Walk through the Camino de Santiago routes and visit the holy shrines of Fatima & Lourdes
11 Sep 2018 To 23 Sep 2018
1 : Day 1: Sep 11-Depart Toronto
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart Canada on our flight from Toronto to Lisbon departing from terminal #3 Meals served on board.
2 : Day 2: Sep 12-Lisbon
Arrive Lisbon – Santarem – Fatima
Upon arrival in Lisbon you will find your luggage and exit the baggage claim into the arrivals hall where you will be greeted by a local tour representative. You will be escorted to an air-conditioned motor coach, which will then take you on a sightseeing tour of this beautiful Portuguese city. We will visit the Cathedral, St. Jerome's Monastery, Saint Anthony's Church (the patron saint of lost objects), Belem Quarter, the Belem Tower, 25 April Bridge, and Discoveries Monument. Our drive will also take us through the Basilica of the Star, Rossio Square, Commerce Square and Marquee of Pomba Square. We will continue on to Fatima via Santarem, one of the oldest cities in the world. We will walk through its narrow streets to the Church of St. Stephen, containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle. This miracle has been on continuous display since 1269 A.D. We will celebrate Mass at this holy site. We then continue on to Fatima, where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace.
Dinner & Overnight at Estrala De Fatima or similar.
Fatima, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
3 : Day 3: Sep 13-Fatima
After breakfast, we begin our day celebrating Mass at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. After Mass we begin our tour of Fatima where we will experience the beauty of this spiritual town. We will see the Basilica, the site of Francesco and Jacinta's graves, the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived, and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison. Experience Christ's love as you walk and follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) culminating in the Chapel of Calvary, which overlooks all of Fatima. Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous well. Attend the blessing of the sick and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady. Time for private devotions before dinner and a restful night's sleep. Dinner & Overnight at Estrala De Fatima or similar .
Fatima, Portugal
4 : Day 4: Sep 14-Fatima/ Batalha
After breakfast, a 30 minute drives to the Monastery of Batalha. Built to give thanks for a major military victory in 1385, Batalha Monastery is a magnificent example of medieval Portuguese architecture. The doors are flanked by free- standing statues of the Twelve Apostles, each one with a unique appearance.
The top of the facade contains the largest stained-glass window in Portuguese Gothic architecture.
Return to Fatima for lunch and a free afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at the Estrela de Fatima Hotel, Fatima.
Batalha
Fatima, Portugal
5 : Day 5: Sep 15-The Camino Portuguese to Porto
After breakfast drive to Porto. On arrival you meet your local guide and take a half day orientation tour. Perched on the hillside on the north bank of the Rio Douro and has a historic center, to explore with ease on foot. The riverbanks .Visit the Cathedral, Igreja do Camino and the Chapel of Souls is famous for its exterior of blue & white tiles painted with scenes from the lives of Saints.
Dinner and overnight t Eurostar in Porto or similar
Batalha
6 : Day 6: Sep 16-The Camino Portuguese to Santiago de
We depart Porto and drive to Santiago de Compostela to meet your Santiago guide your tour.
Saint James the Apostle’s holy relics are believed to be enshrined under the Cathedral's altar. Legend has it that James preached in Spain before being martyred in Jerusalem in 44 AD and his body was brought back to Spain after his death. The tomb of St. James was discovered here in 819 AD and a small church built over the shrine by the king. The Cathedral is an impressive Romanesque structure with a Baroque facade which quickly became a major pilgrimage destination along with Rome and Jerusalem. Santiago's magnificent Cathedral and medieval Centre draws over 250,000 pilgrims, travelling along the many paths of the historic Camino de Santiago to make their devotion at the holy shrine of St James.
Overnight & Dinner at Santiago de Compostela Gran Hotel or similar
Santiago
7 : Day 7: Sep 17-The Camino Frances to Burgos
After breakfast we depart Santiago de Compostela and drive through the beautiful countryside to Burgos, founded in the 9th century and an important hub for the Kingdom of Castile. We will visit the imposing cathedral. Rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Almirnate or similar in Burgos.
Burgos
8 : Day 8: Sep 18-The Camino Frances to the Pyrenees &
After breakfast, drive to the Spanish border and through the Pyrenees Mountains to Lourdes. The birthplace of St Bernadette to whom, Our Lady appeared in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle. On arrival in Lourdes and meet your guide for a tour of all the main sites of Lourdes, including the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Dinner and overnight in Miramont or similar in Lourdes.
Rocamadour
9 : Day 9: Sep 19-Lourdes
Visit to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Sacre Coeur to see the Baptismal Font where St Bernadette was baptised.
In the afternoon make your the along the Way of the Cross which follows a steep wooded area, with 15 stations marked with figures along its 1.5km route. You can attend the one hour torch light procession which assembles pilgrims for the recitation of the Rosary.
Dinner and overnight in Miramont or similar in Lourdes.
Rocamadour
10 : Day 10: Sep 20-The Chemin St Jacques to Rocamadour
The spectacular natural and religious site in the Dordogne, is perched high on a rocky plateau receives 1.5 million visitors each year. For pilgrims, Rocamadour's importance lies with the Shrine of Our Lady of Rocamadour, a complex centered on a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary and the tomb of an ancient saint - Zaccheus of Jericho. Rocamadour is a cluster of chapels and churches, charming pedestrian precinct and a château. The sacred site is accessible from the town via the Grand Escalier, a stairway of 216 weathered steps, with 14 Stations of the Cross culminating in the Cross of Jerusalem at the top. There is also an elevator from the lower town (Basse Ville). You can take a tour of the 7 Chapels; the focus is Chapelle de Notre-Dame, devoted almost exclusively to the venerated Black Madonna statue. Dinner and overnight at Rocamadour
Rocamadour
11 : Day 11: Sep 21-Nevers & St Bernadette
After breakfast travel on by coach through the Loire Valley to Nevers to visit the St. Gildard Convent where St Bernadette lived for 12 years as part of the congregation of the Sister of Charity of Nevers, after taking the veil in 1867. Dinner at Kyriad or similar and overnight at Nevers
Nevers, France
12 : Day 12: Sep 22-Paris
Travel on to Paris after breakfast. Meet your local guide for your sightseeing in Paris. Visit the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral Building.It is now one of the most prominent cathedrals in France and one of the oldest ones too. The Relics of Sainte-Chapelle are the relics of Jesus Christ, namely the Crown of Thorns. These were originally housed at the sublime Sainte-Chapelle but are now exhibited in the Treasury of Notre Dame. The later part of the afternoon will be free.
Dinner and overnight at Mercure or similar in Paris
Paris (and vicinity), France
13 : Day 13: Sep 23- PARIS/TORONTO
We depart in the early morning to drive to Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport for our Air France flight departing Paris at 1:50pm arriving in Toronto at 4:05pm at terminal 3.
Paris (and vicinity), France
