Tour Overview
9 Days / 8 Nights
Our Fatima, Spain, and Lourdes tour is our most popular pilgrimage package. Your spiritual pilgrimage will be accompanied by a Catholic priest and professional tour guide throughout your adventure for a holistic spiritual experience. Travel between important holy shrines through Spain by deluxe motorcoach, and visit Salamanca, Alba de Tormes, Avila, Burgos, and Loyola before arriving in Lourdes. Experience a true Fatima pilgrimage, visit the holy sites of Our Lady of Lourdes, and more with our faith tour of a lifetime. See our sample itinerary below!
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon
Upon landing at Lisbon airport, claim your baggage proceed to the arrival hall, where your tour guide and/or driver will greet you. In the afternoon, enjoy a panoramic tour of Lisbon, which will include St. Jerome's Monastery, built to give thanks to the Virgin Mary. We will drive by the Belem Tower and many landmarks, like; the 25th of April Bridge, the Basilica of the Star, and the Marquee of Pombal Square. Our last stop will be St. Anthony's Church. The patron saint of lost things is best known as St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), but he was born and baptized here in Lisbon, Portugal. The Church where we will celebrate Mass was built upon the site of St. Anthony's birth. Welcome dinner and overnight in Lisbon.
Highlights:
- Tour the coastal city of Lisbon
- St. Jerome's Monastery
- Belem Tower
- 25th of April Bridge
- St. Anthony's Church
Day 2: Lisbon - Santarem - Fatima
Today, we will head to Fatima. On the way, we will stop at St. Stephens Church in the town of Santarem to celebrate Mass and venerate the 13th century Eucharistic Miracle. Continue to Fatima - this hamlet of Aljustrel, is the birthplace and home of the three shepherd children. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.
Highlights:
- Church of St. Stephen
- Hamlet of Aljustrel
- Parish Church & Cemetary
Day 3: Fatima
Today will surely be a memorable experience as you pray and meditate at one of Our Blessed Mother's apparition sites. Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children; Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9). These apparitions occurred monthly from May until October of 1917. Historically, as the entire world was in turmoil amidst World War I, the most prominent message from Our Lady of Fatima was to pray for world peace. In her messages to the children, specifically in the second secret, she mentioned the destruction of the world. Our profoundly reflective day begins with a visit to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions simple, yet modern, which is the site where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13th in 1917. Follow with a visit to the stunning neoclassical Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This Sacred space contains the tombs of St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. View the monument that commemorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square. Our Lady's messages included consistent reminders to pray the Rosary - the Basilica honors this, by featuring fifteen altars dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. While in the Basilica, you will feel, through the love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces received here. Visit the museum with the exhibition: "Fatima: Light and Peace". Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. After free time for lunch, we will experience Christ's unconditional love by participating in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra. "The Sacred Way" marks the path the shepherd children took to the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. The path is composed of fifteen small chapels in commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord. The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, can be found close to the Chapel of Calvary, dedicated to St. Stephen, King of Hungary. The day ends with a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's August 19th, 1917 Apparition, which was also the first and third apparition of the Angel. Your night will conclude with private devotions and a candlelight procession, requested by Our Lady (1917). Enjoy dinner and a comfortable night's rest in Fatima.
Highlights:
- Little Chapel of the Apparitions
- Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Museum expo - Fatima: Light and Peace
- Holy Trinity Basilica
- Stations of the Cross - Via Sacra
- Valinhos
- Private devotions & candlelight procession
Day 4: Fatima - Salamanca
Depart Fatima and head to Salamanca, following a full breakfast at the hotel. Salamanca is a city in the Castilla y Leon region known for its large university, the oldest in Spain that is still active along with its prominent culture. Our walking tour will bring us to the most noteworthy sites, such as; the grand Plaza Mayor, an iconic square filled with food, shopping, and city events. La Clerecia, a church, and college of the Jesuit Order constructed in the seventeenth century. La Casa de las Conchas currently a public library and monument, decorated with shells that symbolize the famous pilgrimage to Santiago (El Camino). The University of Salamanca is the oldest University in Spain and the third oldest in Europe. The Roman Bridge is a national monument that extends along the River Tormes and is among Salamanca's sturdiest bridges. La Iglesia de San Marcos, constructed in the Romanesque style contains breathtaking paintings that portray many scenes of Our Lady's life. La Iglesia de San Martin is a Church devoted to St. Martin de Porres, who is the patron saint of mixed-race people and all those seeking interracial harmony. Visit the inside of the two joint Salamanca Cathedrals (old and new), one Romanesque style and the other Gothic style. Following this eventful day, you will return to your hotel for a delicious meal and overnight at your hotel in Salamanca.
