Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be 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, 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 was established over 2,000 years ago to protect and provide access for ships carrying goods. Currently, it is home to numerous walking regions, 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 the heart of Barcelona and is famous 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 will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, located on a rugged mountainside. According to Catholic tradition, circa 50 A.D., St. Luke is said to have 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 discovering 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. He was discouraged due to the fact that he was making very little progress and began 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 visiting the Basilica del Pilar, continue to La Seo Cathedral (Cathedral of Zaragoza), formerly known as the Church of San Vicente. The Visigoth period contains architectural elements of Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. In addition to its famous Cathedral, Zaragoza is renowned for its rich folklore and local gastronomy. Enjoy a walking tour of the city before dinner and a restful overnight.

After breakfast, we will embark on a tour of Madrid, which includes visits to the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor. A visit to Toledo will be next. Toledo is situated on a rocky mound, isolated on three sides, adjacent to 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, Christians, Moors, and Jews lived together in relative equality and peace. The city, surrounded by walls, hides many treasures, including the Church of Santo Tomé, the Tránsito Synagogue, Santa María la Blanca Synagogue, the Church of San Juan de los Reyes, the Puerta de Bisagras, the Puerta del Cambrón, and the Puerta del Sol, among others. We will return to Madrid for dinner and an overnight stay.

Today, you will depart Madrid and head towards the city of Santiago de Compostela. On the way, stop in Astorga to visit the Bishop’s Palace built by Antonio Gaudi, which holds the Museum of El Camino. Later this afternoon, enter Galicia by way of the city of Lugo. Your first stop will be O Cebreiro, the first village in the region of Lugo, nestled in the mountains at an altitude of 1,300 meters. In O Cebreiro, view the iconic palooza-style houses and the site of a Eucharistic Miracle, which occurred in the year 1300. In the evening, proceed to Santiago de Compostela for dinner and an overnight stay.

This morning, you will walk a few miles of El Camino, immerse yourselves in the fragrant eucalyptus groves, and experience the breathtaking scenery. Later this morning, join in celebrating the International Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral of St. James. After Mass, there will be free time for lunch, followed by a visit to the Cathedral of Santiago. The Cathedral is made of Galician granite, one of the finest examples of architectural design in Europe, as it encompasses Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles. Additionally, it contains numerous valuable pieces of art that truly captivate the eye. Pilgrims traditionally hug the state of St. James as they enter the Cathedral. Descend into the crypt where the Patron Saint of Pilgrims relics is displayed. Following your visit, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Some stops on your tour include the Obradoiro Square, Fonseca Palace, Gelmirez Palace, Franco Street, and much more. Your evening will be free to spend at your leisure until dinner and an overnight.

Today,  you will travel to Lisbon. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver and transferred to your hotel in time for dinner and overnight.

Today, we will travel 45 miles north to the old city of Santarem. In Santarem, visit and attend Mass at the Church of St. Stephen, which holds a 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. 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 woman 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. Stephen where another miracle occurred; the miraculous Host was originally put in a wax container, however, when the Priest opened the tabernacle to view the Host, the container was found broken, and the Host was found enclosed in a crystal pyx.

From Santarem, we depart to Fatima. On the way, you will pay a visit to the Hamlet of Aljustrel which was the home of the three shepherd children. Visit the Parish Church and Fatima Parish Cemetery before reaching your hotel for dinner and an 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.

After breakfast, we will depart for the city of Salamanca. Salamanca is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. For four centuries, it was the home of the most prestigious universities in the world. We will have the chance to see many of the city’s famous sites including the grand Plaza Mayor, the hub of Salmantine life; the vast Baroque church of La Clerecía; the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), named after the rows of carved scallop shells symbol of the pilgrimage to Santiago which decorate its façade; the University; the cathedrals; the Roman Bridge; San Marcos and San Martin churches, and more. Enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant before continuing to our hotel for a restful overnight.

After breakfast, we will depart for the quaint village of Alba de Tormes. Here we will visit and celebrate Mass at the Carmelite Monastery, where Saint Teresa died in 1582 A.D. and is buried. At the monastery’s museum, we will be able to see the incorrupt heart and left arm of St. Teresa. Enjoy free time for lunch before we continue our journey to Ávila. This medieval city is best known for its perfectly preserved eleventh-century walls and the mystic writer, Saint Teresa, who was born here! She was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church. During our tour of Ávila, we will visit the Cathedral and the Church of San Vicente. We will visit the Incarnation Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun, and visit a museum dedicated to her life. We also will visit La Santa Monastery, built on the site of the house where she was born, and San José Convent, the first monastery founded by the Saint. After walking in the footsteps of St. Teresa, we depart for Burgos, the historic capital of Old Castile. After dinner, you will have free time to explore Burgos and admire the magnificent limestone Cathedral.

