ITINERARY

Day 1. Monday, June 17: Transatlantic flight to Lisbon

Day 2. Tuesday, June 18: Lisbon

Upon arrival into Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of this beautiful port. Visit Lisbon’s Cathedral, built in 1150, three years after Lisbon was recaptured from the Moors. The cathedral’s most prized possession is the casket containing the remains of St. Vincent martyr, the city’s patron saint. Close by, visit San Antonio a Sé, where St. Anthony of Padua was born. Tonight enjoy dinner with fellow pilgrims. (D)

Day 3. Wednesday, June 19: Lisbon – Santarem – Fatima

Begin the day with a visit to the magnificent Monasterio dos Jeronimos, an example of the Manueline Baroque architecture, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. Continue for a short visit to the Church of St. Dominic, dedicated in 1241 and at one time, the largest church in Lisbon. It houses the relics of Venerable Louis of Granada, theologian, writer, and preacher. In the afternoon, on you way to Fatima, stop in Santarem to visit Church of the Eucharistic Miracle to pray in front of the crystal flask that contains the Blood of Christ. This Eucharistic Miracle occurred in the 13th century. Arrive in Fatima for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)

Day 4. Thursday, June 20: Fatima

Six times, from May 13 to October 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three humble shepherds. Fatima is one of the most visited holy places for Catholics from around the world. Begin the morning with the Stations of the Cross on the way from Fatima to Valinhos, the town of Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. Visit the little shepherds’ homes, then continue to Fatima to visit the Little Chapel of Apparitions, which marks the site of the apparitions, and the Basilica that houses the shepherds’ relics. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Fatima before dinner and overnight at your hotel. (BB, D)

Day 5. Friday, June 21: Fatima – Coimbra – Braga

Travel to Coimbra, former capital of Portugal and a preserved medieval old town, it is the home of the historic University of Coimbra. Here, visit the Convent of Santa Clara-a-Nova, which houses the tomb of St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal, great niece of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Continue to Braga, the oldest city in Portugal. The Diocese of Braga dates from the 3rd century AD, being one of the oldest in the peninsula and the center for the Christianization of Galicia. Visit its Cathedral and the Bom Jesu do Monte Shrine. A notable example of Christian pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway that climbs 381 feet. Dinner and overnight in Braga. (BB, D)

Day 6. Saturday, June 22: Braga – Tui – Pontevedra

This morning, make way to the Spanish border city of Tui and visit the convent where Sister Lucy had apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then, visit Tui’s Cathedral. Continue to Pontevedra to visit the Dorothean Sisters Convent, where Our Lady appeared to Sr. Lucy requesting the devotion of the Five First Saturdays. Dinner and overnight in Pontevedra. (BB, D)

Day 7. Sunday, June 23: Camino de Santiago de Compostela

First day of walking, from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis (13 miles). Overnight in Pontevedra. (BB, D)

Day 8. Monday, June 24: Camino de Santiago de Compostela

Second day of walking, from Caldas de Reis to Padron (11 miles). Overnight in Pontevedra. (BB, D)

Day 9. Tuesday, June 25: Camino de Santiago de Compostela

Third and last day of walking, from Padron to Santiago de Compostela (13 miles). Overnight in Santiago. (BB, D)

Day 10. Wednesday, June 26: Santiago de Compostela

Enjoy a morning guided visit to the third most important Catholic pilgrimage site of the Middle Ages: the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where the relics of St. James the Apostle are venerated. Then, visit the Monastery of San Martin Pinario, an immense building constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries on the site of a 10th century monastery. Take advantage of an afternoon at leisure in Santiago with dinner on your own. (BB)

Day 11. Thursday, June 27: Santiago de Compostela. Excursion to Finisterre

Take a day’s excursion to Finisterre, a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain, which in Roman times was believed to be an end of the known world (from the Latin finis terrae, meaning “end of the world”). Your excursion will include Ponte Maceira, Santuario da Virxe da Barca, Cabo Finisterre, Faro de Finisterre, Fervenza de Ezaro Waterfall, Horreo de Carnota, and Citta di Muros. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at a classical Galician restaurant. (BB, FD)

Day 12. Friday, June 28: Homebound flight

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.