Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Upon landing at Lisbon Portela Airport, head to baggage claim and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Board the bus and begin a panoramic sightseeing tour of Lisbon. We will stop at 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. Continue to drive by the Belem Quarter, which contains the iconic entryway to the Lisbon harbor, the Belem Tower. This important historic structure has many beautiful sculptures, such as depictions of St. Vincent and Our Lady of Safe Homecoming. The next stop is St. Anthony’s Church, built upon the site of Saint’s birth; it is here that we will celebrate Mass. Although the patron Saint of lost things is known as St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), he was born in Lisbon, Portugal. This Church is built upon St. Anthony’s birth site and is also where Saint John Paul II visited in 1982. After Mass, we will drive to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today, we will travel north to the old city of Santarem. In Santarem visit and attend Mass at the Church of St. Stephen, which holds (13th century) Eucharistic Miracle: The Miracle occurred when a woman yearned to change the ways of her unfaithful husband and consulted a sorceress. The sorceress agreed that she would cure the husband’s infidelity in exchange for a consecrated Host. Visit the Church of St. Stephen where another miracle occurred; the miraculous Host was originally put in a wax container, 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. Continue to Fatima with a visit to the Hamlet of Aljustrel, the home of the three shepherd children. visit of the Parish Church and Fatima Parish Cemetery. Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today you will have a memorable experience as you pray and meditate upon one of Our Blessed Mother’s apparition sites. Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children; Venerable Sister Lucia (age 10), St. Jacinta (age 7), and St. 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 a visit to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. This simple, yet modern, the chapel is the site of where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Continue with a visit to the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This Sacred space contains the tombs of St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. View the monument, that commemorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the square. 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. While in the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that were received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. After free time for lunch, we will experience Christ’s unconditional love by participating in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra. The “Sacred Way” marks the path taken by the shepherd children of Fatima to their first apparition with Our Lady. It is composed of fifteen small chapels in commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord. The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, can be found close to the Chapel of Calvary, dedicated to St. Stephen, King of Hungary. Ending the day with a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s August 1917 apparition and the first and third apparition of the Angel. 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.

Depart Fatima and head to Salamanca, following a full breakfast at the hotel. Salamanca is a city in the Castilla y Leon region known for its large university. It is the oldest university in Spain that is still active. Our walking tour will take us to many famous sites. Visit the grand Plaza Mayor, an iconic square filled with food, shopping, and city events. See La Clerecia, a church and college of the Jesuit Order that was constructed in the 17th century. Next, visit La Casa de las Conchas, which is currently a public library and a monument decorated with shells, which symbolizes the ever-famous pilgrimage to Santiago (El Camino). Walk by the University of Salamanca, the oldest University in Spain and the third oldest in Europe. Walk across the Roman Bridge, which extends along the River Tormes and is a national monument. See La Iglesia de San Marcos, which is constructed in the Romanesque style and contains breathtaking paintings that portray many scenes of Our Lady’s life. You will also see La Iglesia de San Martin, a Church devoted to St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of beggars and those most in need. Visit the inside of the two joint Salamanca Cathedrals (old and new). The first is a Romanesque style, and the other is a Gothic style. Following this eventful day, you will return to your hotel for a delicious meal with your group and an overnight at your hotel in Salamanca.

This morning, after breakfast, you will board the bus and enjoy a short transfer 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 is buried. Following Mass, you can visit the museum dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila, which also holds her incorrupt heart and left arm. Your group will enjoy free time for lunch on your own before continuing to the medieval city of Avila. Upon arrival, you will immediately notice the perfectly preserved 11th-century walls surrounding 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. The Cathedral de Avila encompasses the Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles of its time within its artwork and architecture. La Basilica de San Vicente in Avila stands on the site of the martyrdom of St. Vincent. Visit the Incarnation Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun. Saint Therese convinced Saint John of the Cross to reform the male Carmelite order, the reform she started when she met Saint John in Medina del Campo. After walking in the footsteps of St. Teresa, continue your journey to Burgos. Upon arrival in the historic capital of Old Castile, enjoy dinner. Following dinner, you will have the opportunity 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.

Following breakfast, transfer from Burgos to Loyola to visit the birthplace of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit Order. St. Ignatius dedicated himself to becoming a soldier of the Christian faith, and as a result of many tribulations, he wrote the ever-famous Spiritual Exercises. You will see the 17th-century Basilica dedicated to this remarkable Saint in Loyola. The Basilica is part of a series of buildings surrounding the “Holy House,” the birthplace of St. Ignatius. When you visit these Holy places, you will also have the opportunity to pray in 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. We will continue to Lourdes with a spectacular view of the Pyrenees Mountains. Upon arrival in Lourdes, you will check in to your hotel and enjoy a splendid dinner and peaceful overnight.

Over the next two days, you will wake up in a small town that is nestled within the Pyrenees 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 announced 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 submerge yourself in the healing baths. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to experience Christ’s unconditional love as you meditate on the “life-size” Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. Also, while in Lourdes, you will walk in and meditate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. You will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette; and the “Cachot,” an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived. In the evening, you will have free time to attend the Blessed Sacrament Procession before dinner. Following dinner participate in the candlelight procession and the Rosary.( April- October). Return to hotel for a restful night of sleep.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, your group will transfer to Pau, Toulouse or Lourdes airport for return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.