Arrival at Rome International Airport. Greeted by an English-speaking guide, then departure to visit Assisi, located north of Rome. A walled city with an unmistakable medieval style. Time to visit this magnificent urban complex built in pink stone. Its medieval streets, surprisingly well preserved, feature balconies decorated with flowers. Visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis, where you can admire one of the most beautiful sets of frescoes in the world. Lunch. Departure to Lanciano to visit the Monastery of S. Legoziano. Continuation of the visit to the Padre Pio Sanctuary in S. Giovani Rotondo. Late in the afternoon arrival at the hotel in S. Giovanni Rotondo for dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure towards Vatican City, for the Papal Audience. Lunch. Visit to the Vatican Museum, recognized as a unique heritage of humanity. The visit includes, among others, the beautiful Candelabra Gallery, the Tapestry Gallery, the Map Gallery and the Gallery of the Immaculate Conception. Continuation of the visit with the infamous School of Athens (Raphael), most of which were painted by the master between 1508 and 1520. The visit ends in the Sistine Chapel, where we can admire Genesis and the Last Judgment, Michelangelo’s frescoes which, after being fully restored , are back in all their splendor. After visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest basilica in the world and measuring more than 15,000 square meters, we will also visit St. Peter’s Square. Continuation of the visit to the “Eternal City”. We will begin by contemplating the Trevi Fountain (made famous in Fellini’s film “Dolce Vita”), then the Chigi Palace, Colonna Square (with the column of Emperor Marcus Aurelius), the Parliament, the Pantheon (built by Emperor Hadrian in the II BC) and Piazza Navonna. After a panoramic walk passing by Mount Caelian, with a wonderful view of the Colosseum and the School of Gladiators, Palatine Hill with the archaeological remains of the emperors’ palaces, Mount Aventine with the Quirinal Palace (the largest palace in Italy, which is also the official residence of the President of the Republic) and the Esquiline where you can see the largest of the basilicas dedicated to Santa Maria Maior. Late in the afternoon, we arrived at the hotel in Rome for dinner and accommodation.
After breakfast, departure towards the airport for the international flight to Lisbon. Arriving in Lisbon, start of a City Tour of the city with a shopping stop. Departure to Fátima. Late in the afternoon, arrival at the hotel in Fátima for dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast and lunch at the hotel. Mass in the morning. visit to the Sanctuary of Fátima, formally called by the Catholic Church as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima. This place is known for Christian pilgrimage and Catholic devotion, preserving the memory of the events that led to its foundation, which are the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd children (Lucia dos Santos, Francisco and Jacinta Marto – in 1917). Its magnitude and relevance, from a religious point of view, has long been recognized nationally and internationally. By express will of the Holy Apostolic See, this is a National Shrine. It is also one of the most important Marian shrines in the world, belonging to the Catholic Church and the largest international destination for religious tourism, receiving around six million visitors per year. It was awarded three papal gold roses and visited by Popes Paul VI (1967), John Paul II (1982, 1991 and 2000), Benedict XVI (2010) and Francis (2017). The Sanctuary of Fátima is made up of the Chapel of Apparitions, the Prayer Room (outdoors), the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and its Colonnade, the grand Basilica of the Holy Trinity, the retreat houses of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Nossa Senhora das Dores, the sacred paths of Valinhos and the Paulo VI Pastoral Center. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel in Fátima.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure towards Ávila, a walled city closely linked to the life of Santa Teresa. Lunch. Departure to Madrid, capital of Spain, there we will visit the Almudena Cathedral, the Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor, the “Puerta del Sol” and other monuments. Arrival at the hotel in Madrid for dinner and accommodation.
After breakfast, departure to Zaragoza to visit the Basilica, built at the end of the 17th century, one of the most visited in Spain, where the Chapel of the Virgen del Pilar stands out, which is one of the city’s main centers of interest. Lunch. In the afternoon trip to Barcelona. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and visit to Barcelona. Lunch. Visit to the city (with local guide). Highlight the city center, with emphasis on the Sagrada Família Church, among others. In the afternoon, climb Tibidabo (one of the most impressive views in Barcelona) with its beautiful church, where you can see the famous image of the Sacred Heart of Christ. In the afternoon, arrival at the hotel in Barcelona for dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Montserrat. There we will visit the Benedictine Monastery, founded in 986, and the Basilica of the Black Virgin of Montserrat. Lunch and departure to Lourdes. Late afternoon arrival in Lourdes. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation at the hotel on a full board basis. In the morning, celebrate mass and visit the city (large religious center). Every year, Lourdes is visited by millions of pilgrims and sick people because of the apparitions: on February 11, 1858, Bernadette Soubirous, 14 years old and daughter of the city’s miller, had a vision of the Virgin, when she was in the cave. of Massabielle, the vision was repeated 18 times. After the first appearance, miracles began to happen. Then visit the Sanctuary. With three overlapping churches (the Crypt, the Basilica of the Rosary and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception) and the underground Basilica (with capacity for 20 thousand people). Dinner at the hotel. At night it is possible to observe the imposing candle procession that takes place daily in the Grotto. Return to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Paris. On the way, stop for lunch. In the late afternoon, arrival in Paris and start of the City Tour, visiting the Sacre Coeur and the Eiffel Tower. Late in the afternoon arrival at the hotel for dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast at the hotel and visit to Lisieux. Lunch and visit to the Basilica of Saint Teresa and Carmel. Return to Paris for dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast at the hotel and free time for last-minute shopping before departure to Paris international airport and return flight.
