MARIAN SHRINES OF CENTRAL EUROPE

ITINERARY

Day 1. Monday, October 20: Transatlantic flight to Prague, Czechoslovakia

Day 2. Tuesday, October 21: Prague

Upon arrival into Prague, board your private motor-coach and transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is at leisure. Welcome dinner at the hotel in the evening and overnight in Prague. (WD)

Day 3. Wednesday, October 22: Prague

Full day in Prague. Today, start with a visit to the Church of Our Lady Victorious, which houses the miraculous statue of the Holy Infant of Prague. Continue to visit Prague’s Cathedral dedicated to St. Vitus, 3rd-century martyr of the Christian persecutions. The relics of King St. Wenceslas, the first Czech saint, and of St. John Nepomuk, martyr of the seal of the confessional, are enshrined in the cathedral. Next, visit the Royal Palace, seat of Bohemian princes. Outside the palace is St. George’s Basilica, housing the relics of the martyr St. Ludmilla, grandmother and tutor of St. Wenceslas. Next, walk along the Golden Lane, named after the goldsmiths that lived there in the 17th century, and cross the famous Charles Bridge. Afterwards, enjoy a guided tour through the beautiful Old Town. Visit the Old Town Square, the Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock.  Dinner and overnight in Prague. (BB, D)

Day 4. Thursday, October 23: Prague - Vienna

Travel to Vienna. Upon arrival into Vienna the city center for a visit the Cathedral of St. Stephen, housing the miraculous image of Maria Potsch, which shed tears twice and through which Our Lady has worked many miracles. Render homage to St. Valentine, whose body is kept here. View hundreds of relics, including a piece of the tablecloth from Our Lord’s Last Supper. Then, visit the Church of St. Mary’s on the River Bank (Maria am Gestade) to venerate St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, patron of Austria for his unrelenting work of apostolate. Then, arrive at your hotel in Vienna for a welcome dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 5. Friday, October 24: Vienna

This morning in Vienna, visit Schonbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Habsburg monarchs, with its hundreds of rooms adorned with the finest furnishings and also walk through its unique gardens. Enjoy a free afternoon in this beautiful city, with dinner on your own. Overnight in Vienna. (BB)

Day 6. Saturday, October 25: Vienna: Mariazell, Melk, Danube cruise

Today visit Mariazell, the foremost Marian pilgrimage site in Austria. This basilica houses a small wooden statue of Our Lady and the Christ Child which has been venerated since the 12th century. The site has grown from a humble chapel to a splendid place of pilgrimage where kings, emperors and popes have paid homage to the Mother of God in front of this small statue, first placed there by a humble monk. Afterwards, enjoy a visit to the famous Benedictine Abbey of Melk, where countless medieval treasures can be found in its library and splendid works of art in its church. Then, take a leisurely cruise along the Danube River, enjoying some of the most spectacular views in Austria. Return to Vienna for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 7. Sunday, October 26: Vienna – Gyor – Esztergom – Szentendre – Budapest

Cross over into Hungary to Gyor, the most important city of northwest Hungary, to visit Gyor’s Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and see the miraculous picture of the “Irish Madonna of Hungary” that shed tears of blood in 1697 as Irish Catholics suffered persecution. Following the Danube River, transfer to Esztergom, the spiritual center of Catholicism in Hungary. Visit its cathedral, which houses the tomb of Cardinal József Mindszenty in its crypt. Before arrival into Budapest, travel along the spectacular Danube Bend to reach the picturesque, medieval town of Szentendre, to enjoy time to walk through meandering lanes, small squares with Mediterranean mood, and town houses in a Baroque style. Dinner and overnight in Budapest. (BB, D)

Day 8. Monday, October 27: Budapest

This morning in Budapest, visit the Basilica of St. Stephen. Dedicated to King St. Stephen (Stephen I of Hungary, 975-1038), who was an example of humility and zeal, this church boasts countless religious, architectural and artistic treasures, among which is the mummified hand of St. Stephen. Afterwards, enjoy a walking tour of the Castle District and a visit to the Church of St. Matthias. This splendid church, with its Museum of Ecclesiastical Art in its crypt, can be admired for its architecture as well as for the miraculous Baroque Madonna and incalculable riches. The rest of the day is at leisure, with dinner on your own. (BB)

Day 9. Tuesday, October 28: Budapest – Ludbreg – Marija Bistrica – Zagreb

Leave Hungary and cross into Croatia. Your first stop will be in Ludbreg, a little town where in 1411, a priest who had doubts about the Transubstantiation was celebrating Mass. During the consecration, the wine in the chalice changed into real Blood. The priest hid this relic and kept his secret until the time of his death, when he revealed it. Once the news spread, pilgrims began making trips to Ludbreg. Today, after 600 years, the Blood remains perfectly intact Visit the Most Holy Trinity Church to pray before the miracle. Continue to Bistrica to visit the Shrine of Saint Mary of Marija Bistrica, the most known Marian shrine in Croatia. Here, a miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus is the greatest sacred object of the Croatian people. For centuries millions of pilgrims have knelt before it, praying and asking their heavenly Mother to answer their prayers. Finally, travel to Zagreb, the capital and the largest city of Croatia, located in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Zagreb before transferring to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)

Day 10. Wednesday, October 29: Zagreb – Brezje – Bled

Cross the border into Slovenia to Brezje to visit Slovenia’s National Marian Shrine, the Basilica of St. Mary Help of Christians. It houses a miraculous painting of Mary Help of Christians, which was the promise of a young artist imprisoned and sentenced to death in 1809 by the Napoleanic army. The initiative, which he began while still in prison, was completed in 1814, along with the redecoration of the church. The first of numerous miracles occurred there in 1863, and since then it has been a pilgrimage site for Slovenian Catholics. Continue to Bled for a visit to the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary on Bled Island. Take a boat ride on Bled Lake to reach the island. The present Baroque church was built in the 17th century, though there has been a church there since the 9th century, constructed over a pagan temple. Dinner and overnight in Bled. (BB, D)

Day 11. Thursday, October 30: Bled – Venice

Travel to Venice, Italy to enjoy an afternoon at leisure before heading to your hotel near Venice for a farewell dinner with fellow pilgrims. Overnight in Mestre. (BB, FD)

Day 12. Friday, October 31: Homebound Flight

Transfer to Venice airport for your flight home.

(BB) Buffet breakfast; (L) Lunch; (D) Dinner; (WD) Welcome dinner; (FW) Farewell dinner