Arrival at Lisbon airport with transfer to Fátima for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Sanctuary of Fátima, formally titled by the Catholic Church as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima. Fátima is known as a place of Christian pilgrimage and Catholic devotion, preserving the memory of the events that led to its foundation, namely the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd children – Lúcia dos Santos, Francisco and Jacinta Marto – in 1917. Its magnitude and relevance from a religious point of view, it has long had wide national and international recognition. By express will of the Holy Apostolic See, this Sanctuary is a National monument. 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 essentially consists of the Chapel of Apparitions in Praça de Pração (outdoors), the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and its Colonnade, the vast 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. Accommodation at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Santiago de Compostela. Lunch. At the end of the afternoon, guided by a local guide from Santiago de Compostela, a monumental jewel declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, we can contemplate: the Cathedral (the largest Romanesque temple on the peninsula, built between 1075 and 1211) with its admirable portico of glory , sculptural prodigy by Master Mateo, Praça do Obradoiro (where we find the Royal Hospital which is nowadays a luxury hotel), Praça Quintana (where we find the Holy Door, or Pordões, which only opens in the Holy Year), the “Plaza de Las Platerias” with Conga’s house. Then, descend to the old quarter, where typical streets, such as Rainha and Franco (next to the Fonseca Flower Square), enchant everyone who visits. We will also admire the university, Rua Vilar and Rua Nova. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, visit Padrón. According to legend, this was the place where the boat that brought the remains of the apostle Santiago Zebedee from the Middle East to the Iberian Peninsula docked. The rock – or wall – to which the boat was moored still exists today and is under the altar of the Church of Santiago de Padrón. On a hill, not far from the center of the town, on the other side of the river Sar, there is another place of worship to Santiago: the stone on which, according to legend, Santiago celebrated mass. Padrón is also known for its main gastronomic specialty: fried peppers. These peppers, which are actually grown in the nearby town of Herbón, are known internationally and can be easily purchased on the Portuguese market. After a brief visit, departure to the Picos de Europa. After lunch, visit the sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of Covadonga. Santa Cueva is a mandatory crossing point for anyone entering the Picos de Europa via Cangas de Onís. It was thanks to the Virgin that Pelagius was able to defeat the Muslims and begin the Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. We can see his tomb in Santa Cueva and next to it the image of the Virgin. It was another Asturian king who built this sanctuary in the same cave where it was said that Pelagius took refuge during the battles against the Moors, his grandson D. Afonso I (8th century). But it was King Alfonso X (13th century) who made the tomb of the first Asturian king remain in this place that they consider sacred and which today is a pilgrimage area. A plaque marks the visit of its most famous pilgrim, Pope John Paul II. They say that Covadonga means “source of the well” and it is true that below the cave we can see a small waterfall and a lake. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, we leave the Cantabrian Coast and head to San Sebastian. Arrival, brief tour of the city with a panoramic visit to Concha Bay and Ondareta. Lunch. Time to visit the Sanctuary, built in honor of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and where the Basilica and the Holy House stand out. Continuation of the trip through San Sebastian. In the afternoon, we continued our trip to Lourdes. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
Stay on full board basis. Celebration of Mass. In the morning visit the city, a 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, daughter of the village miller, had a vision of the Virgin, which occurred to her in the cave of Massabielle ; This vision was repeated 18 times. After the first appearance, the first miracles began to happen. Afterwards, 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 20,000 people). Dinner at the hotel. At night, it is possible to watch the imposing candlelight procession that takes place daily in the Grotto. Accommodation at the hotel.
After breakfast, departure towards 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 Virgin of Pilar stands out, which is one of the main centers of interest in the city . Lunch. In the afternoon, travel towards Barcelona. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a trip to Montserrat. Visit to the Benedictine monastery, founded in 986. Lunch, followed by a visit to the Basilica of the Black Virgin of Montserrat. Departure to Barcelona. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
After breakfast, departure for a visit to the city (with a local guide), highlighting: the city center, the Sagrada Familia Montjuich temple, etc. Lunch. In the afternoon, climb to Tibidabo (where we can have one of the most impressive views of Barcelona) with the beautiful church where the famous image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is located, on the horizon. Arrival at the port of Barcelona at 7:30 pm. Board a Grimaldi Lines cruise ferry. Dinner and accommodation in an interior double cabin. Entertainment on board, lounge with live music, bar with piano, disco, casino, health center, boutiques, cafeteria, swimming pool with bar and restaurant, solarium with sun loungers, video games, etc. Departure from the pier to Civitavecchia at 10:15 pm. Departure from the pier to Civitavecchia at 10:15 pm.
Free breakfast to enjoy the ship. Self-Service Lunch. Arrival in Civitavecchia at 6:45 pm (approximately). Departure to Rome…. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast and departure to St. Peter’s Square to participate in the audience and papal blessings, and also mass with Pope Francis. Possibility to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, not included. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, guided tour of “Imperial Rome”, Imperial Forum, Piazza Venecia, Campidoglio, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum (outside) … departure to the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast, departure to San Giovanni Rotondo. Visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Padre Pio in the Santa Maria da Graça Convent. Visit to the tomb and crypt. Lunch. Departure for Lanciano in the late afternoon. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
After breakfast, visit the Church of San Francisco, in Lanciano, site of the first Eucharistic miracle. Lunch. Proceed to Assisi in the late afternoon. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
After breakfast, visit the medieval city of Assisi. Visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, where we can admire all its relics and several famous paintings from around the world. Lunch. Stroll through the medieval streets decorated with flowers. Departure for Rome in the late afternoon. Arriving at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
Breakfast and free time to shop before transfer to Rome International Airport.
