PRE-TOUR to Fatima, Santiago de Compostela
DAY 1: Lisbon – Santarem – Fatima Upon arrival in Lisbon, enjoy a tour of St. Anthony's hometown. On this tour you'll see such sights as the Belem Tower, as well as visit Jeronimos Monastery with the Tomb of Vasco de Gama, the famous Portugeese explorer. Continue for a leisurely walk through the cobbled alleys of Alfama, the famous seaman's quarter. From here, we travel to the charming town of Santarem for a short walk down narrow streets to visit Saint Stephen's Catholic Church, also known as the Church of the Holy Miracle. Enjoy time for prayer before the Eucharistic Miracle enshrined within, one of the holiest and most famous of its kind. Continue to Fatima this afternoon (B, D): FATIMA
DAY 2: Fatima Today, visit the Basilica of Our Lady, the Chapel of Apparitions, and the House of Francisco and Jacinta. Enjoy time at leisure for individual spiritual activities, visits, and sightseeing (B, D): FATIMA
DAY 3: Fatima – Coimbra – Santiago de Compostela. In the morning, depart Fatima and drive to Coimbra, Portugal's first capital city. Upon arrival, visit the convent where Sister Lucia, the longest surviving visionary of the 1917 Apparitions, lived until her recent death. Have mass there, before continuing to Santiago de Compostela. (B, D): SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
DAY 4: Santiago de Compostela
We will have our first full day at Spain’s Patron Saint’s and the most famous of the Spanish Shrines. The name “Compostela” from the Latin “field of the star” was named after the tradition of St. James (Santiago), the Patron Saint of Spain. We will delight in our walking tour on labyrinthine cobbled streets today of this medieval city, virtually intact since no man or natural upheavals have produced any damage to the city, a true national monument with its buildings built with the practically indestructible granite stone. We will visit the Plaza del Obradoiro and the great Cathedral that dominates the town. Its main entrance is two stories above the plaza. The statue of St. James smiles benignly down upon the faithful. The towers soar into the sky. The Portico de la Gloria, designed by Maestro Mateo and completed in 1188, is the finest example of Romanesque sculpture. Inside the Cathedral are more priceless architecture, statues and religious treasures. Behind the silver and gold main altar are the sarcophagi of St. James and two of his disciples. A statue of St. James stands above surrounded by an elaborate display of drapery and sculpture. We will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral. Afternoon is at your leisure.
(B, D): SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
DAY 5: Santiago de Compostela Enjoy day at leisure to join in activities associated with the Day in the Diocese. (B, D): SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
DAY 6: Santiago de Compostela - Leon Today, following morning mass at local church, transfer to Leon. A lunch stop will be made in route. Upon arrival in Leon, you will have the balance of the day at your leisure. (B, D): LEON
DAY 7: Leon – Madrid This morning we will have morning mass at the León Cathedral, also known as the “Pulchra Leonina.” Continue with a city tour of León, visiting one of the city’s most important buildings, the Basilica de San Isidro, built directly into the Roman walls that surround the city. After seeing the Royal Pantheon and the Plaza Mayor, continue via long-distance coach to Madrid. (B)
