Lisbon (St. Anthony) · Santarem (Eucharistic Miracle) · Fatima · Monte Cassino · San Giovanni Rotondo (St. Padre Pio) · Monte Sant'Angelo (St. Michael) · Lanciano (Eucharistic Miracle) · Loreto (Holy House) · Rome · Papal Audience · Trevi Fountain · Piazza Novona · Pantheon · Spanish Steps · St. Peter's Basilica · Vatican Museum · Appian Way · Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls · Catacombs
Your trip includes
- Round-trip airfare
- *
- All airport taxes & fuel surcharges
- Centrally located hotels: (or similar)
- 3 nights: Apr 19 - 22: Santa Maria Jardim, Fatima
- 2 nights: Apr 22 - 24: Centro di Spiritualita St. Padre Pio, San Giovanni Rotondo
- 4 nights: Apr 24 - 28: Istituto Maria SS Bambina S. Pietro, Rome
- Post Optional Tour to Assisi:
- ~ 2nights: Apr 28 - 30: Domus Laetitiae, Assisi
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Breakfast and Dinner daily
- Wine with dinners
- Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
- Assistance of local guide throughout
- Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
- Catholic Priest, Mass daily & Spiritual activities
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Not included
- Lunches and beverages not mentioned, Tips to your guide & driver.
Itinerary
Day 1, Tue, Apr 14: Depart for Lisbon
Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s) to Lisbon. Your meals will be served on board.
Day 2, Wed, Apr 19: Arrive in Lisbon - Santarem - Fatima
Upon landing at Lisbon Airport, and after claiming your baggage, proceed to the arrival's hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Enjoy panoramic tour of Lisbon and continue to Fatima. On the way to Fatima, stop in town of Santarem for Mass at St. Stephens Church, and to venerate the 13th century Eucharistic Miracle. Continue to Fatima, a Hamlet of Aljustrel, the birthplace and home of the three shepherd children. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.
Day 3 & 4, Thu & Fri, Apr 20 & Apr 21: In Fatima
These two days will surely be a memorable experience, as you pray and meditate upon one of Our Blessed Mother's apparition sites. Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children; Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9). These apparitions occurred monthly from May until October of 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 day begins with a visit to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. This simple, yet modern, chapel is the site where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Continue with a visit to the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This Sacred space contains the tombs of St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. View the monument that commemorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the square. Due to Our Lady's consistency in Her messages to pray the Rosary, this Basilica also features fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. While in the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that were received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. After free time for lunch, we will experience Christ's unconditional love by participating in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra. The "Sacred Way" marks the path taken by the shepherd children of Fatima to their first apparition with Our Lady. It is composed of fifteen small chapels in commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord. The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, can be found close to the Chapel of Calvary, dedicated to St. Stephen, King of Hungary. The day ends with a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's August 1917 apparition and the first and third apparition of the Angel. Your night will conclude with private devotions, and a candlelight procession, requested by Our Lady (1917). Enjoy dinner and a comfortable night's rest in Fatima.
Day 5, Sat, Apr 22: Fatima - Lisbon Airport - Rome Airport - Monte Cassino - San Giovanni Rotondo
Following breakfast transfer to Lisbon Airport for your short flight to Rome. Welcome to Rome, also known as "The Eternal City". Upon landing at Rome airport, claim your baggage and proceed to the arrival hall, where your tour guide and/or driver will greet you. Board the bus and enjoy the scenic route to the Abbey of Monte Cassino, the principal monastery of the Benedictine Order, founded by St. Benedict around 530 A.D. Continue on to San Giovanni Rotondo, where St. Pio of Pietrelcina (St. Padre Pio) lived for many decades and where thousands of people have flocked in order to be closer to this great saint and to Our Lord. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 6, Sun, Apr 23: San Giovanni Rotondo - Monte Sant' Angelo - San Giovanni Rotondo
Visit the Old Church of Our Lady of Grace, see the confessional from where St. Pio spent an innumerable number of hours listening to confessions. Next, you will board the bus and travel along the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel. Return for dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo. *Candlelight Procession - Between May and October, attend the weekly candlelight procession at the Sanctuary of St. Pio after dinner, at 9:00 pm.
