Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes with Barcelona
| Resort: | Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes with Barcelona |
| Operator: | |
| Destination: | Europe, France, Portugal, Spain |
| Price From: | £1119.00 |
OverviewTravel to two of the world’s most revered pilgrimage centers and experience the wonderful cultures and beauty of Portugal, France and Spain. Stay a leisurely two nights in Fatima and spend time reflecting and exploring the famous Basilica and the tombs of Francisco and Jacinto. Travel to Aljustrel, where the children lived, and the Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared after the children’s return from prison. Visit the Church of Holy (Eucharist) Miracle in Santarem. During a two-night stay in Burgos, visit the magnificent cathedral, a masterpiece of Spanish Gothic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the impressive 12th-century Monastery of Santa Mara Real de las Huelgas, a former spiritual retreat for society ladies and royalty. Enjoy a walking tour of Lourdes and a two-night stay there. Visit the moving Grotto where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. End in vibrant Barcelona and view Antonio Gaudis unfinished masterpiece “La Sagrada Familia,” also a UNESCO World Heritage site. ItineraryDay 1: Overnight FlightTravel overnight to Portugal, one of Europes most hospitable countries. Here you can enjoy a superb climate, historic sites and beautiful scenery. Day 2: Fatima, Portugal – Tour BeginsYour tour begins in Fatima, Portugals world-famous religious center. Day 3: Fatima – Aljustrel – Santarem – FatimaYou may celebrate Mass* before traveling to the original town of Fatima and the parish church where the children Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia were baptized. Continue on to Aljustrel, where the children lived, and view the site of the fifth apparition in Valinhos. In Santarem, visit the Shrine of the Most Holy Miracle. At the Church of St. Stephen, see the relic of the miraculous Host, considered among the most important Eucharistic miracles. Later, return to Fatima** to enjoy free time for personal worship and to explore the basilica and its grounds. Day 4: Fatima – Burgos, SpainEase your way into the local culture as your Tour Manager teaches you a few key phrases of the native language. Attend a morning mass* before travelling east to Burgos, known as the cradle of the Castile region. Situated on the Pilgrims Road, Burgos stands on the banks of the Rio Arlanzon with the slender, elegant spires of its famous cathedral rising into the sky. Mass* is available this evening. Day 5: BurgosJoin a local expert on a leisurely paced walking tour of Burgos beautiful medieval town center. Spend time at the Cathedral of Burgos, a masterpiece of Spanish Gothic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cathedral, the third largest church in Spain, offers such masterpieces as the filigree work in the spires of the towers; the starry dome; the choir; the sarcophagi and the golden staircase. Next, visit the 12th-century Monastery of Santa Mara Real de las Huelgas. Founded as a Royal Pantheon and a spiritual retreat for society ladies and royalty, the complex consists of the church, monastery and the enclosed premises of the Cistercian nuns. Mass* is available this evening. Day 6: Burgos – Lourdes, FranceToday you travel northeast through the Pyrenees Mountains to Lourdes. This is where the Virgin Mary appeared in the Grotto of Massabielle to the poor shepherd girl, Bernadette, a total of 18 times between February 11 and July 16, 1858. This little market town has been a world-renowned pilgrimage site ever since. Tonight you may wish to partake in a candlelight procession.** Day 7: LourdesAfter morning mass,* enjoy a walking tour of Lourdes, visiting the places associated with the life of St. Bernadette: the Boly Mill” (site of the birthplace of St. Bernadette), the “Cachot,” and the parish church housing the baptismal font of St. Bernadette. Later, at leisure, explore the town’s rich historical and natural heritage and be immersed in the atmosphere that reigned during the apparitions and the spirit of brotherhood that is still present today. Day 8: Lourdes – Carcassone – Barcelona, SpainCelebrate mass* before your journey through southern France’s Pyrenees to historic Carcassone. You will feel as though you have gone back in time as you independently explore this well-preserved medieval city. Later, cross back into Spain and travel to Barcelona, one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. Day 9: BarcelonaCelebrate mass* at La Sagrada Familia (crypt), followed by a visit to the elaborate, expansive basilica. Once completed, Gaudi’s masterpiece will have 18 towers: 12 dedicated to the apostles, four to the evangelists, one to Jesus and another to Mary. Later, get to know more of the citys treasures including views of Antonio Gaudis Mila House (UNESCO), the Columbus Monument and Parc de Montjuic. The afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration or an optional excursion to the quaint mountain village of Montserrat. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a dinner celebrating the end of a memorable tour. Day 10: Barcelona – Tour EndsReturn home eager to share vivid memories of a spectacularly beautiful land with an old, rich and diverse cultural heritage. |
