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 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. We will attend Mass at the Church of St. Stephen, which holds a 13th-century Eucharistic Miracle. Continue to Fatima and visit the Hamlet of Aljustrel, the home of the three shepherd children. Visit the Parish Church and Fatima Parish Cemetery. Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today will 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 turmoil, Our Lady’s most prominent message was to pray for world peace. The destruction of the world at that point in history was also mentioned by Our Lady, particularly 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 chapel is where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Next, you will see the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This Sacred space contains the tombs of Blessed Francisco, Blessed Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. View the monument that commemorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square. In honor of Our Lady’s requests to pray the Rosary, the Basilica also features fifteen altars each dedicated to a mystery of the Rosary. Visit the Museum with the “Fatima: Light and Peace” exhibition. 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 commemorating 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, as requested by Our Lady in 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 stay in a small town in the Pyrenees Mountains. During your time in Lourdes, you will pray and meditate at the 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. During the first two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady and left without exchanging words. During the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized God’s love for us 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, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. Watch a video presentation that explains the story of Lourdes. Wash your hands, wash your face, and drink the water of the miraculous spring. Finish with a short prayer: “Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette, pray for us. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Experience Christ’s unconditional love as you meditate upon the “life-size” Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. In Lourdes, you will walk in and meditate 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 impoverished family lived. Each evening, following dinner, you can attend the candlelight procession and pray the Rosary before a restful overnight.

You will have an early morning transfer from Lourdes to board your flight(s) to Medjugorje. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver, who will take you on the 2.5 hour drive to the village of Medjugorje. Dinner and overnight.

The most beautiful features of Medjugorje are its simplicity and peace. A local guide will accompany your group throughout your stay in the village.

Some activities that will accompany you in your spiritual journey:

Attend Daily Mass: Each morning at 10:00 AM, your group will assemble at St. James Church for Mass (English-speaking). At the end of each Mass, regardless of language, there is a blessing of the religious articles that you have with you.

On Feast Days, and Sundays, English Mass is at 12 PM.

Climb Apparition Hill: This mountainous hill is where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. At the base of this hill is a Blue Cross, where it is said Our Lady appeared to the children while they hid from the communist police in the early days of the alleged apparitions. While climbing, your group is invited to recite the Rosary, pausing five times for each decade. At the top of the hill, you will witness the exact location of the first alleged apparition of Our Lady to the visionaries. Enjoy private time for prayer.

Climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain): In 1933, the villagers built a 30′ high cross atop a mountain to commemorate Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Your group will have the opportunity to climb this mountain and venerate that very cross. While climbing, your group is invited to pray the Stations of the Cross (to meditate on Jesus’ suffering on the Road to Calvary), pausing fifteen times for each Station.

Apparitions: Each evening at 5:00 PM (or 6:00 PM depending on Daylight Savings Time), your group can join the villagers and fellow pilgrims of Medjugorje at either St James Church or Apparition Hill to commemorate the time Our Lady appears to the Visionaries. There you can pray the Rosary, as you all await that time: 5:40 PM (or 6:40 PM during Daylight Savings Time).

*Afterward, Croatian Mass is held at St. James Church and all may attend. It is simultaneously broadcasted by radio in order to translate the services from Croatian into many languages. Following the Croatian Mass, there is a Blessing of the Sick.
**For details about the Visionaries, please visit: http://www.206tours.com/visionaries

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Our Lady has always called us to be close to her Son. You will have the opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament at the altar outside of St. James Church. Adoration is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Veneration of the Cross is held on Fridays inside the church. Additionally, there is an Adoration Chapel on the grounds of St. James Church, where Adoration is held in the afternoon hours.

Visit the Community of Cenacolo:
Pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the Community of Cenacolo, founded by Sr. Elvira Petrozzi, for young men and women who have taken the wrong path and are on the road to recovery. You will be able to listen to their inspirational testimonies about their journeys back to Jesus Christ.

Prayer at the Statue of the Risen Christ: The bronze statue of the Risen Christ is located on the grounds of St. James Church. Many pilgrims sit and pray on the benches surrounding this peaceful statue. This statue miraculously seeps droplets of water out of Christ’s right knee.

Depart Medjugorje and transfer to Duprovnik. Spend the afternoon in this city overlooking the Adriatic. Feel free to walk to the Old Town, also known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. This evening, you will have dinner at a typical Dalmatian restaurant that serves local delicacies and wines.

