11 days Shrines of Portugal & Santiago de Compostela
Day 1 – Departure
Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight. Your meals will be served on board.
Day 2 – Arrival Lisbon
You will be welcomed by your tour escort and driver before our transfer to the hotel in Lisbon for check-in. Time permitting, we celebrate mass at the Monastery of St Vincent de Fora, where St Anthony of Padua entered as a Monk, followed by a tour of the Monastery. This includes a panoramic view over Lisbon from the Monastery rooftop. It’s considered one of the secret viewpoints of Lisbon.
Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight. (D)
Day 3 - Lisbon
After breakfast, we will enjoy a walking guided tour of Lisbon. We start the day with visit to The Museu Nacional do Azulejo (tiles) set in the former Madre de Deus convent. Visit the Museum, including the church that is decorated in full Portuguese baroque splendor, with gilded and carved wood, paintings and tile panels.
We move on to the Alfama quarter to visit the Cathedral. St Anthony church marks the birthplace of St Anthony of Padua, where we celebrate mass. Precede along the Praca do Comercio, passing Rua Augusta, toward Rossio Square medieval market.
Independent lunch with some free time. This afternoon, visit FATIMA WITHIN LISBON at Rua de Estrela, where St Jacinta lived her last days at the orphanage of Our Lady of the Miracles. This is where Jacinta reported that she had many apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
We move on to visit Belem Quarter along the Tejo River, seeing the Monument of Discoveries, Belem Tower, Monastery of St Jeronimos. End the day with a stop at Pasteis de Nata where you have the chance to try the famous Custard Portuguese dessert known as Pastel de Belem. It follows an ancient recipe from the nearby St Jeronimos Monastery.
Return to your hotel to refresh. Enjoy a welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Lisbon (B,D).
Day 4 – Lisbon – Santarem – Obidos – Fatima
After breakfast and check out, we depart for Santarem to visit the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic miracle. The relic is venerated at the Church of St Stephen in the historical center of the town. Here, we celebrate Mass.
We move on to Obidos, one of the most charming and picturesque towns in Portugal. We enjoy a stroll along the narrow-cobbled streets lined by shops, coffee shops offering various local delicacies, traditionally painted houses, and churches. Independent lunch with some free time for shopping or a walk along the walled town ramparts.
Then, we move on to Fatima. Check in, dinner, and overnight. (B,D)
Day 5 – Fatima
Today, we visit Fatima to visit the Chapel of Apparition, where Our Lady first appeared to the children, and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. At the Basilica, we can visit the tombs of St Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco. We will also visit the Basilica of Holy Trinity and the Way of the Cross. Mass at the Shrine. We proceed to visit the church of St Anthony, where the children were baptized. We move on to visit Ajustrel, seeing the homes of the children and an Arneiro well, where the Angel of Peace appeared to the children in 1916. We’ll then visit Valinhos, seeing the small chapel that marks the location of the fourth apparition of Our Lady.
Lunch is on your own, followed by free time for personal meditation, prayers and shopping. After dinner, we join the nightly candlelight procession. (B,D)
Day 6 – Fatima – Batalha – Nazare – Fatima
Today, we visit Batalha and Nazare. We drive the scenic route to Batalha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by King John I of Portugal, and visit the church. Afterwards, we proceed to Nazare, which used to be a fishing village and now has been transformed to a beautiful seaside resort. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré is an imposing Marian shrine that memorializes an ancient miracle that occurred under the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Here, we celebrate Mass. Have an independent lunch along the beach. You can try one of the sea food restaurants, relax on the beach, or walk along the long promenade.
We return to the hotel for evening dinner. We will attend the Rosary at the Chapel of Apparition followed by Candlelight procession. Overnight in Fatima (B,D)
Day 7 – Fatima – Tomar – Coimbra – Porto
After breakfast and check out, we depart for Tomar set long the Nabao River. We visit the town to see the 12th century hill-topping castle and the Convento de Cristo, a grand master of the Knights Templar religious order featuring middle eastern techniques picked up during the Crusades to the Holy Land.
We move on to the old town along the Ponte Velha, “old bridge”, and to the town main square, Praca da Republica, where we will enjoy some free time to nurse a drink at a café or have a light lunch to enjoy the relaxed tempo of local life. We move on to Coimbra to visit the Carmelite convent of St Teresa, where Sister Lucia resided until her death, and participate in Mass.
Then, we move on to Porto. Check in, dinner, and overnight (B,D)
Day 8 - Porto
This morning, we enjoy a guided tour of Porto, the capital of the north and Portugal 2nd largest city. We start our day with a 60-minute cruise along the river, offering the city’s top views. A tour of the city includes seeing the Stock exchange Palace and St Francisco Church, dripping with baroque gold. Here, we celebrate mass. Explore the colorful buildings and the picturesque river front by strolling along the Cais da Ribeira. We enjoy some famous Porto wine tasting.
Have an independent lunch. Perhaps go on an adventurous walk to Cervejaria Gazela, trying the original Cachorrinhos, “cheese sausages”, Café Santiago, offering one of the best sandwiches in the world called the “Francesinha”, or just enjoy your free time exploring the city, shopping and visiting places of interest.
Dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 9 – Porto – Bom Jesus Do Monte – Tuy – Santiago De Compostela
After breakfast and check out, we depart for Braga to visit the Shrine Bom Jesus do Monte, located on Monte Espinho. The Shrine is famously known for its zig zag staircase, consisting of 573 steps with 17 landings adorned with baroque style fountains. Reaching the church of the good Jesus with six chapels dedicated to the Passion of Christ, we celebrate mass.
*** For those who wish not to climb the stairway, we will take the world oldest water-powered funicular, dating to 1882.
Have an independent lunch. Afterwards, we move on to Santiago. En route, we will stop at Tuy, where the last 117 kms of the Portuguese El Camino begins. We will visit of the Dorothean Convent, where St Lucia lived for 17 years. It was there that she had the famous apparition of Our Lady of Fatima over the altar with the Holy Trinity. Time for prayer and reflection.
Arrive Santiago de Compostela. Check in, dinner, and overnight. (B,D)
Day 10 – Santiago De Compostela
In the morning, we will visit Monte Gozo, which marks the last 3 kilometers of the el Camino. You can take an optional walk to the last few kilometers of El Camino. We will take a tour of the historical center of Santiago, which includes a guided tour of the Cathedral to see the crypt holding the relics of St James the Apostle and the Porto de Gloria. Celebrate mass at the Cathedral.
Lunch on your own. Afternoon at your leisure. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 11 – Departure From Santiago De Compostela Airport
Arrive home in the USA.