Highlights:
- Grand Plaza Mayor
- La Clerecia
- La Casa de las Conchas
- University of Salamanca
- Roman Bridge
- La Iglesia de San Marcos
- Salamanca Cathedrals (old and new)
Day 5: Salamanca - Alba de Tormes - Avila - Burgos
This morning, following breakfast, you will board the bus and enjoy a short transfer to the village of Alba de Tormes. This town is home to the Carmelite Monastery that Saint Teresa founded in 1571. Upon arrival in Alba de Tormes, celebrate Mass at the Monastery where she died and was buried. Following Mass, you will have the opportunity to visit the museum dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila, which also holds her incorrupt heart and left arm. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own before continuing to the medieval city of Avila. Upon arrival in Avila, you will immediately notice the perfectly preserved eleventh-century walls surrounding the old town. The conservation of architecture in this city, to which St. Teresa was born, deems its shrines, convents, and churches necessary to visit any Catholic pilgrimage. The Cathedral de Avila encompasses the Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles of its time with its artwork and architecture. La Basilica de San Vicente in Avila stands on the site of the martyrdom of St. Vincent. Visit the Incarnation Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun. Saint Teresa convinced Saint John of the Cross to reform the male Carmelite order, the reform she started when she met Saint John in Medina del Campo. After walking in the footsteps of St. Teresa, continue your journey to Burgos. Upon arrival in the historic capital of Old Castile, enjoy dinner. Following dinner, you will have the opportunity to explore the city of Burgos and admire its magnificent limestone, gothic-style Cathedral. Late this evening, you will return to your hotel for a restful overnight.
Highlights:
- Carmelite Monastery
- Museum of St. Teresa of Avila
- Cathedral de Avila
- La Basilica de San Vicente
- Incarnation Convent
- Burgos Cathedral
Day 6: Burgos - Loyola - Lourdes
Following breakfast, transfer from Burgos to Loyola to visit the birthplace of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit Order. St. Ignatius dedicated himself to becoming a soldier of the Christian faith, and as a result of many tribulations, he wrote the ever-famous Spiritual Exercises. In Loyola, you will see the 17th-century Basilica dedicated to this remarkable saint - the Basilica is part of a series of buildings surrounding the "Holy House," or birthplace of St. Ignatius. When you visit these Holy places, you will also have the opportunity to pray at the most venerated room, where St. Ignatius prayed and began his conversion. After meditating on the life of this founder of the Jesuit Order, enjoy free time for lunch. We will continue to Lourdes for a spectacular view of the Pyrenees Mountains. Upon arrival in Lourdes, you will check-in to your hotel and enjoy a splendid dinner and peaceful overnight.
Highlights:
- Holy House - birthplace of St. Ignatius
- Basilica of St. Ignatius
- Pyrenees mountains vista
Day 7 & 8: Lourdes
Over the next two days, you will stay in a small town nestled within the Pyrenees Mountains. During your time in Lourdes, you will pray and meditate in yet another site of Our Lady's apparitions. Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858 and announced herself as "The Immaculate Conception" near the Grotto of Massabielle. During the first two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady. She left without exchanging any words. During the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized God's love for us, penance, and the necessity of performing acts of penance for sinners. Throughout your time in Lourdes, you will have the opportunity to attend Mass at the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. Here you have opportunities to watch a video presentation that explains in detail the story of Lourdes; drink water from the miraculous spring that has healed many or submerge yourself in the healing baths. You will have the opportunity to experience Christ's unconditional love as you meditate upon the "life-size" Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. You will walk in and meditate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. You will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the "Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette's impoverished family lived. Each evening following dinner, you will have an opportunity to attend the candlelight procession and the Rosary before a restful overnight.
Highlights:
- Our Lady of Lourdes holy site
- Mass at the Grotto
- Drink & bath in water from the miraculous healing spring
- Stations of the Cross
- Grotto of Massabielle
- Boly Mill - birthplace of St. Bernadette
- Cachot
Day 9: Departure
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, leave by motorcoach and transfer to the Toulouse, Pau, or Lourdes airport for return flights home.