Following breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of the Old City. It will begin at the Church of St. Blaise, which is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Dubrovnik. In 1715, this Baroque-styled Church was constructed by the Venetian architect Marino Gropelli. The masterpiece of this Church is its large staircase leading to the ornamented main portal and the large dome that decorates the roof. Continue to the Gothic and Renaissance-styled Rector’s Palace, home to the History Department of the Museum of Dubrovnik. Next, stroll by the iconic Bell Tower Clock and Orlando’s Column. To the left of this column is the Sponza Palace. In the sixteenth century, members of the Academia dei Concordi met on the palace’s first-floor hall to discuss literature. As a result, the palace is the most important cultural institution in Dubrovnik. Lastly, you will visit the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries. The monastery’s location was strategically placed at the most sensitive point of Dubrovnik’s defense barriers. While at the Franciscan Monastery, you can visit the Pharmacy, which serves both the local people and the monks. This afternoon, you will enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many small, family-owned restaurants along the narrow streets. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore. This evening, enjoy dinner and an overnight in Dubrovnik.

After breakfast, depart for the Republic of Montenegro, which has a dynamic landscape of extremely high peaks juxtaposed beside canyons, caves, and bays. Begin your excursion by heading towards the mouth of the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the longest and deepest fjord in Southern Europe. Enjoy a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, one of two islets off the coast of Perast. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest building on the artificial island, which is made of rocks and old ships. The island was created by a local fisherman who found an icon of the Blessed Mother and Jesus on a rock. Throwing rocks at the island is now a tradition to increase its size. Upon return to the coast, we will stop in Perast, an old charming coastal town with just one main street, yet sixteen Churches! Spend time in the city of Kotor, famous for its winding streets and medieval charm, before returning to Dubrovnik for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, depart Dubrovnik and travel north along the spectacular Adriatic coast. Pass old fishing villages and new resorts before arriving in Croatia’s second-largest city, Split. The historic inner city of Split was built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. While exploring, you can see remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, including Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle of Diocletian’s Palace, and the Cathedral of St. Domnius. The Temple of Jupiter was built around the third century and is dedicated to the highest Roman god, the god of the sky, and the god of thunder. The Diocletian’s Palace had two purposes: half was used for the Diocletian’s personal use, and the other half was used as a military garrison. Lastly, you will visit the Cathedral of St. Dominus, which is encircled by twenty-four columns. The oldest monuments in this Holy place are those depicting the life of Christ, found on the entrance doors of the Church. This evening, you will enjoy dinner at a local Konoba (a restaurant in the coastal area of Croatia). Following dinner, you will continue to your hotel, where you will have a restful overnight.

After breakfast, we head north along the coast to Trogir, the center of artistic activities where scholars gather to study and paint. Trogir is a small island connected to the mainland of Croatia by bridges. Some remnants of Medieval walls remain, while much of the island boasts Gothic and Renaissance influences. Our journey continues towards the beautiful Plitvice Lakes, where we will enjoy dinner and overnight after a full day of touring.

Today, we will explore Plitvice National Park, which is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Take in the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder. Founded in 1949, the park spans 295 square kilometers and preserves an incredible landscape that includes 16 terraced lakes, countless waterfalls, mountains, and limestone canyons. The mountainous region of the park borders Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wildlife like European brown bears, wolves, eagles, owls, lynx, and wild cats roam this scene. After a full day of exploring, enjoy dinner and overnight in Plitvice.

Today, we will return to the coast to the beautiful bay of Kvarner and its popular tourist town, Opatija. An orientation tour of Opatija will present the highlights of this former Imperial resort city. After your visit here, drive across the border into Slovenia to Postojna Caves, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour the fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Over 38 million people have visited these caves in the past 200 years. Afterward, continue to Bled for dinner and overnight.

Bled is a stunning Alpine lake surrounded by high peaks in northwestern Slovenia at the southern foot of the Karawanks mountain, about 30 miles from Ljubljana. A sightseeing tour features the charming town and lakeshore, and visits Bled Castle, a medieval castle perched on a cliff high above the lake. Bled Castle is the oldest Slovenian Castle, first mentioned in a 1011 deed. This afternoon, enjoy an excursion to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. View the central open-air Market, Baroque Town Hall, Robba’s Fountain, the Three Bridges, and the Parliament. Enjoy a farewell dinner and overnight in Ljubljana.

After breakfast transfer to Ljubljana airport for your return flight(s) 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.