pilgrimage
11 days 10 nights Portugal - France - Spain tour
An impressive 11 day pilgrimage tour to France, Portugal and Spain
1 Day
Lisbon
Arrival at the airport and transfer to hotel.
2 Day
Lisbon – Fatima (127km/2h)
Your first stop on your guided tour of Lisbon is Rossio Square, the heart of the old and new Lisbon. The square was built in the 19th century and is paved with typical Portuguese cobblestones in the shape of waves. Next, visit Restauradores Square. From here, admire Liberdade Avenue, the Eden Theatre (one of the best examples of Portuguese Art Deco), and the 18th-century Foz Palace. Next, visit beautiful Carmo Square, then walk through the elegant Chiado neighborhood, with its old cafés, boutiques, theaters and bookstores. Then admire the beauty of Sé de Lisboa cathedral, the city’s oldest church. The end of the tour is in Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio), one of Europe’s largest squares that was for centuries a reception hall for visitors arriving by sea. Transfer to Fatima. Have some free time. Overnight.
3 Day
Fatima
Start the day with visiting the following places: the Basilic where are the tombs of Lucia, Francisco e Jacinta; the Chapel of the Apparitions the place where Our Lady appered; the church of the Holy Trinity; the exposition “ Fatima Light and Peace” where are the offers left by the pilgrims. Possiblity of celebrating mass. Later visit Aljustrel, the village where the shepherds where born. Continue to Valinhos, visit the Stations of the Cross and the Calvary, the site of Our Lady's 4th appararition and the place where the children received the first and third visit of the “Angel of Peace”. After the visit folllow to the Sanctuary 2 Our Lady of Ortiga” and to the Parish Church. Possibility of celebrating mass. The afternoon in free for visits or personal devotions. At the end of the day return to the hotel and overnight.
4 Day
Fatima – Braga (245km/4h) – Santiago de Compostela (190km/3h)
Leave Fatima behind and continue to Braga - the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World. Here visit Braga Cathedral - the most important historical monument of the city, rich mix of architectural and artistic styles. Visit the Misericórdia church - built in 1562 it is considered the most important legacy of the renaissance period in the city, and Populo church – a neoclassical church, built in the end of the 16 century. Continue to Santiago de Compostela - a city with a medieval atmosphere and full of history. Free time toexplore the city on your own. Overnight.
Day 5
Santiago de Compostela – Burgos (525km/7h)
Start the day with a visit to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - this cathedral has so many examples of different architectural styles, but maybe the most important are the Baroque front of the Praza do Obradoiro and the interior porch, Pórtico da Gloria. Continue with Praza do Obradoiro - the arrival point of thousands of pilgrims every day and just in the center of this square it's located on the Way of St. James. See also Palacio de Raxoi (Rajoy palace), Palacio de Xelmírez (Gelmírez Palace) and Monasterio de San Martiño Pinario (San Martín Pinario Monastery). Continue do Burgos. Overnight.
Day 6
Burgos -Loiola (185km/2h30min) – Lourdes (250km/4h)
Transfer to Loiola. Visit the home of Saint Inacio the founder of the Jesuits. Carry on to Lourdes - a town and commune situated in the southwest of the Hautes, lying in the first Pyrenean foothills, in southwestern of France. Lourdes was originally a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees. At that time, the most prominent feature was the fortified castle that rises up from the center of the town on a rocky escarpment. Following the claims that there were apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, Lourdes has developed into a major place of Christian pilgrimage. There is possibility to participate in the candlelight procession. Overnight.
Day 7
Lourdes
In the morning visit to the shrine, and to the principal places related to the apparitions. Possibility to participate in the official program of the Sanctuary. Free afternoon for visit or to personnal devotions. Overnight.
Day 8
Lourdes – Monteserat mountain (366km/5h) – Barcelona (50km/1h)
Travel in direction to Spain, passing through the Pyrenees to Monteserrat. Arrived and visit the Sanctuary Santa Maria de Montserrat - a Benedictine abbey located in the Montserrat mountain, in Monistrol de Montserrat, in Catalonia. Virgin of Montserrat (the black virgin), is a Catalonia's favourite saint, and is located in the sanctuary of the Mare de Deu de Montserrat, next to the Benedictine monastery nestling in the towers and crags of the mountain. Continue the trip to Barcelona. Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudi and Lluis Domenech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Overnight.
Day 9
Barcelona
Start your day tour with visit to Barcelona's famous hill of Montjuïc, the site of the 1992 Olympic Games, which offers excellent views over the city. After a brief stop at the Catalunya National Art Museum, continue down to Plaça Espanya and on past the modernist buildings of the Eixample area. On your way to the Sagrada Famlia, you’ll go through Passeig de Gracia, home to designer stores and two of Barcelona’s most renowned Antonio Gaudí buildings – La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Also stop at the Hospital de Sant Pau, one of the greatest symbols of the modernist architecture in Barcelona and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Sagrada Familia with your guide who will lead you straight into the magnificent interior of this famous structure. You’ll then head to the oldest part of Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter and enjoy a stroll through the narrow streets of medieval Barcelona. From there, travel back to the early Middle Ages, visiting the Jewish Quarter, the Royal Palace, the original 2,000-year-old Roman temple and part of the Cathedral. Continue to the magnificent Santa Maria del Mar church, one of the most beautiful in Barcelona. Overnight.
Day 10
Barcelona - Zaragoza (311km/4h10min) – Madrid (318km/4h10min)
Leave Barcelona behind and continue to Zaragoza. Visit the basilica of “ Our Lady of the Pillar”, where the virgin Mary appeared miraculously to Saint James the Great in the first century, standing on a pillar. Continue to Madrid. Its landmarks include the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real ( Royal Theatre) with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro park, founded in 1631; the imposing 19- century National Library building containing some of Spain's historical archives; an archaeological museum of international reputation; and three superb art museums: Prado Museum, which hosts one of the finest art collections in the world, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace. Overnight.
Day 11
Madrid
The tour starts going to the Puerta del Sol. Feel the atmosphere of the city over the plaza, which is the "heart" of Madrid and one of the busiest places in the city. See thea famous statue of a bear climbing a tree, which is the symbol of Madrid. Continue to Plaza de España that contains a sculpture of Cervantes and his famous Don Quixote and Sancho Panza characters. See the building of the Parliament and Cibeles Fountain, named after the roman goddess of nature, it is seen as one of Madrid` most important symbols. Walk along the elegant Calle Alcala and Paseo de Castellana, the longest and the oldest streets in Madrid. Visit to the spectacular Prado Museum and enjoy one of the finest art collections in the world and the best collection of classical art in Madrid. Overnight.
Day 12
Madrid
Transfer to the airport for a final departure.