After breakfast, we depart from Burgos for Loyola, which was the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Here, we will see the 17th-century Basilica dedicated to St. Ignatius. We will also visit his family’s home, located behind the sanctuary. We will have time to pray at the most venerated room where Ignatius recovered after he sustained severe wounds during the Battle of Pamplona. After a break for lunch, we will drive through the spectacular Pyrenees Mountains. Nestled in the mountains stands Lourdes, the birthplace of St. Bernadette. Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle. We will arrive in time for dinner at our hotel before retiring to our rooms for a restful night’s sleep.

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.

After breakfast, depart for your flight(s) to Rome. Upon arrival in “the Eternal City”, collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the arrival’s hall where you will be greeted by a tour escort and/or driver. You will make your way to the bus and transfer to your hotel. Following check-in, you will have free time to unpack, relax, or explore Rome on your own. Your tour escort may suggest places to visit. Later in the afternoon, your group will meet in the hotel lobby for a “Meet and Greet” with your fellow pilgrims and depart for Mass. Following Mass, you will attend a welcome dinner. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to walk to St. Peter’s Square as a group to pray the Rosary (optional).

After breakfast at your hotel, our sightseeing day in Rome begins. The tour begins with the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square! The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, the Pope (pending the papal schedule). Following the Audience, there will be free time for lunch, shopping, or to mail a postcard from the Vatican Post Office. This afternoon you will visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome: the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This Basilica is where the Pope was installed as Bishop of Rome and where he officiates as the Bishop of Rome. Next, we will cross the street to visit the Holy Stairs. Tradition states that this staircase is from Pontius Pilate’s palace of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. It is also said that this Staircase was brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4th century. If time permits, you may climb the steps on your knees in memory of Christ’s agonizing Passion. To conclude your day, we will proceed to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. This Basilica contains a relic from the Manger of the Infant Jesus. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning you will enjoy an early breakfast before making your way to St. Peter’s Basilica. This Basilica was built on the site where St. Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. It is here that you will view Michelangelo’s Pieta. This stunning marble sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion, death, and removal off the cross before being placed in the tomb. Continue to the Vatican Museums. Here you will see the most impressive of edifices, galleries, and awe-inspiring relics. Additionally, you will see the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and Michelangelo’s Masterpiece, and the restored mural of the Last Judgment. The final stop on your Vatican tour is at the tomb of Saint John Paul II. Afterward, you will be transferred to the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), where you may enjoy free time on your own for lunch. Continue down the Appian Way which was the earliest road of Ancient Rome. This road leads to the Domino Quo Vadis Chapel, the Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of Drusus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and the catacombs of St. Callixtus. The day concludes with a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century, this Basilica is the burial place of Saint Paul the Apostle. We will make our way to a local restaurant for dinner. Following dinner, feel free to explore the streets of Rome or return to the hotel for an overnight.

Following breakfast, you will board your bus to enjoy the scenic route to Montecassino, passing through the Roman countryside, known for its villas and vineyards. During the bus ride, your tour escort will share information regarding the spiritual, historical, and cultural aspects of Italy. Montecassino, the principle monastery of the Benedictine Order, was founded by Saint Benedict around 530 A.D. Following the tour, there will be an opportunity to visit the gift shop, before we board the bus to continue toward San Giovanni Rotondo, the hometown of St. Padre Pio. Upon arrival in San Giovanni Rotondo, you will check-in, enjoy dinner in a restaurant, and an overnight.

After breakfast, we will visit the Old Church. After Mass, we will tour the sanctuary. It is here you will see the crucifix in front of which St. Pio received the stigmata. Visit the confessional from where St. Pio spent an innumerable amount of hours listening to confessions. Next, we will board the bus and travel along the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, a shrine consecrated by St. Michael. At this grotto, St. Michael appeared to a Bishop to assure him that his diocese would not be annihilated as he had feared. Following the visit to the grotto, enjoy free time. On the way back to San Giovanni Rotondo, view breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding countryside. Upon arrival, you will have time for devotion and reflection. Dinner and an overnight.

*Candlelight Procession: Between May and October, you can attend the weekly Candlelight Procession at the Sanctuary of St. Pio after dinner at 9:00 PM. These processions are lit by candlelight and include praying the Holy Rosary. Following this prayerful experience, you will return to your hotel for a restful overnight.

