Make your way to your airport where you will board your overnight flight. Your meals are served on board.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the arrival hall where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/-or driver. Make your way to the vehicle for your transfer to your hotel. Upon arrival, check-in, and have free time to rest and refresh or explore. This evening, enjoy a welcoming dinner, followed by an overnight in Barcelona.

This morning, your day will begin with breakfast and a sightseeing tour of Barcelona! Enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the Port of Barcelona, Montjuic, Plaza de España, and Plaza de Catalunya. This port created some 2000 years ago in the coastal area to protect and provide access for ships to bring in goods. Currently, it is home to numerous walking areas, businesses, cultural and sporting events. Plaza de España is right outside the center of town, formerly known for its old bull-fighting ring. Presently, the Plaza is renowned for containing the Museum of Catalan Art, situated on the side of Montjuic. Plaza de Catalunya is located in central Barcelona and is known for its fountains and statues. Your day of touring will continue with a guided walk through the Gothic Quarter containing remains from an ancient Roman village, including the Cathedral of Barcelona. We will continue to the Eixample quarter to visit Antoni Gaudi’s stunning, unfinished Roman Catholic Basilica, La Sagrada Familia. In the afternoon, we will travel to Manresa to visit the Sanctuary of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the Holy Cave where St. Ignatius lived. Continue to Montserrat, home to the miraculous Black Madonna. Arrive in time for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, located on a rugged mountainside. According to Catholic tradition circa 50 A.D., St. Luke carved the statue of the Black Madonna and brought it to Spain. While in Spain, it was kept hidden from the Moors and later was discovered by shepherds. In 880 A.D., shepherds and the Bishop of Manresa were drawn to a grotto by a bright light and heavenly music. Upon discovery of the Black Madonna statue, the Bishop of Manresa suggested moving it to Manresa. However, the statue was too heavy and could not be lifted. As a result, the Virgin remained in Montserrat and continued to be venerated there for centuries. As the years progressed, several chapels were built on the site. In the eleventh century, the abbot-bishop Oliba founded the Monastery on Montserrat next to one of these chapels. Dinner and overnight.

This morning, following breakfast, depart for Zaragoza. While in Zaragoza, you will have the opportunity to visit the magnificent Basilica del Pilar, built upon the site where Our Lady appeared to St. James. In 44 A.D., St. James, the Greater was spreading the Gospel in Spain, making very little progress and questioning his mission. According to Catholic Tradition, the Virgin Mary, who was still living in Jerusalem, bi-located and appeared to St. James the Greater to boost his morale. While inside the Basilica, you will view the pillar carried by angels, and from atop Our Lady appeared. After the visit to the Basilica del Pilar, continue to La Seo Cathedral (Cathedral of Zaragoza) formally known as the church of San Vicente. The Visigoth period contains architectural elements of Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. In addition to the famous cathedral, Zaragoza is known for its folklore and local gastronomy. Both will be explored during the walking tour of the city. This evening, continue to Madrid, where you will eat your dinner and enjoy a restful overnight.

After breakfast, we will enjoy a tour of Madrid which includes the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor. A visit to Toledo will be next. Toledo is located on a rocky mound isolated on three sides right 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 spiral, which the cobbled lanes infiltrate as best they can. Toledo is known as the city of the Three Religions or Cultures. 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 beautiful Church of Santo Tomé, the Tránsito Synagogue, Santa María la Blanca Synagogue, the Church of San Juan de Los Reyes, Puerta de Bisagras, Puerta del Cambrón, Puerta del Sol, etc. We will continue to Ubedo for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning we will explore Úbeda and Baeza, two sister cities in Andalusia, declared a World Heritage Site and separated by only eight kilometers away. Both cities treasure an impressive monumental set unique in Spain. Baeza has a splendid monumental complex, where art and history have left the most beautiful examples, and Ubeda is a city of beautiful Renaissance buildings in perfect harmony with other architectural styles. It was in Baeza where St John of the Cross opened a house of studies for the friars, close to the old university. There he resided from 1579-82. In Baeza John wrote part of “En una noche oscura” (the Dark Night poem), and some of the ascent of Mt. Carmel. When John of the Cross became ill towards the end of his life, he was sent to Ubeda, in the province of Jaen, for treatment. Following a visit to the Museum dedicated to St John of the Cross, we will visit an Olive Oil factory. Although olive oil is produced in all the provinces in Andalucia, it is the oil from Jaén province that eclipses all others. Known as the ‘cradle of olive oil’ in Spain, Jaén province supplies 50% of the olive oil consumed in Spain and over 20% of the total production of the best olive oil in the world. Over 550 square kilometres are planted with olive trees and they produce 600,000 tons of oil every year. Continue to Granada for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning we will visit one of the most beautiful palaces in the World: The Alhambra Palace. The meaning of the word Alhambra is “the red fort,’ which comes from its reddish walls. The Alhambra was a palace, a citadel, a fortress, and the home of the Nasrid sultans, high government officials, servants of the court, and elite soldiers (from the 13th to the 14th century). Today, the monument is divided into four main areas: the Palaces, the military zone or Alcazaba, the city or Medina, and the agricultural estate of the Generalife. Woods, gardens, and orchards surround all of these areas. Other notable buildings belonging to a different period are also included, such as the Renaissance-style Palace of Charles V, which houses the Alhambra Museum (most of the items are from the site of the monument). We will also visit the Royal Chapel where the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, are buried. In the afternoon we will depart towards Guadix Sierra (mountain range) where we will visit an almazara (oil press factory) and experience an olive oil tasting. Return to Granada. Overnight in Granada.

