Santiago de Compostela, Fatima & Lourdes
YOUR TRIP INCLUDES: Round-trip air from New York 2 nights: San Francisco Hotel Monumento, Santiago De Compostela, Spain 1 nights: Hotel Mundial, Lisbon, Portugal Breakfast and dinner daily Catholic Priest and Mass daily Not Included: Lunches, Beverages with dinners, Airport tax (approx. $200-$380). Travel Insurance optional at $99-$219. Tips to your guide & driver ($6 per day). Items of a personal nature. Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary: Day 1 – USA – Spain Evening departure from your home town, for the overnight flights to Spain. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board. Day 2 -Arrive Santiago de Compostela Upon arrival you will be met by your tour guide and driver and transferred to your hotel in Santiago de Compostela. Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela. Day 3 – Santiago De Compostela Visit Cathedral of St. James is one of the finest examples of architecture in all of Europe. As pilgrims, we have the opportunity to climb the stairs behind the high altar to visit the crypt where the relics of St. James are preserved, touch the central pillar (Portico de La Gloria), view the ‘botafumeiro’ and admire the wealth of medieval art inside the Cathedral, before visiting the cloister museum. Enjoy a stroll on own, though the beautiful streets of Santiago de Compostela, the city of the apostle, full of historical buildings and other attractions (before or after dinner). Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela. Day 4 – Santiago de Compostela – Lisbon After breakfast we depart for Lisbon. After an orientation drive through Lisbon, we stop and visit St. Anthony’s Church. Despite what might be assumed from his name, Saint Anthony was born and grew up in Lisbon. Traditionally, the invocation of his name is considered the best means of locating lost objects. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon. Day 5 – Lisbon – Santarem – Fatima After breakfast depart Lisbon for Santarem, where one of the oldest cities in the world is located. We will walk through its narrow streets to the Church of St Stephen, containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle. This miracle has been on continuous display since 1269. We then continue on to Fatima, the place where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace. Dinner and overnight in Fatima Day 6 – Fatima Six times, from the May 13 to Oct 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three novices belonging to the diocese of Leiria. A new big basilica is under construction, however just as beautiful, an older basilica was constructed here in 1928, and millions of pilgrims visit each year. Fatima is one of the most visited holy places for Catholics from around the world. The atmosphere of intense spirituality and the importance of Fatima have been attested to by the visits of two Popes: Paul VI and John Paul II. Touring Fatima, see the Little Chapel of the Apparitions, Basilica, the Day 7 – Fatima – Alba de Tormes – Salamanca After breakfast depart for Salamanca. On the way we stop in Alba de Tormes, where St. Teresa of Avila is buried. Arrive in Salamanca with free time for exploration before dinner and overnight. Day 8 – Salamanca – Avila – Burgos After breakfast we depart for Avila. Here atmosphere has changed very little since the days of St. Teresa of Jesus, to whom the city is dedicated. St. Teresa the great mystic, was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church. In Avila we will visit: the Cathedral, which contains many of St. Teresa relics; The crypt of the Convento of La Santa, built on the site of the house where she was born, is home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life, and La Encarnacion Convent, the first convent she found. Afternoon departure to the city of Burgos, the historic capital of Old Castile. After dinner explore Burgos (on your own), and admire the magnificent limestone Cathedral. Day 9 – Burgos – Loyola – Lourdes After breakfast depart Burgos, heading for Lourdes, France. En route stop in Loyola, the birthplace of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Here, we’ll se the 17th Century Basilica dedicated to St Ignatius. Behind the sanctuary is the family home of St. Ignatius, which we’ll visit during our stop. The most venerated place in this building is the room where Ignatius at age 30, was brought following his serious wounding at the Battle of Pamplona. Later we motor through the Pyrenees Mountains into Lourdes. Here, standing between the spectacular mountain-river, Gave de Pau, stands picturesque Lourdes, the birthplace of St Bernadette to whom Our Lady appeared in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle. Settle into your hotel, explore before dinner, followed by a candlelight procession (every evening from Apr through Oct) before retiring for the evening. Day 10 & 11 – Lourdes After breakfast, our guided tour of Lourdes will include the sanctuary; the Basilica of St Pius X, the world’s largest underground church; and the baths where hundreds of miraculous cures have taken place. Enjoy a video presentation telling the story of Lourdes, and walk in the footsteps of St Bernadette. See Boly Mill where St Bernadette was born and the "Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived. Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous spring,pray at the Grotto and submerge yourself in the healing baths. Experience Christ’s love as you walk the life-sized Stations of the Cross overlooking the holy Grotto. Kneel in the chapel built on the very rock of the Grotto in obedience to the request of the "Immaculate Conception." Attend the blessing of the sick and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady, and take time for private devotions. Each evening dinner and overnight at your hotel. Day 12 – Lourdes – USA Early morning departure from Lourdes for your flights to USA. *2009 Travel Dates: Mar 27-Apr 05 2010 Travel Dates: Feb 26-Mar 09 In categories: Tours for Groups Book this trip |
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