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 Madrid, collect your luggage at baggage claim. Continue to the arrival hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. You will be escorted to the bus where your group will transfer to your hotel. You will have free time before dinner and then retire for the evening.

This morning, you will awaken in the capital city of Spain! Following breakfast, you will enjoy a tour of Madrid that includes the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor. Both sites are iconic in Madrid, as the Palace hosts state ceremonies and events, and the Plaza Mayor is the geographic and social center of Madrid. This afternoon, you will depart for Toledo. It is known as the City of Three Religions or Cultures because the Christians, Jews, and Moors have lived peacefully in this city for centuries. Your tour includes the glorious Gothic Cathedral, which was built upon the ruins of the Great Mosque of Toledo. Visit La Iglesia de Santo Tome, best known for housing El Greco’s most famous painting, and the Sinagoga del Tránsito, known for its impeccable stucco inscriptions. Additionally, you will visit several monuments, including La Puerta de Bisagras, La Puerta del Cambron, and La Puerta del Sol, among others. Your day will culminate with a return transfer to Madrid, where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

Today, you will depart from Madrid and head towards the city of Santiago de Compostela. On the way, stop on the Calle del Agua of Villafranca del Bierzo. This main street truly embodies Baroque architecture and is lined with palaces and ornate houses. At the entrance of this village, you will find the Romanesque Church of Santiago. Traditionally, pilgrims who were unable to complete El Camino due to illness would receive the Jubilee blessing at this church. Your next two stops will be visits to the gothic-style Collegiate Church of Santa Maria and the Church of St. Nicolas, dedicated to the patron Saint of Villafranca del Bierzo. In the afternoon, you will 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. While in O Cebreiro, view the iconic palooza-style houses and the site of a Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in 1300. This evening, proceed to Santiago de Compostela for dinner and an overnight.

This morning, join the walking pilgrims at Monte del Gozo from which the spires of the iconic Cathedral in Compostela are visible. You will walk the last few miles of El Camino and then attend the International Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral of St. James. Formed by Galician granite, this Cathedral encompasses Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles. Additionally, the Cathedral contains numerous valuable pieces of art. Upon entering the Cathedral, pilgrims traditionally hug a statue of St. James. Following this intimate embrace, you will descend into the crypt where the Patron Saint of Pilgrims’ relics are kept. Following your visit, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Some stops on your tour include Obradoiro Square, Fonseca Palace, Gemerez Palace, Franco Street, and many more. Your evening will be free to spend at your leisure until dinner and 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 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 at 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.

Today, you will transfer to the airport and board your flight to either Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, or Sarajevo. After landing, collect your luggage and continue to the arrival hall where you will be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver. You will be escorted to the vehicle that will take you on the 2.5 hour drive to the village of Medjugorje. Your group will enjoy a dinner together before retiring for the evening.

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.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, you will leave by motor coach for Dubrovnik (or Split or Sarajevo) 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.