pilgrimage
11 days/10 nights Paris - Lisieux - Loudres - Burgos - Fatima - Lisbon - Rome
Experience this exceptional pilgrimage spending eleven days visiting the important holy places in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal
Day 1
Paris
Arrival in Paris. Check in at the hotel.
Day 2
Paris
A half day tour of the historical centre of Paris, including the main squares, bridges, streets and buildings : Opéra - Place Vendôme - Concorde Square - Champs-Elysées Avenue - Arch of Triumph - Eiffel Tower - Invalides - Orsay Museum - The Grand Louvre Museum - Notre-Dame Cathedral - Sorbonne - Pantheon Church - Saint-Germain-des-Prés - Place des Pyramides etc. Overnight.
Day 3
Paris
First a visit of the famous Montmarte hill, which is the geographic point of the basilica of Sacré-Coeur of Montmartre. Visit of the Notre Dame de Paris also known as Notre Dame Cathedral which is the official chair of the Archbishop of Paris, followed by a visit of the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal which is revered by Catholics as the site of three apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1830. Last but not least a guided tour of the Louvre Museum focused on three-world famous works : the Venus de Millo, the Victory of Samothrace and Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Overnight.
Day 4
Paris – Lisieux (204 km/2h) – Paris
Departure towards Lisieux, known as the town of a Norman Carmelite, Saint Theresa. Visit of the great basilica build in her honor in the 1930s, which is one of the biggest churches built in the 20th century . The tomb of the saint is exhibited in the chapel of Caramel, where she is shown lying in the attitude of her death and bearing the coat of the Carmelite Order. Visit of the Buissonnets, an elegant 19th century house that Theresa lived. Visit of the Cathedral of Saint Peter built between 11th and 15th centuries, followed by a visit of the Diorama, which is a wax museum located directly on the site of the Basilica and presents 11 scenes from the life of St. Therese with nature-size figures. Some free time and an overnight.
Day 5
Paris – Lourdes (840 km/6h by train)
Departure by train to the town of Lourdes, where 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous (St. Bernadette) witnessed a series of 18 visions of the Virgin Mary in a Lourdes grotto. After arriving visit of the huge religious complex around the grotto, the Miraculous Cave, Bernadette’s birthplace and her family homes. Overnight in Lourdes.
Day 6
Lourdes – Burgos (420 km/4h)
Departure by bus towards Burgos/Spain. After arrival a city tour of Burgos, including: The 13th century gothic Cathedral (UNESCO site), Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales(Monastery of the Royal Retreats) and Cartuja de Miraflores(Carthusian monastery of Miraflores Charterhouse) and other religious sites in the city. Overnight.
Day 7
Burgos – Fatima (631km/6h)
Departure by bus towards Fatima/Portugal, which is the religious capital of Portugal and its Sanctuary, where Our Lady of Fatima appeared in 1917. City tour of the religious sites in the city including : the old Basilica that now protects the mortal remains of the three little children (Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco), the massive square in front of the Basilica which has twice the capacity of St. Peters Square in the Vatican and others. Overnight.
Day 8
Fatima – Lisbon (128km/1h30min) – Rome (by flight)
Breakfast at the hotel and departure towards Lisbon for a flight to Rome/Italy. Check in the hotel and free time. Overnight.
Day 9
Rome
A Vatican museums tour, highlights of the museum tour are Michelangelo's famous Creation of Adam fresco in the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms. After the Vatican Museums, you will encounter another of Michelangelo's masterpieces, La Pieta, in St Peter's Basilica. Stop at St Peter's Square which is located directly in front of St Peters Basilica. Some free time in the area and a visit of the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, which is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. Afterwards a visit of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, an ancient Roman Catholic Marian basilica. Some free time and overnight.
Day 10
Rome
A half day city tour of Rome’s most famous tourist sites including the Colosseum which is where gladiator battles took place, the Roman Forum, a small open rectangle surrounded by the ruins of ancient government buildings, the Trevi square with its world famous fountain, the Spanish steps and Piazza Navona. Late lunch and some free time for last minute shopping and individual walks in the centre of the city. Overnight .
Day 11
Rome
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Rome airport.
