Portugal - Italy Tour |
15 days / 14 nights
Lisbon - Padua - Venice - Florence - Assisi - Lanciano - San Giovanni - Rotondo - Rome - Lisbon - Fátima - Coimbra - Santarém - Lisbon
Day 1 Lisbon
Arrival to Lisbon.
Day 2 Lisbon
A sightseeing tour with a local guide going through places like Avenida da Liberdade, Baixa ( the area of the city rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755 ), Rossio Square, Comércio Square and the oldest district of Lisbon- Alfama. Taking the riverside of the Tagus till Belém, the western area of the city. Visiting the most original monument of the city of Lisbon- the Belém tower. Another highlight of this area is the S. Jerome’s monastery with its amazing church dedicated to S. Mary of Bethlehem. This monastery is situated in the wide area called “Praça do Império” where took place in 1940 the exhibit of the Portuguese world.
Day 3 Lisbon - Venice (flight)- Pádua (50km/1h)
Transfer to Lisbon airport for your flight to Venice. Arrive and departure to Pádua. Visiting the basilica dedicated to S. Antony of Lisbon, as well as his tomb and relics. Possibility of celebrating the Mass. Free time for personal devotion.
Day 4 Venice
Leaving to Punta Sabione to take the ferry (vaporetto). Travelling on the Grand canal until reaching one of the most romantic cities in Europe. Its peculiar reality makes of Venice one of the most visited cities in the world, due to its canals and water, architecture, commercial atmosphere, the carnival, and the Murano crystal. In Venice the visitor can admire the San Marco Square with its cafés and esplanades. On the square is situated the ducal palace, symbol of the power of one of the old republics on the Italian Peninsula. Visiting the famous bridge of “sospiri” and Rialto area. Possibility of visiting a manufacture of crystal. Free time.
Day 5 Venice - Florence (260km/3,30h)
Heading for Florence. Sightseeing tour of this renaissance city with a local guide. This is the city of names like Dante Alighieri, Michelangelo, Machiavelli. The visitors can admire the outstanding work of Bruneleschi, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Right next to it is the baptistery with “the Gates of Paradise”. Another interesting place is the market place by the river Arno and the famous bridge full of goldsmith shops. Crossing the river to the top of Michelangelo Square, where there is a wonderful overview of the city.
Day 6 Florence - Assisi (170km/2h)
Departure to Assisi- the city of the patron saint of S. Francis. Before that, visiting the basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. There can be found the Porzuincula, a little chapel with old frescos where Jesus spoke to S. Francis and also the place where the saint died. Arriving to Assisi, a city built of rose stone. In one end the visitor can see the two basilicas. Time seems not to have passed or touched this place. Visiting the church of St. Claire, her tomb and the two basilicas of S. Francis, full of wonderful frescos on their walls.
Day 7 Assisi - Lanciano (290 km/3,30h) - San Giovanni Rotondo (160km/2h)
Spending part of the morning in Assisi. Leisure time. Trying to get the famous Franciscan liquors. Taking the road to Lanciano, the city where took place the first Eucharistic miracle ( very similar to the one that happened in Santarém, Portugal ). Heading to San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 8 San Giovanni Rotondo
Starting the day with a walking tour to the Capuchins convent where Padre Pio spent most part of his days, in particular to the crypt where is his tomb with his body exposed in the church of Our Lady of Grace. Visiting the most recent church built by Renzo Piano to receive a great number if pilgrim that demand S. G. Rotondo. It’s estimated that over 5 milion people come over to S. G. R. per year. Going to Monte Sant’Angelo through winding roads of the Gargano area. From the top of the village there is a wonderful view over the Adriatic sea. The visitor can see a very original church because inside of it there is a grotto at 70 meters deep. This was the place of the first pilgrimage of S. Francis.
Day 9 San Giovanni Rotondo - Pietrelcina (170km/2,30h)- Rome (240km/3h)
Departure for Rome with a stop at Pietrelcina. This village is the birthplace of Padre Pio on 25th May 1887. He was the 8th son of a farmer’s family in a place founded at the time of the Romans. The visitors can walk through the same narrow streets of a modest village in southern Italy as once the little Francesco Forgione spent his childhood. Visit of the father’s house and the church where he was baptized. Two kilometers away is Piana Romana, a place where he would often go with his flock and meditate in the shelter house and barn of the family. Continuation to Rome.
Day 10 Rome
Visiting the Vatican- the smallest state in the world, nevertheless one of the most well known and visited. A tour with a local guide, passing through places like S. John in Literan, Basilic of S. Maria Maggiore, St. Paul ( outside ). Then the tour will proceed to EUR, built in the first half of the XXth century, with wide avenues and solid buildings. This area is a representative of the Mussolini regime. Concluding the day enjoying a delicious Italian ice cream at Piazza Navona or Fontana di Trevi.
Day 11 Rome - Lisbon (flight) - Fátima (130 km/1,30h)
Possibility of receiving the papal blessing Urbi et Orbi on S. Peter’s square. In the afternoon transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lisbon. Arrive in Lisbon and continue by coach to Fátima. Overnight in Fátima.
Day 12 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.
Day 13 Fátima - Coimbra - Fátima (90km/1h)
The next stop is Coimbra. This city has the oldest Portuguese university and its atmosphere runs around it due to the presence of the students and all the academic traditions from hundreds of years. The city is full of renaissance buildings. From a religious point of view here is where S. Antony ( from Lisbon or Padua as one prefers ) lived and took Franciscan habit. Here also lived sister Lucy, one of the seers of Fátima.
Day 14 Fátima - Santarém (60 km/1h) – Lisbon (100km/1,30h)
Leaving Fátima for Santarém before reaching Lisbon. Visiting the church of the Holy Host Miracle that took place in the XIIIth century. This miracle can be compared only with the one of Lanciano in Italy by importance. Possibility of celebrating the Holy Mass.
Day 15 Lisbon
Transfer to the Lisbon Airport.