Portugal and Spain

Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon

Arrival in Lisbon. Meeting with the pilgrimage’s tour operator at the airport. Transfer and check-in to hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay.

 

Day 2: Lisbon, Obidos and Fatima

After enjoying breakfast in the hotel we will see Lisbon, including a picturesque stop at the Torre de Belém, a famous landmark. Walking along the riverside we will reach it by passing tall statues constructed in memory of great navigators. The morning ends with a visit to the St. Jerome Monastery. After free time for lunch we leave for Fatima. On the way we visit Obidos, a lovely walled town. Once in Fatima, we will have dinner followed by an overnight stay.

 

Day 3: Fatima and Aljustrel

After breakfast we will spend the whole day exploring Fatima. We will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima and other locations related to the life and sightings of the three shepherds. We start with a visit to the chapel where the Blessed Mother appeared to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. We visit the Basilica of the Rosary, where we will see the tombs of the shepherd prophets, followed by a visit to the Church of the Most Holy Trinity. In the afternoon we visit Aljustrel, the birthplace of the prophets, which is near Cova da Iria. Next we return to the hotel for dinner. After dinner there is the possibility to participate in the candlelight procession. Overnight stay in a hotel.  

 

Day 4: Batalha, Alcobaca and Nazaré

After breakfast we visit the Batalha. It is one of the most beautiful late Gothic towns in Portugal. Its name commemorates an important battle. We then proceed to the Cistercian monastery of Alcobaça which, according to several experts, is the most well-preserved Cistercian monastery in Europe. Within this impressive abbey lie the tombs of Pedro and Inęs, famous for their intense and tragic love story. The tombs are frequently named as the most beautiful Gothic tombs in Portugal. From Alcobaça the road takes us to Nazaré, a seaside village where clifftop views provide panoramic views of the ocean and neverending sandy beaches. For dinner we return to the hotel in Fatima. After dinner everyone can participate in a candlelight procession. Overnight stay. 

 

Day 5: Porto and Santiago de Compostela

After breakfast we proceed to Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, with great economic and industrial importance. We see the typical granite buildings whose gray color contrasts strongly with the famous Portuguese glazed tiles (azulejos) present on so many building facades. We leave Porto late in the afternoon and make our way to the Spanish border, where we enter Galicia and the holy city of Santiago de Compostela. Dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Day 6: Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is one of the three holy cities of the Catholic world, where the earning of absolution of sins is a possibility by making a pilgrimage. The apostle James was given the mission of evangelizing Western Europe, but decided to return to the Holy Land where he was martyred. However, he managed to establish a new way of believing in Santiago de Compostela, which influenced other travellers as they passed through. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a masterpiece of Roman architecture enhanced by Baroque additions. Santiago de Compostela is a medieval city constructed in granite. It offers interesting shops, which are located in the building arcades. We enjoy dinner and stay overnight in a hotel in Santiago de Compostela.

 

Day 7: Braga, Coimbra, and Fatima

After breakfast we visit the Baroque city of Braga whose name is taken from the archbishops. It has the oldest cathedral in Portugal and one of the most interesting shrines in the country, Bom Jesus do Monte. The Bom Jesus do Monte shrine is stunning with a huge Baroque stairway decorated with fountains and gardens. From Braga we travel to Coimbra. This city is famous for having the oldest Portuguese university. The town is founded on having academic traditions for hundreds of years and being continuously populated by students. After visiting Coimbra we return to Fatima for dinner and an overnight hotel stay. After dinner there is another option to participate in a candlelight procession.

 

Day 8: Fatima and Lisbon

After breakfast we transfer from Fatima to the airport in Lisbon. Farewell with pilgrimage’s tour operator. Check-in and departure.