Jardim, Fatima

      ~ 7 nights: modern Home/Hotel with private baths in Medjugorje
bulet Transfers as per itinerary
bulet Breakfast and Dinner daily
bulet Wine and mineral water with dinners
bulet Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
bulet Assistance of a professional local Catholic guide(s)
bulet Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
bulet Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction
bulet Mass daily & Spiritual activities

bulet Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
bulet Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents

 

Not Included: Lunches. Travel Insurance optional (www.206tours.com/insurance), Extended Cancellation Protection Plan @ $199 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide & driver (€7-9 per day). Items of a personal nature.



Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:

Day 1 - Depart USA
Board your overnight transatlantic flights from your home town. Meals are served on board.


Day 2 - Arrive Barcelona
Upon arrival you will be greeted by our tour guide and driver. Transfer to our hotel where you will enjoy free time to rest and refresh before Mass. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.


Day 3 - Barcelona
After breakfast we will enjoy a tour of Barcelona including: panoramic views of the Harbor area, Montjuic, Plaza de España, and Plaza de Catalunya. Afterwards, continue on a guided walk through the Gothic Quarter to visit the cathedral and to view Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, a beautiful, unfinished Roman Catholic basilica of impressive proportions. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the colorful markets of Las Ramblas. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.


Day 4 - Excursion to Montserrat & Manresa
After breakfast we make our way to Montserrat, home to the dramatically set Benedictine monastery. On a rugged mountainside we will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th-century, pilgrims have been drawn to the mountain to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna. According to Catholic tradition, the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD and brought to Spain. It was later hidden from the Moors in a cave, where it was rediscovered by shepherds in 880 AD. They saw a bright light and heard heavenly music that eventually led them to the grotto and the statue. The Bishop of Manresa, present at the discovery, suggested that it be moved to Manresa, but the small statue was discovered to be so heavy it could not be lifted. Thus the Virgin had indicated her will to stay on Montserrat to be venerated there. In the 11th century, the abbot-bishop Oliba founded a monastery on the mountain of Montserrat next to one of the chapels, where the Benedictine Abbey is still preserved. Return to Barcelona for dinner and overnight.


Day 5 - Barcelona - Zaragoza - Madrid
After breakfast we will depart towards Zaragoza where we will visit the magnificent Basilica del Pilar, built in the place where our Lady appeared to Saint James. Tradition says that in the early day of the Church, Saint James The Greater was spreading the Gospel in Spain, but making very little progress. He was dejected and questioning his mission. About 44 AD, the Virgin Mary, who was still living in Jerusalem at the time, bi-located and appeared to him in a vision to boost his morale. In it, she was atop a column or pillar, which was being carried by angels. That pillar is believed to be the same one venerated inside the Basilica. We will also visit the Cathedral of Zaragoza and we will do a walking tour of the city. Later we will continue our journey to Madrid for dinner and overnight.


Day 6 - Madrid & Toledo
After breakfast we will enjoy a tour of Madrid including the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor. We then depart for Toledo which sits on a rocky mound isolated on three sides by a looping gorge of the Río Tajo. Every available inch of this outcrop has churches, synagogues, mosques and houses heaped upon one another in a haphazard spi-ral, which the cobbled lanes infiltrate as best they can. Toledo is known as the City of the Three Religions or Cultures because for many centuries the Christians, the Moors, and the Jews lived together in relative equality and peace. The city surrounded by walls hides great treasured: its awesome Cathedral, the church of Santo Tomé, the Tránsito Synagogue, Santa María La Blanca Synagogue, the superb church of San Juan de los Reyes, Puerta de Bisagras, Puerta del Cambrón, Puerta del Sol, etc. We return to Madrid for dinner and overnight.


Day 7 - Madrid - Santiago de Compostela
After breakfast depart towards city of Santiago de Compostela. Stop in Villafranca del Bierzo, where we will visit to the Collegiate Church of Santa María, the churches of Santiago and San Nicolas, as well as the Agua Street, full of palaces and emblazoned houses. Later we enter Galicia by Lugo, not far from Santiago. We will stop in O Ce-breiro, the first village in the region of Lugo along the Route, with an altitude of 1,300 meters. A group of "pallozas" can be seen and a beautiful Pre-Romanesque temple, from the 9-10 C, containing a Chalice, the Paten of "Santo Milagro" and a precious Romanesque carving of Santa Maria la Real. We continue on to Santiago de Com-postela for dinner and overnight.


Day 8 - Santiago de Compostela
After breakfast we set out to join the walking pilgrims at the Monte del Gozo from which the spires of the Cathedral are first visible. We will walk the last couple of miles of El Camino arriving at the Cathedral, the destination we have been yearning to reach. We will attend the International Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral of St. James, one of the finest examples of architecture in all of Europe. Tradition invites us to perform some rites. The most important and meaningful one is the hug to the Saint, go under the main altar and visit the crypt where the relics of St. James are preserved. In the afternoon we will visit to the city of Santiago to see: Obradoiro Square, Fonseca Palace, Gelmirez Palace, Franco Street, etc. Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela.


