Spain - Portugal - France Tour |
12 days / 11 nights
Lisbon - Santarem - Fátima - Salamanca - Alba de Tormes - Ávila - Segovia - Madrid
Day 1 Lisbon
Arrival to Lisbon.
Day 2 Lisbon
A sightseeing tour. The city is situated on the shores of the river Tagus that witnessed the departure of the caravels during the Age of Discovery. The tour includes places like Rossio ( the historical heart of the city ), Praça do Comercio, Torre de Belém and Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Visiting the church of St. Antony, built on the site where once was his father’s house and where he was born. St. Antony is the most venerated saint in the catholic world. Possibility of celebrating the Holy Mass.
Day 3 Lisbon- Santarém (90km/1,30h)- Fátima (60km/1h)
Visiting Óbidos, small village with well preserved medieval atmosphere. Here the visitors can taste a local beverage called ginginha. The next stop is Santárem, capital of the Portuguese province of Ribatejo. Visiting the church of the Holy Host miracle. Possibility of celebrating the Mass. It was here where occurred one of the most important miracles of the Eucharist, equal in importance with the one of Lanciano in Italy. Proceeding to Fátima- “the altar of the world”. Fátima became one of the most attended places in the catholic world when in 1917 the Virgin Mary appeared there and was seen by three young shepherds.
Day 4 Fátima
The day is fully dedicated to the visit of the sanctuary and places related to the apparitions and the life of the three shepherds. Visiting the little chapel of the apparitions, the exact place where the Blessed Mother appeared to Lúcia, Fransisco and Jacinta. Visit of the basilica of the Rosary to see the tombs of the seers and also the bran new of the Holy Trinity. The last one is the masterpiece of Tombazis. Its interior is full of works of art by different artists from all over the world. It gives to the new basilica a more universal aspect. The new temple can shelter 9000 sit people. In the afternoon, visiting Aljustrel- the birth place of the seers. It is 1 mile away from the Cova da Iria. Visiting Loca do Anjo ( apparition of the angel ) and the Hungarian Calvary ( way of the cross ). Free time for personal devotion.
Day 5 Fátima- Salamanca (400km/4h)- Alba de Tormes (20km/30min)- Ávila (100km/1,30h)
Leaving Portucal for Spain. The first stop is the magnificent city of Salamanca. It is a major university center with one of the oldest universities in Europe. From artistic and architectural point of view the city is also wonderful. Heading to Alba de Tormes, the first place related to St. Teresa de Ávila in the trip. St. Teresa was a reformer of the church and also found numerous convents. She was given the title of Dr. of the Church. The following destination is Ávila. This town is surrounded by ancient walls dating back to the time of the Romans and still carries the charm of the medieval cities.
Day 6 Ávila - Segovia (90km/1h) - Madrid (100km/1,30h)
Visit of Avila in the morning. Proceeding to Segóvia where can be found the tomb of St. John of the Cross, confessor of St. Teresa. What stands out in the city is the beautiful and well preserved roman aqueduc. The next step is the monumental Madrid. This city was built by order of Felipe II with the aim to be the center of a big empire. The lines, the monumentality of the buildings and the wide avenues prove that. Sightseeing tour of Madrid going through avenues such as Castellana Visita panorâmica da cidade, the Gran via full of theaters, the monument of Cervantes, the Plaza Major and other place that make this capital one of the most elegant ones in Europe.
Day 7 Madrid - Burgos (250 km/2,30h) - Loyola (180 km/2h) - Lourdes (270km/3h)
Departure to Burgos. This is the city of El Cid, the legendary Christian Knight and warrior in the mythic battles between Christians ans Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula. This city has one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in whole Spain. Heading to Azpetia, place where can be found the manner house of the family of St. Ignacio of Loyola. He brought a different concept to the religious organization he found- the company of Jesus. Known as the Jesuits, they happen to be one of the most important missionary orders in South Africa and Far East. Heading to the French border in order to visit one of the most important Marian sanctuaries in the world- Lourdes.
Day 8 Lourdes
The day is fully dedicated to the visit of Lourdes. This Marian sanctuary is attented by millions of pilgrims every year in search for cures and renewal of their fate. It all started with the apparition of the Virgin Mary in the grotto of the rock of Massabiele to a humble shepherd called Bernadete. In this apparition is confirmed by a divine mean the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Visisting the holy places related with the life of St. Bernardete such as “Le Moulin de Boully”, “Le Cachôt” ( the old abandoned dungeon where the family was forced to live during the hard times ). Possibility of bathing in the pools of the sanctuary filled with water from the river Tarbes. Free time.
Day 9 Lourdes- Paray-le-Monial (680 km/7h )
Leaving Lourdes to head to the beautiful region of Burgundy and find the town of Paray-le-Monial. It is also known for its Cisterian monastery that had a historical importance to the region. In fact the origin of its name is related to the monks. It was here with St. Marguerite- Marie Alacoque that started the devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus. In one apparition Jesus tells Marguerite about Hiss suffering and passes His message: “Here is the heart that has loved men so much. From most of them I only receive igratitude, despise, outrage, sacrilege, indifference… So here I ask you that the first Friday afrter the eight of the Blessed Sacrament to be dedicated to a special celebration to honor My heart, comungate on that day giving to it the real reparation as a mean of forgiveness, to repair the indignities, during the time He was exposed in the altars. And I promise that My heart will grow to split with the abundance the influences of His divine love over the one who pay tribute to this divine and seek for it to be reattributed.”
Day 10 Paray-e-Monial- Nevers (130km/1,30h)- Paris (250 km/2,30h)
The first stop is Nevers. It was here where St. Bernadette lived as a nun and her incorrupt body can be seen in a glass bar. Taking the way to Paris. Visiting Rue du Bac, a place attended by millions of pilgrims in search of the miraculous medal of St. Catherine Labouré. Against her father’s will she always wanted to be a nun. When he finally agreed, she joined the congregation of the sisters of charity of St. Vincent of Paul. She had several apparitions of the Virgin while She explains her Her intentions. The Virgin tells her that the light beams coming out of Her hands are graces and cure that She concedes to the believers. At a certain point the Virgin says: “have a medal mint according to this model. The people who will carry it will receive great graces. The graces will be abundant if people will trust.” Not far away from Rue du Bac can be visited the church that houses the body of St. Vincent of Paul- founder of the congregation of St. Catherine.
Day 11 Paris
A sightseeing tour including some of the important places in “the city of light”- Champs- Elysées, Truimphal Arch, Trocadéro and Sacré-Cœur. This is a good scenery point to look over Paris, because Sacré-Cœur is situated on the hill of Montmartre- the highest point of Paris. Free afternoon. Possibility of shopping in Galeries Lafayette or taking a ride in a Bateaux Mouches.
Day 12 Paris
Transfer to the airport.