Portugal and Spain Food and Faith Pilgrimage Tour – Fatima, Madrid

Depart from the USA aboard overnight flight(s) to Lisbon. Breakfast and dinner will be served aboard the transatlantic flight.

Upon arrival in Lisbon, we will meet our local tour escort and enjoy a panoramic tour of Lisbon, beginning with a visit to Saint Anthony’s Church (the patron saint of lost objects.) Although we know him as Saint Anthony of Padua, Anthony was originally from Lisbon, Portugal, not Padua, Italy. We will celebrate Mass at the Church which stands on the site of his birth and have time to visit the small gift shop and museum attached. From here we will visit the Royal Monastery of St. Jerome, a 16th-century architectural masterpiece, which dates from the Discovery Period and the reign of King Manuel I, and was paid for with the riches brought back by Portuguese explorers. We will have a guided tour of the monastery and the unique Belem Tower, which was built as a fortress to defend the harbor of the wealthy Portuguese capital. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon. 

Depart for a visit to the enchanting Sintra. Once a favorite haunt of 19th-century European aristocrats, this charming town, on the northern slopes of the Serra de Sintra, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will have time for lunch and to explore the city, with its fairy-tale castles and spectacular mountain vistas. Return to Lisbon. Discover Lisbon by boat! Lisbon by boat is an afternoon trip that represents one of the most original options for you to admire the famous historical landmarks of this amazing city: Castelo de São Jorge, Ponte 25 de Abril, Torre de Belém, or Ponte Vasco da Gama. Enjoy a fado dinner and show in Lisbon.

This morning drive to Fatima where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children; Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9), and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace. These apparitions occurred monthly from May until October 1917.

Historically, as the entire world was in true turmoil, Our Lady’s most prominent message during this time was to pray for world peace. The destruction of the world at that point in history was also mentioned by Our Lady in her messages of Fatima, and more specifically, in her second secret to the children. Our profoundly reflective experience begins with Mass at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. This simple, yet modern chapel is the site where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Following Mass, your tour of Fatima begins at the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima. This Sacred space contains the tombs of the three Fatima visionaries, as well as, a monument that commemorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Due to Our Lady’s consistency in Her messages to pray the Rosary, this Basilica also features fifteen altars that are dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. Upon arriving at this Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that were received here. Following this visit, we will continue to the Hamlet of Aljustrel, to visit the childhood homes of the three shepherd children; and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s

August 1917 apparition. From here we experience Christ’s unconditional love by participating in the Stations of the Cross along with the Via Sacre. The “Sacred Way” marks the path taken by the shepherd children of Fatima to their first apparition with Our Lady. It is composed of fourteen small chapels in commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord. The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, can be found below in the Chapel of Calvary, dedicated to St. Stephen of Hungary. Our night will conclude with a rosary and a candlelight procession, as requested by Our Lady in 1917. Enjoy dinner and overnight in Fatima. 

This morning we travel to Spain through the region of Castile and Leon to the Medieval walled city of Avila. St. Theresa, the great mystic was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church. In Avila, visit the Cathedral, which contains many of St. Theresa’s relics, and the crypt of the Convento of La Santa, which is built on the site of the house where she was born and is home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life. Also visit La Encarnacion Convent, the first convent she founded. From here we will travel to Madrid the Spanish capital bursting with life and passion. Dinner and overnight in Madrid. 

Begin the day with Mass at the Cathedral of La Almudena, followed by a panoramic tour where you will see the Royal Palace, the Puerta del Sol, and visit the Monastery of Santo Domingo el Real. This was the first and only female Monastery founded by Saint Dominic in Spain and inside the Monastery the original Saint Dominic’s Baptismal Font is kept. Since 1605, all the heirs of the Spanish throne with exception of former King Juan Carlos who was born in Rome, have been baptized in that Baptismal Font where Saint Dominic was baptized. This afternoon we will travel out of the city to Aranjuez, to visit Real Cortijo winery, built by Carlos III in 1782 to become the official supplier of wine and oil to the crown. Enjoy a tour that includes the beautiful French gardens, the subterranean cellars, and El Lagar Room where we will sample 2 wines and a cheese appetizer. Tonight we will walk through the Plaza Mayor, and enjoy a selection of Tapas and wine in the nearby Cuevas. Overnight in Madrid.

Today we will visit the Prado Museum, one of Europe’s great art galleries, to see some of its 9,000 pieces by artists such as Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velasquez, Goya, and Madrazo. In the adjacent Museo Reina Sofía, we will have the opportunity to view the “Guernica,” a large 1937 oil painting on canvas by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. It is one of his best-known works, regarded by many art critics as the most moving and powerful anti-war painting in history. Afterward, we will have time to visit the beautiful Retiro Park, built in the middle of the 17th century to be enjoyed by king Felipe IV, and explore the elegant and glamorous Barrio de Salamanca, with its grand 19th-century boulevards lined with fine-dining restaurants and designer boutiques, also known as the “Golden Mile.” Tonight you will enjoy a Flamenco show and dinner. Overnight in Madrid. 

This morning we will depart for Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, via the high-speed Ave Train. This afternoon we will enjoy a tour of Barcelona including panoramic views of the Harbor area, Montjuic, Plaza de España, and Plaza de Catalunya. Continue on a guided walk through the Gothic Quarter to visit the cathedral and view Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, a beautiful, unfinished Roman Catholic basilica of impressive proportions. Dinner and overnight near Las Ramblas in Barcelona. 

This morning you will travel to Montserrat to visit and pray at the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th century, many pilgrims, including St. Ignatius have been drawn to the mountain to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna. From here we will travel to Manresa, and visit the Cave of Saint Ignatius where the saint retired to meditate and write his Spiritual Exercises. You will see the Chapel of the Rapture where St. Ignatius remained motionless in ecstasy for eight days and visit the Basilica of la Seu, the large Gothic Church that has come to symbolize Manresa. Afterward, we will visit the vineyards at Oller del Mas. Here we will sample the wines paired especially for each dish in a special tasting menu, prepared as our final meal in Spain. Overnight in Barcelona. 

After breakfast, depart for the Barcelona airport for your return flights to the USA,