Day 1 – Depart Usa

Depart from ABQ to LIS airport in Portugal.

Day 2 – Lisbon

Upon arrival in Lisbon, we will meet with our Guide and Driver. If our flight arrives before evening, we will start with an orientation tour of the city. Transfer to our accommodations for dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

Day 3 – Lisbon

Breakfast in our hotel. We start our visit to Lisbon city, with the Monastery Dos Jeronimos and the Belem Tower. The Jerónimos Monastery, along with the Tower of Belém, are the most visited sites in Lisbon. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1983. This landmark is called Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Portuguese. The religious building was designed by the Portuguese architect, Diogo de Boitaca to commemorate the return of Vasco da Gama from India. The construction began on 6 January 1501 and wasn’t completed until the seventeenth century. After the visit, we enjoy a treat in one of the traditional café of Belen to taste the typical sweet of Lisbon the “Pastel the Nata”. We will transfer then to the center to visit Placa dos Rossios and Placa dos Restauradores. Time for Lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the San Antionio Church, the Church of Nossa Senora de Conceicao Velha and the Cathedral of Lisbon where we will celebrate the Holy Mass. Return to our accommodations, dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

Day 4 – Lisbon/Santarem/Fatima

Breakfast in our hotel. We will drive to Santarem. Visit of the Castle of Santarem and the Convent of St. Francis. Founded in the 13th century by King Sancho II, the Convent of St. Francis is one of the most important Mendicant Gothic constructions in Portugal. The Convent became particularly relevant in the 15th century after King John II had the oath of allegiance there.

We will visit and celebrate Holy Mass at the Church of St. Stephan or Miracle Church. In this Church is conserved the Relic of the Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem. The Eucharistic Miracle of Santarém, together with that of Lanciano, are considered among the most important Eucharistic Miracles. Numerous studies and canonical analyses were carried out on the relics. The Host changed into bleeding Flesh and Blood flowed out of the Blessed Sacrament. Time for lunch. We will transfer to Fatima to our accommodations for dinner and overnight. In the evening, we have time for personal devotion. We may also participate in the rosary and torchlight procession.

Day 5 – Fatima

Breakfast in our hotel. We drive to Os Valinhos. Valinhos is an emblematic place for the Fatima apparitions because it was there when the Angel appeared in 1916. In Valinhos, you will experience the Way of the Cross. We will make the Via Crucis, the penitential liturgy and we will celebrate The Holy Mass. We visit the house of the three shepherds in Adjustrel.

Return to Fatima and time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit of the Basilica of Fatima, with the tombs of the three shepherds. We will continue then with the visit of the Basilica of Blessed Trinity and the Museum of the Shrine that collect thousands of objects connected with the appearance of The Virgin. Among the collection nestled in the crown of the Virgin is the bullet which hit St. Pope John Paul II during the assassination attempt of May 13, 1981 in St Peter’s Square.

Dinner and overnight at our accommodations. We may participate in the rosary and the torchlight procession.

Day 6 – Bathalha/Alcobaca/Fatima

Breakfast in our hotel.  We will celebrate Holy Mass. Transfer to Bathala where a decisive event for the consolidation of the Portuguese nation took place on 14 August 1385: D. João, Mestre de Avis and future King of Portugal defeated the Spanish armies in the battle of Aljubarrota. The victory put an end to a dynastic crisis that had dragged on since 1383, the year of the death of King D. Fernando, whose only daughter was married to the King of Castile, pretender to the throne of Portugal. Fr João dedicated the Bathala Monastery to the Virgin Mary, whom he had invoked to intercede with God for victory and gave it to the Dominican Order, of which his confessor belonged. Thus, was born a work whose construction would last for almost two centuries and which, once completed, turned out to be one of the most fascinating Gothic monuments of the Iberian Peninsula. The architectural value and historical significance of the building led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage Site in 1983. Visit of the monastery and continuation to the sea town of Nazarè, overworld famous for its giant waves. Time for lunch. We will visit the Sitio of Nazare with the Sanctuary of our Lady of Nazarè. Return our accommodation in Fatima for dinner and overnight. We may participate in the rosary and the torchlight procession.

Day 7 – Coimbra/Oporto

Breakfast in our hotel. We depart to Coimbra. On the banks of the river Mondego, Coimbra is famous for its university, the oldest in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe, which over time has shaped its image to become “the city of students”. We begin this visit, precisely at the university founded in the XIIIth Century and which UNESCO has placed on its list of World Heritage sites, in a classification that also includes Rua da Sofia and the upper part of the city. We will visit The Carmel Monastery of St. Teresa (Celebrate Holy Mass here). Among the many religious who lived in the Carmel of Saint Teresa stands out Sister Lúcia, seer of Fátima, who lived in the convent from 1948 to 2005 (the year she died) having professed in 1949. After the death of Sister Lúcia, the Carmel of Saint Teresa created the Sister Lúcia’s Memorial, where you can see a replica of her cell, as well as some of her personal belongings, photographs, her manual work and other elements that help us understand her life path.

We will continue to Oporto. Upon arrival, we visit the city. S. Bento Station, with its atrium lined with tiles, is an ideal starting point for the visit. Just ahead is the Cathedral, not to be missed, whose precinct offers the first view of the river, the cascading houses and the opposite bank. From there you descend by steps and mediaeval streets to Ribeira, with its café terraces and picturesque corners. Dinner and overnight at our accommodations in Oporto

Day 8 – Oporto/Santiago

Breakfast in our hotel. We departure to Santiago de Compostela. We will have the first stop in Pontevedra to celebrate Holy Mass and visit the Church of the Pilgrim Virgin. The church construction began in 1778 and it is one of the most symbolic and important buildings in the City of Pontevedra. It is dedicated to the Virgin who, according to tradition, guided Pilgrims from Bayona to Santiago. Visit of the center of the city and have time for lunch. Then, we departure to Santiago de Compostela. Dinner and overnight at our accommodations in Santiago de Compostela.

Day 9 – Santiago/Finisterre/Santiago

Breakfast in our hotel. We visit the City of Santiago and its fantastic square: Plaza de l’Obradoiro, de la Quintana e de la Imaculada. Visit of the Cathedral and celebrate Holy Mass of the Pilgrim with the Botafumeiro. Time for lunch. In the afternoon, half day excursion to Cabo Finisterre and the coast. Visit of the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Barca in Muxia where the body of St James arrived from the Holy Land. Return to Santiago for dinner and overnight at our accommodations.

Day 10 - Santiago/Braga.

Breakfast in our hotel. We leave Spain for Portugal. First stop will be in Tui to visit the Cathedral. We will continue then to Valenca do Mino, a fortified city on the border between Portugal and Spain. Time for lunch. Continue to Braga and visit of the Bom Jesus do Monte with Holy Mass.

Dinner and overnight at our accommodations Bom Jesus.

Day 11 Braga/Oporto/Usa

Breakfast in our hotel. We transfer to the Oporto airport for the return USA flight with wonderful memories of Our Lady of Fatima and new found appreciation for the apostle St. James the Greater.