The Marian Shrines- Fatima, Lourdes & Spain
12 Days
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Fatima, Lourdes, and Spain have hosted some of the most extraordinary spiritual encounters. The Marian Apparitions at Fatima and Lourdes are well-documented and offer pilgrims wonderful destinations to seek the Blessed Mother’s intercession! Join us on a pilgrimage to the sites of Our Lady's apparitions and immerse yourself in all the wonders these cities have to offer.
What's Included
Roundtrip Airfare
Guided Tours
First Class Hotels
Deluxe Motor Coaches
Entrance Fees
Daily Breakfast & Dinner
Booking of daily mass where possible and when accompanied by a priest. Priest is provided by tour host and is subject to change due to availability,
Daily Itinerary
Depart from our local airport to begin our pilgrimage for Fatima!
Upon landing at Lisbon Portella Airport, we will pick up our luggage and proceed to be greeted by our tour guide and/or driver. We will be escorted to the bus and transfer to our Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Today will surely be a memorable experience, as we 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 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, chapel is the site 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, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. While in the Basilica, we 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. The day ends with a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's August 1917 apparition and the first and third apparition of the Angel. Then we 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, and is known for its large University, the oldest in Spain that is still active, along with its prominent culture. Our walking tour will bring us by the most noteworthy sites such as; the grand Plaza Mayor, an iconic square filled with food, shopping and city events; La Clerecia, a church and college of the Jesuit Order that was constructed in the seventeenth century; La Casa de las Conchas, currently a public library but also, a monument noted and decorated by shells, which symbolizes the ever-famous pilgrimage to Santiago (El Camino); the University of Salamanca, the oldest University in Spain and the third oldest in Europe; the Roman Bridge, extends along the River Tormes, is a national monument and among one of Salamanca’s sturdiest bridges; La Iglesia de San Marcos, constructed in the Romanesque style and contains breathtaking paintings that portray many scenes of Our Lady’s life; La Iglesia de San Martin, a church devoted to St. Martin de Porres, who is the patron saint of mixed-race people and all those seeking interracial harmony. Visit the inside of the two joint Salamanca Cathedrals (old and new), one of which is a Romanesque style and the other a Gothic style. Following this eventful day, we will return to the hotel for a delicious meal and an overnight at the hotel in Salamanca.
This morning, after breakfast, we 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, we will celebrate Mass at this Monastery where the saint died and was buried. Following Mass, we will have the opportunity to visit the museum dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila, which also holds her incorrupt heart and left arm. We will then enjoy free time for lunch on our own, before continuing to the medieval city of Avila. Upon arrival in Avila, we will immediately notice the perfectly preserved eleventh-century walls that surround 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 our journey to Burgos. Upon arrival in the historic capital of Old Castile, enjoy dinner. Following dinner, we will have the opportunity to explore the city of Burgos, and admire its magnificent limestone, gothic-style Cathedral. Late this evening, we will return to our hotel for a restful overnight.
After breakfast, we drive to Nazareth, where we visit the Grand Basilica of the Annunciation and the St. Joseph's Church. Then we visit Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water to wine at a wedding. Its modest church is a suitable place to reconfirm wedding vows. We will then drive to Mount Tabor, the Mount of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). From the top of the mountain there is a wonderful panoramic view which extends from Mt. Hermon in the north to the hills of Samaria in the south. Back to the hotel for dinner and 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. In Loyola, we will see the 17th century Basilica that is dedicated to this remarkable Saint. The Basilica is part of a series of buildings that surrounds the "Holy House," the birthplace of St. Ignatius. When we visit these Holy places, we will also have the opportunity to pray at the most venerated room, where St. Ignatius prayed and began his conversion. After meditating on the life of this founder of the Jesuit Order, we 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, we will check-in to our hotel and enjoy a splendid dinner and peaceful overnight.
Today we will wake up in a small town that is nestled within the Pyrenees Mountains. During our time in Lourdes, we 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. During 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 our time in Lourdes, we will have the opportunity to attend Mass at the Grotto, 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, we will have the opportunity to experience Christ's unconditional love, as we meditate upon the "life size" Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. Also, while in Lourdes, we will walk in and meditate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. We 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. Dinner & overnight at the Hotel.
This morning after breakfast we will travel along the French Pyrenean valleys, crossing the mountain range by way of Andorra. This tiny country has turned into a small commercial enclave. We will enter Spain and will arrive -in the very heart of Catalonia- at Montserrat, a peculiar geological formation, declared a natural park, picturesque from any angle. Here we will find the Marian Sanctuary of Montserrat with “La Moreneta” Possibility of celebrating or attending Holy Mass as well as renewing wedding vows. Dinner & Overnight in Montserrat.
Today we Travel to Barcelona and enjoy a panoramic tour visiting the grand avenues of the Example district with its modernist buildings -notably the homes on the Paseo de Gracia such as Lleó Morera, Amatller, Batlló and Milá- and the Sagrada Familia, masterpiece of architect Gaudí. Following a stop in another of his better known works, the Güell Park, we will arrive at the top of Montjuich with its magnificent views of the city and the coast. We will explore the vast historical district on foot and visit Santa María del Mar, the Gothic quarter, the Cathedral and Las Ramblas, the emblematic pedestrian walkway. Return to Montserrat for dinner & overnight.
This morning we will leave Catalonia and we enter Aragón, discovering its capital Zaragoza. The city has important monuments including the Aljafería -the ancient palace of the Arab governor, with it’s Gothic Cathedral “the Seo of San Salvador” and “the Basilica del Pilar”, site of the Virgin’s appearance to apostle Santiago. Later we proceed to Madrid for dinner & overnight.
After breakfast we experience a first glimpse of Madrid provided by a scenic tour that will allow us to appreciate the dimension and beauty of this city as well as its vital points such as Paseo de la Castellana, Gran Vía, Alcalá Street and Plaza de España. Nearby we find one of the best examples of the Bourbon urban layout: the Paseo del Prado with its fountains, gardens and museums. Of special interest are the Mile of Art, Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. We will also visit its Cathedral La Almudena as well as the historical center with the Main Square and the Puerta del Sol. Possibility of organizing a farewell dinner or attending a flamenco show. Overnight & dinner in Madrid.
After an early breakfast, we will leave by motor coach and transfer to Madrid airport for return flights home.
*Occasionally local religious holidays, national days, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of visits or the missing of certain visit. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, however, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of places to be visited.