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Day 1 - USA / LISBON
Tour members meet for our departing flight via wide-bodied aircraft, arriving next morning in Lisbon, Portugal. Meals served on board. |
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Day 2 - LISBON / FATIMA
Arrive Lisbon, Portugal and meet our Pilgrimage Tours' tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour. Transfer from the airport to the city of Lisbon, where we will have Mass at the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua, followed by a panoramic tour of the city. Continue to Santarem, site of the Eucharistic miracle. Finally, we arrive in Fatima for dinner and overnight. |
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Day 3 - FATIMA
Morning sightseeing tour with a local guide of Fatima where in 1917 Mary appeared to local children and the "miracle of the sun" occurred. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady and visit the House of Lucia and House of Francisco and Jacinta. The afternoon is free to pray, reflect and relax. After dinner we participate in the Candlelight Procession. Overnight in Fatima. |
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Day 4 - FATIMA / AVILA
After Mass, we depart Fatima and travel to Avila, Spain, the best-preserved walled city in the world and home of St. Teresa of Avila who, with her spiritual director St. John of the Cross, reformed the Carmelite Order. We visit the Carmelite Monastery and celebrate Mass there. We will visit the cell where St. Teresa lived and see relics of Teresa and St. John of the Cross. We'll also tour the ancient city of Avila whose architecture and culture remain the same from centuries ago. Dinner and overnight in Avila. |
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Day 5 - AVILA / ZARAGOZA
This morning we depart Avila for Zaragoza. Next we arrive in Zaragoza and have lunch before we visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, where we celebrate Mass. It is here that Mary appeared to the Apostle James before her Assumption into heaven. Dinner and overnight in Zaragoza. |
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Day 6 - ZARAGOZA / MONTSERRAT
After breakfast we continue on to the spectacular mountain sanctuary, Our Lady of Montserrat. We join in celebration of Mass and the "Liturgy of the Hours" at the Monastery with the monks of Montserrat. We continue on to a wonderful tour of the Monastery and grounds where we see the Statute of Our Lady of Montserrat, the Way of the Cross and enjoy some of the most incredible scenery in Spain. Dinner and overnight in Montserrat. |
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Day 7 - MONTSERRAT / LOURDES
This morning we depart Montserrat for Lourdes where, in 1858, Mary appeared to a young Bernadette Soubirous. Upon our arrival in Lourdes, we will celebrate Mass at the basilica. The rest of the afternoon is for reflection, relaxation and prayer before dinner. Following dinner, we join the Candlelight Procession. Overnight in Lourdes. |
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Day 8 - LOURDES
This morning after Mass we visit the sites of Lourdes including the Grotto, the Spring and the healing Baths, as well as the Basilica of St. Pius X, the Rosary Basilica and Bernadette's home. The afternoon is free for Adoration, Confessions, a time of private devotion, reciting the Rosary, and relaxation before dinner. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. |
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Day 9 - LOURDES / AVIGNON / MONTE CARLO / MONACO / NICE
This morning we depart Lourdes and arrive in Avignon and visit the Palace of the Popes, where in the 14th century, it served as home to the Papacy during Rome's tumultuous political conditions of the time. We celebrate Mass here before continuing on with our scenic drive along the French Riviera. Prior to arriving in Nice, we take a motor coach tour through the famous resort of Monte Carlo and the principality of Monaco before going to our Mediterranean seaside hotel. Dinner and overnight in Nice. |
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Day 10 - NICE / PISA / SIENA
This morning we depart Nice and drive along the Riviera with its breathtaking views. We enter Italy and arrive in Pisa where we see the Campo dei Miracoli with its splendid Cathedral, Baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower. After lunch we head for the region of Tuscany and the medieval city of Siena, home of St. Catherine. Here we celebrate Mass and visit the church named after St. Dominic where Catherine prayed. Dinner and overnight in Siena. |
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Day 11 - SIENA / ASSISI / ROME
After breakfast we depart Tuscany for Assisi, home of the gentlest of saints. Here we celebrate Mass in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis. After Mass we explore the basilica with its wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto. We then visit the Basilica of St. Clare, a friend to St. Francis and foundress of the Poor Clare nuns, whose incorrupt body lies in a crystal casket in the crypt. We will also see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis at San Damiano. Next we visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli that encloses the tiny Chapel of the Porziuncola, St. Francis' first retreat and place of prayer and where he consecrated St. Clare as the Bride of Christ. Then we go to Rome for dinner and overnight. |
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Day 12 - ROME - Papal Audience
After Mass this morning we go to the Vatican for our Audience with the Holy Father. Following the Papal Audience we gather for a group photo in front of St. Peter's and have lunch. In the afternoon we see the Colosseum, Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Imperial and Roman Forums, Constantine's Arch and the Mamertine Prison where Sts. Peter and Paul were held and many Chirstian martyrs died. Late in the afternoon, we visit St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major. Following dinner, we enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of "illuminated Rome by night". Overnight in Rome. |
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Day 13 - ROME / THE VATICAN
After breakfast, our day begins with celebration of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. Following Mass, we will tour the Basilica and see a young Michelangelo's masterpiece, the deeply moving, magnificent Pieta. Then we visit one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. Here we see the Tapestries Gallery, the Belvedere with its marvelous statues. We also visit Raphael's Rooms, the Pincio Garden and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel that has been restored to its original beauty. The rest of the day is free for your choice of activities. Dinner and overnight in Rome. |
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Day 14 - ROME / USA
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for the flight home. Though our pilgrimage has come to an end, the blessings of our encounters with the Lord, Our Lady, and the saints are certain to last a lifetime. |
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