Day 9 - Santiago do Compostela - Lisbon
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your short flight to Lisbon. Arrive Lisbon. This afternoon we will enjoy a tour of Lisbon. Sightseeing tour will include a visit of the Cathedral, St. Jerome’s Monastery, Saint Anthony's Church, Belem Quarter: Belem Tower, 25 April Bridge, Discoveries Monument. Our drive will also take us through the Basilica of the Star, Rossio Square, Commerce square and Marquee of Pomba Square. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

 

Day 10 - Lisbon - Santarem - Fatima
After breakfast depart Lisbon for Santarem, where one of the oldest cities in the world is located. We will walk through its narrow streets to the Church of St Stephen, containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle. This miracle has been on continuous display since 1269. We then continue on to Fatima, the place where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace.  Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

 

Day 11 thru 14 - Fatima
Start off your days by going to Mass at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. Your escort and tour guide will be advising you about your day by day itinerary upon arrival however, by the time your trip ended you would have seen Fatima as well as experienced the beauty of this spiritual town. We will see the Basilica, the site of Francesco and Jacinta's graves, the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived, and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison. Experience Christ's love as you walk and follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) culminating in the Chapel of Calvary, which overlooks all of Fatima. Join pilgrims from around the world in an evening candlelight procession to pray the rosary. Don't forget your white handkerchief for the Adeus farewell, when pilgrims wave a loving farewell to the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous well. Attend the blessing of the sick and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady. Time for private devotions before dinner and overnight.


* During the last 3 nights a Catholic Priest and guide may not be accompanying group.  The additional nights are intended to provide additional time for private prayer, reflection, and retreat!

 

Day 15 - Lisbon - Medjugorje

After breakfast you will be transferred to Lisbon airport for your flights to Medjugorje. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver who will then take you on the 2 1/2 hour drive by private coach to the village of Medjugorje. Guide will be with your throughout your stay. Once there, you'll meet your fellow pilgrims and your spiritual leader and be introduced to your host family in whose comfortable yet modest house (inn) you will be staying for the next seven nights.

 

Days 16 to 21- Medjugorje
Experience the beauty and peace of this simple village. During your stay in Medjugorje you will have the opportunity to share faith with pilgrims from all over the world. Our local guide will accompany us throughout your stay.

Here are some of the activities you'll be sharing with our fellow pilgrims: Each morning at 10am we assemble at St. James Church for the English-language Mass (Feast days and Sundays English Mass is at Noon). Follow the path up Apparition Hill where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. Touch and pray before the cross that commemorates the spot where Mary first appeared to the visionaries.

Each evening at 5pm or 6pm daylight savings time, we will join the villagers and pilgrims to pray the rosary. The apparition takes place at 5:40pm or 6:40 daylight savings time, and then stay on for Croatian Mass. Don't miss on Tuesdays and Saturdays Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and on Fridays Veneration of the Cross in the Church. Each evening during Croatian Mass, there is the Blessing of the Sick and blessing of the items you have with you.

Our guide will arrange meetings with the visionaries at their own homes provided that they are in Medjugorje during your trip, and pending their availability. We will have the opportunity to climb Krizevac Mountain, where in 1933 the villagers built a 30' high cross on the anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion. Visit and pray at "Blue Cross", which is a place of great healings and graces- a very special place at the base of Apparition Hill. We will also visit the community of Cenacolo.

* The balance of your trip in Medjugorje is meant to provide you with time for a personal retreat. As such, your time in Medjugorje is not designed to be a “tour”, but rather to provide you with time to pray, reflect, and explore on your own as you feel called. On arrival, you will have an orientation tour after which a representative of 206 Tours will be available should you have any questions or requests, however, you will not have a guide with you throughout your stay. Please note that there will not be a Spiritual Director with you during this time, however Daily Mass in English, as well as English confessions are available at St. James Church. During your stay in Medjugorje you will have full discretion over how your time is spent, in order to have the fullest spiritual experience possible. If you would prefer our traditional pilgrimage/tour of Medjugorje, we would recommend you consider our Tour #1 (www.206tours.com/tour1) which provides a tour escort and spiritual leader throughout your stay.


Day 22 - Medjugorje - USA
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, we leave by motor coach for Dubrovnik Airport (Split or Sarajevo) for return flights home.



Additional Information & Travel Tips

 

What to Know Before You Go to Spain

 

What to Know Before You Go to Portugal

 

What to Know Before You Go to Medjugorje


Any questions? Call  800-206-TOUR (8687) or Email Us
Why travel with 206 Tours? Click here to read letters from our clients

 


 

Travel Dates Land Only
(no airfare)
*Air & Land # of
Pilgrims
Jun 13 - Jul 3, 2012   $5,049 $6,849
Jul 11 - Jul 31, 2012   $4,849 $6,649
Aug 8 - Aug 28, 2012   $4,849 $6,649
Sep 5 - Sep 25, 2012   $4,849 $6,249
Oct 3 - Oct 23, 2012   $4,849 $6,249
Oct 31 - Nov 20, 2012   $4,649 $5,999
Nov 28 - Dec 18, 2012   $4,649 $5,999

 

 

     Please select your departure airport. If you are not departing from New York (additional fees may apply)
For your local airport, please click on drop down menu below

 

 

Single Supplement/Private Room $1,349
Business Class Upgrade (one-way) $1,750
First Class available upon request
Children's discounts for children under 12 upon request
Clergy Discount 10%

 

 

For groups of 20 or more, you may choose your own departure and earn FREE trips

 

 

 
 

Sagrada

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Barcelona

Basilica Del Pilar

Basilica del Pilar

Zaragoza

Royal Palace

Royal Palace

Madrid

Royal Palace Ceiling

Ceiling inside the Royal Palace

Madrid

Cathedral

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral


Basilica

Our Lady of Fatima Basilica


Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima


Christ Risen Statue

Medjugorje

 

Our Lady of Medjugorje

Our Lady of Medjugorje

 
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