Following breakfast, we will visit Malaga. Its elegant central zone has several interesting churches and museums, not to mention the birthplace of Picasso and the new Picasso Museum, housing an important collection of works by Malaga’s most famous son. Built in the Renaissance style, Malaga Catedral is an imposing architectural masterpiece at the heart of the city. Famously, the cathedral’s second tower was never built due to funding restraints, earning it the legendary moniker: ‘the one-armed lady’. Overlooking the town and port are the formidable Moorish citadels of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro. Another important sight is the Roman theater, accidentally unearthed in 1951 and now a venue for various outdoor entertainments. Following the visit to Malaga, we will continue our journey towards Seville. for accommodation in the hotel. In the evening we will have dinner in a local restaurant. If we are not too tired, we will enjoy an evening walk through the city. Overnight in Seville.

Sevilla has three important monuments and an illustrious history, but it’s essentially famous for its living self- the greatest city of the Spanish South, of Carmen, Don Juan, and Figaro, and the archetype of Andalucian promise. This reputation for gaiety and brilliance, for theatricality and intensity of life does seem deserved. Sevilla is also Spain’s second most important center for bullfighting after Madrid and its magnificent bullring La Maestranza is proof of it. In the afternoon we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city including a visit to Parque Maria Luisa. The park represents the former gardens of the long-vanished Palacio de San Telmo and the site of Seville’s Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929. Inside the park is the most eye-catching remnant of the exhibition and one of Seville’s greatest monuments, the Plaza de España, the extraordinary semi-circular building half enclosing it took 15 years to build. Dinner and overnight in Sevilla.

This morning after breakfast transfer to the Seville airport for your short flight to Lisbon. Upon landing at the Lisbon airport, claim your baggage and proceed to the arrival hall, where your tour guide and/or driver will greet you. In the afternoon, enjoy a panoramic tour of Lisbon, which will include St. Jerome’s Monastery, built to give thanks to the Virgin Mary. We will drive by the Belem Tower and many landmarks, like; the 25th of April Bridge, the Basilica of the Star, and the Marquee of Pombal Square. Our last stop in Lisbon will be St. Anthony’s Church. The patron saint of lost things is best known as St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), but he was born and baptized here in Lisbon, Portugal. The Church where we will celebrate Mass was built upon the site of St. Anthony’s birth. Continue to Fatima. On the way, we will stop at St. Stephens Church in the town of Santarem to celebrate Mass and venerate the 13th-century Eucharistic Miracle. Continue to Fatima – this hamlet of Aljustrel is the birthplace and home of the three shepherd children. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

Today will surely be a memorable experience as you pray and meditate at 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 turmoil amidst World War I, the most prominent message from Our Lady of Fatima was to pray for world peace. In her messages to the children, specifically in the second secret, she mentioned the destruction of the world. Our profoundly reflective day begins with a visit to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions simple, yet modern, which is the site where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13th, 1917. Follow with a visit to the stunning neoclassical 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. Our Lady’s messages included consistent reminders to pray the Rosary – the Basilica honors this, by featuring fifteen altars dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. While in the Basilica, you will feel, through the love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces 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 the shepherd children took to the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. The path 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. The day ends with a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s August 19th, 1917 Apparition, which was also the first and third apparition of the Angel. Your night will conclude with private devotions and a candlelight procession, as requested by Our Lady (1917). Enjoy dinner and a comfortable night’s rest in Fatima.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, leave by motorcoach and transfer to the Lisbon Airport for your 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.