Day 7, Mon, Apr 24: San Giovanni Rotondo - Lanciano - Loretto - Rome
After breakfast, you we leave for Assisi. On the way we stop in Lanciano for private Mass at the Church of St. Longinus- the site of a Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. At the time of the miracle, there was a Basilian monk, who struggled with the belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. During the time of Mass, the monk, with doubt in his voice, said the words of consecration and the bread and wine transformed into physical flesh and blood. Leave for Marian shrine of Loreto to visit the Holy House of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. Tradition holds that this is the house in which Mary first prayed the Magnificat, in which Jesus grew to manhood, and in which the Holy Family lived, before it was transported several times by angels, to its current location. Continue to Rome, your final destination and home for next 4 night. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 8, Tue, Apr 25: Rome - in the morning Christian Rome; Afternoon free
After a nice breakfast at your hotel, your first sightseeing day in Rome starts! This morning, visit the oldest of the four major Basilicas in Rome, the Archbasilica of St. John the Lateran, the cathedral church and seat of the Bishop of Rome. Next, you will cross the street to visit the Holy Stairs. These Holy Stairs are the very steps leading up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem which Jesus climbed on his way to trial during his Passion. In the fourth century, these stairs were brought to Rome by St. Helena. People ascend the Holy Stairs on their knees, in memory of Christ's agonizing Passion. Holy Mass will be celebrated today at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. This Basilica contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus. Afternoon is free for you to explore Eternal City on your own. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 9, Wed, Apr 26: Rome - Papal Audience/Trevi Fountain/Piazza Novona/Pantheon/Spanish Steps
After breakfast your day begins with the Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square! The Audience is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, Pope Francis (pending the papal schedule). Following the Papal Audience, we will make our way to the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain). In the times of Ancient Rome, this fountain served as the terminal point of the Aqua Virgo, the main aqueduct that supplied thermal baths. Following the Trevi Fountain, continue to the beautiful, Piazza Novona. This square was built on the former Stadium of Domitian that held many festivals and sporting events (86 A.D). At the center of this square, stands the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers). There are four figures constructed on this fountain that represent four rivers: the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. Stop for lunch and then we will have the remainder of the day to visit Pantheon and Spanish Steps. The Pantheon in Rome is a remarkable building architecturally. Basically a cylinder with the floating dome on top of columns, it is the largest masonry vault ever built. In the center of this dome is a hole bringing in a shaft of light to show the beauty of this building and its relatively simple, open interior. Being inside the Pantheon feels very special. Originally built in 27 BC and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in 120 AD, the temple has been damaged and plundered over time. In 609 AD it became a Christian church dedicated to the Madonna. In the 17th century some of its bronze ceiling was taken and melted down for use in St Peter's Basilica. Important figures such as King Victor Emmanuel II and the artist Raphael are buried in the Pantheon. We then continue to Spanish Steps before delicious dinner and restful overnight.
Day 10, Thu, Apr 27: St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican Museum - Appian Way - Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls - Catacombs
Celebrate Mass. Tour St. Peter's Basilica, built on site where St. Peter, was martyred. Pray at the tomb of St. John Paul II. View the Michelangelo's Pieta, a sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion. Visit Vatican Museum, to view the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's Masterpiece. After lunch, we continue down the Appian Way, the earliest road from Ancient Rome. This road leads to the Domino Quo Vadis Chapel, the Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of Drusus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and the catacomb of St. Callixtus. The day concludes with a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside The Walls. Originally founded by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century this Basilica is the burial place of Saint Paul the Apostle. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 11, Fri, Apr 28: Rome Airport - USA
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, your group will leave by motor coach and transfer to Rome airport for return flights home.
Or for pilgrims taking post tour to Assisi