Fatima Lourdes and Italy Group

12 Days

Tour cost begins from $2,990.00 plus taxes

Fatima, Santarem, Burgos, Lourdes, Nice, Assisi and Rome

ITINERARY:

Day 1: DEPART U.S.A.
Our pilgrimage begins as we leave Home town Airport for an overnight flight to Lisbon. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2: ARRIVE LISBON – SANTAREM – FATIMA
Arrive Lisbon, drive to the town of Santarem for a short visit, one of the oldest cities in the world. We will walk through the narrow streets to the Church of St Stephen, containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle. Behold the 750 years old Holy Miracle of Santarem, a relic of the Bleeding Host. Stolen by a woman in payment to a sorcerer, the host begins to emit a brilliant beam of light and began to profusely bleed. Reverently returned to the church of St Stephen, this miracle has been on continuous display since 1269. In the late afternoon, we drive to nearby Fatima, the location of the Blessed Mother who appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace. After settling into your hotel, evening mass at the Basilica and afterwards, you may participate in the candlelight procession or relax. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.
Day 3: FATIMA
After breakfast, we will celebrate morning Mass at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. We will tour Fatima and see the Basilica, site of Francesco and Jacinta’s graves; the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived; and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s appearance after the children’s return from prison. Follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) was built by Hungarian refugees and culminates in the Chapel of Calvary, which overlooks all of Fatima. Join pilgrims from around the world in an evening candlelight procession to pray the rosary. Don’t forget your white handkerchief for the Adios farewell, when thousands of pilgrims wave a loving farewell to the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the late afternoon watch the video presentation. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.
Day 4: FATIMA – BURGOS
After breakfast, we will celebrate morning Mass at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. We will depart for Burgos, Spain.
Day 5: BURGOS – LOURDES
Your journey today is through the Pyrenees Mountains to Lourdes. Evening mass at the Basilica in Lourdes. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: LOURDES
After breakfast morning mass at the Grotto. Participate in the walking tour of Lourdes and Way of Cross. Lourdes is the birthplace of St. Bernadette to whom Our Lady appeared in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle. Take time for personal devotions, drink Holy Water, visit the Miraculous Baths and enjoy a video presentation telling the story. Guided tour to the Museum and St. Bernadette ‘s House. Participate in the evening Candlelight Procession. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.
Day 7: LOURDES – NICE
After mass drive to Nice for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: NICE – ASSISI
After breakfast we will drive to the pilgrimage center of Assisi, where St Francis tended the poor and sick and founded the Franciscan order. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 9: ASSISI – ROME
We celebrate Mass at the tomb of St Francis. Explore the quaint hilltop birthplace of St Francis, which still retains an unspoiled quality similar to the early 1200’s when he began his Ministry. Contained within the huge 13th-century Basilica are many of his possessions and a series of frescoes depicting his life. You may kneel before the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis, asking him to rebuild His church. It was St Mary of the Angels Basilica, where St Francis spent most of his life. Here we visit the Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact little town. We will continue our trip to Eternal city of Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 10: ROME – PAPAL AUDIENCE
After breakfast depart for Papal Audience (depending upon availability) in the monumental St. Peter’s Square and see the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City. Afternoon free time in Vatican. Dinner.
Day 11: CHRISTIAN ROME – MAJOR BASILICAS
After breakfast we will drive through Capitoline Hill, Forum, St. Peter in Chains, Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, Pantheon, Old Appian Way, Palazzo Venezia. We will tour three major Basilicas: St Mary Major, this is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, after she appeared to Pope Liberius in 358 requesting a church be built in her honor. This shrine contains a relic from the manger where the infant Jesus was laid. The Basilica of the St John in Lateran, the former residence of all the popes prior to their return to Rome in 1377. Five ecumenical councils were held in this cathedral housing the remains of 4 saints. St Paul Outside the Walls, which houses the remains of St. Paul under the main altar. Many relics are displayed, along with the chains that once bound the apostle while a prisoner in Rome. Visit Catacombs. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 12: ROME – USA
Transfer to the airport for the flight to US and arrival home same day.