After breakfast, we will leave for Assisi. On the way, we will stop in Lanciano for private Mass at the Church of Saint Francis built on top of the old Church of St. Longinus. This was the site of a Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. At the time of the miracle, there was a Basilian monk, who struggled with the belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. During the time of Mass, the monk, with doubt in his voice, said the words of consecration and the bread and wine transformed into physical flesh and blood. Leave for the Marian Shrine of Loreto to visit the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. Tradition holds that this is the same house in which Mary first prayed the Magnificat, where Jesus grew to manhood, and where the Holy Family lived. Tradition holds that the house was transported several times by angels from the Holy Land to its current location. End the day in Assisi with dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Enjoy an early breakfast, followed by a full day of touring the hometown of St. Francis. St. Francis is the “Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment.” He founded the Franciscan Order and has been an inspiration to Catholics for centuries because of his humility and simplicity. Assisi has not changed much since St. Francis began his ministry in the early 13th Century and continues to preserve its medieval charm. We will start our tour at the Basilica of St. Francis. Visit his tomb and view a series of frescoes depicting his life, as well as a few of the Saint’s possessions. From there, we will continue on a walking tour through this picturesque town, including the birthplace of St. Francis. Visit the Santuario Della Spogliazione where Bl. Carlo Acutis is entombed. Bl. Carlo will be the first millennial to be declared a Saint. He had a great love for Jesus in the Eucharist and died of leukemia at the young age of 15. Our tour ends at the Church that honors St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clare Sisters. This Saint followed the teachings of St. Francis very closely by also living a life of poverty and humility. Enjoy some free time for additional prayer, shop in the many gift shops, or enjoy a nice lunch. After lunch, we will board the bus, which will take us outside of the walls of Assisi to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. This is where St. Francis spent most of life. This Basilica is made up of two structures, both of which you will visit. The first structure is the “Porziuncola”, which is where St. Francis founded his order of the Friar Minor (Franciscans). The second is the “Capella del Transito”, which is the place of St. Francis’ death. During your time here, you will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Rose Garden where St. Francis and other friars lived, as well as the cave where the Saint retired to pray. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, you will ride through the beautiful Umbrian mountains to Orvieto. This incredible town sits on a volcanic, high rock formation. Here we visit one of the most beautiful and most renowned Cathedrals in Italy. Because of its strategic location, its Christian history officially started in 1004, but Orvieto was built over preexisting Etruscan era cave tunnels dating back 2,500 years, which some historians believe Christians used to celebrate Mass during a time when Christianity was forbidden. Return to Assisi for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel will be followed by a scenic drive to the Tuscan city of Siena. This medieval city is the birthplace of St. Catherine “Doctor of the Church”, and the Apostle of Italy, St. Bernardine. Visit the Basilica of St. Catherine (which is also known as the Basilica of St. Domenico). St. Catherine passed a large part of her life inside the walls of this Basilica. It is here that you will also view the incorrupt head of St. Catherine. After, we will visit the Shrine of St. Catherine which occupies the site of her family home. Enjoy our walking tour through Siena, including a visit to its Cathedral (Duomo di Siena). We will conclude at one of Italy’s finest squares, the Piazza Del Campo, where you will have free time to spend at your own leisure. There are a number of restaurants surrounding the square to have lunch, as well as shops for gifts and souvenirs. Continue to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, you will notice immediately that it is the land for art lovers. Some of the world’s most renowned artists have been from Florence including Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello, and many others. You will have the remainder of the afternoon to explore Florence on your own. In the evening, gather for dinner, followed by an overnight.

In Florence, your day begins with breakfast, followed by a guided tour. The tour starts at the Church of the Holy Cross, the Santa Croce, where many nobles are buried including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Continue to walk by Piazza Signorina, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, and Republic Square to the Santa Maria del Fiore. This Cathedral is an iconic piece of architecture in the city of Florence. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 13th century. Next, visit L’Accademia, the well-known art gallery. View the work from artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Pontormo and Michelangelo’s sculpture of “David”. This afternoon, you will have time to explore Florence on your own. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast at your hotel, board the motor coach for your transfer to Padua. This Northern Italy city honors the “Patron Saint of Lost Things and Causes”, St. Anthony. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city and see one of the oldest Universities in Italy, the University of Padua, as well as the Basilica of Santa Giustina, the “Patron Saint of Padua”. The tour will conclude at the Basilica of St. Anthony where you will have the opportunity to visit the Saint’s tomb. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Today, you will have an early breakfast and then board your bus to depart to the magical city of Venice. After Mass, enjoy a tour of the “city paved with water”. Your walking tour includes a visit to St. Mark’s Square, the largest square in the city and the site of many government buildings; the Golden Basilica of San Marco, known for the great mosaics that depict the Old and New Testament of the Bible; and the Bridge of Sigh, a bridge that will bring eternal love to those who drift beneath it. You will also have the chance to view the Doges’ Palace (Duke’s Palace), which served as the seat of the Government for the Republic of Venice for centuries. Return to Padua for dinner and an overnight.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, your group will leave by motor coach and transfer to Rome Fiumicino 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.